Presence of Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157 on the hide, and presence of Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157 and Campylobacter in feces from small-ruminant (goat and lamb) samples collected in the United States, Bahamas and Mexico.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of Salmonella and E. coli O157 found on the hides, as well as presence of Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli O157 found in small-ruminant fecal samples from abattoirs and farms in California, New Mexico, Texas, Mexico and the Bahamas. In small-ruminant fecal samples, overall organism presence was identified as 13.9% Salmonella (n=532), 15.3% E. coli O157 (n=477) and 80.7% Campylobacter (n=176). Overall, on small-ruminant hide surfaces, Salmonella frequency was 17.1% (N=339) and E. coli O157 was detected at 1.5% (n=266). The overall lower detection (P<0.0001) of E. coli O157 from hide samples (1.5%) when compared to presence in fecal samples (15.3%), is not consistent with trends expected. Results from this study can be used to better understand and potentially control pathogens in small-ruminants utilized for meat and milk.

Salmonella Presence in Mandibular, Mesenteric, and Subiliac Lymph Nodes Collected from Sheep and Goats in the United States.

Even though often underappreciated in the United States, meat derived from goats and lambs is a valuable global commodity. Although extensive studies have been conducted examining pathogen prevalence in beef, pork, and poultry species, less research is available about pathogen presence in small ruminants. Understanding the presence of Salmonella in small ruminants can influence processing method improvements for these species to minimize food safety risks. The objective of this study was to establish the Salmonella presence in lymph nodes from sheep (n = 311) and goats (n =357) in the United States. Mandibular, mesenteric, and subiliac lymph nodes were collected from animals at abattoirs located in California, New Mexico, and Texas over a 14-month period. Lymph nodes were analyzed for Salmonella presence by using standard isolation methods, and presumptive isolates were confirmed with latex agglutination. Salmonella was detected in 3.15% of mandibular lymph nodes (n = 222), 5.83% of mesenteric lymph nodes (n = 223), and 7.62% of subiliac lymph nodes (n = 223). A total of 30 animals (13.39%) were found to have one or more Salmonella -positive lymph nodes. Our data indicate Salmonella is harbored within the lymph nodes of small ruminants. With this knowledge, further work can target strategies and interventions to minimize the risk associated with this pathogen during the processing of small ruminants.