Usually occurs as one of three major syndromes:

• Peracute septicaemia seen mostly in young animals.
• Acute enteric form most commonly seen in adult animals.
• Chronic enteric form is common in pigs, and occurs in cattle. There is persistent diarrhoea, severe emaciation and intermittent fever.

Diagnosis

Clinical signs, necropsy findings, recovery of Salmonella from heart blood, spleen, liver, bile, mesenteric lymph nodes and intestinal contents in both septicaemic and acute forms. Serology.

In the chronic form, the bacteria may be recovered from the intestinal lesions and less frequently from other viscera.

Specimens required

Live animal

1. Serum for Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Dublin SAT serology in cattle and sheep.
2. Faecal sample submitted chilled for bacteriology.

Dead animal:

1. Portion of liver, kidney, lung, bile, spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes and small intestinal contents in separate sterile containers, submitted chilled for bacteriology.
2. Sections of liver, kidney, lung, spleen and small and large intestine, submitted in buffered formalin for histopathology.