Factors associated with fecal-shedding of Salmonella spp by horses on US operations

In a cross-sectional national study that included 972 operations with > 3 horses on 1/1/98 in 28 states in the USA, 8,417 fecal specimens were collected from horses and cultured to test for the presence of Salmonella spp. Operations were characterized as Salmonella spp-positive if at least one fecal specimen tested positive for Salmonella spp. Percentages of Salmonella spp-positive operations were computed by management and other factors (collected from operation-level questionnaires) that were hypothesized to be related to fecal shedding of Salmonella spp. A logistic-regression model was constructed to identify factors associated with horsesÆ shedding Salmonella spp in feces on an operation. The odds of an operation being Salmonella spp positive increased as the number of resident horses increased. In addition, the following factors were found to be associated with increased odds of an operation being Salmonella spp positive: horses were used primarily for breeding; operation cleanliness was characterized as poor by the data collector; and new resident equids had been added to the operation without routine quarantine

Factors associated with fecal-shedding of Salmonella spp by horses on US operations / Fatores associados com Salmonella spp em fezes de cavalos em criatórios norte-americanos

In a cross-sectional national study that included 972 operations with > 3 horses on 1/1/98 in 28 states in the USA, 8,417 fecal specimens were collected from horses and cultured to test for the presence of Salmonella spp. Operations were characterized as Salmonella spp-positive if at least one fecal specimen tested positive for Salmonella spp. Percentages of Salmonella spp-positive operations were computed by management and other factors (collected from operation-level questionnaires) that were hypothesized to be related to fecal shedding of Salmonella spp. A logistic-regression model was constructed to identify factors associated with horses' shedding Salmonella spp in feces on an operation. The odds of an operation being Salmonella spp positive increased as the number of resident horses increased. In addition, the following factors were found to be associated with increased odds of an operation being Salmonella spp positive: horses were used primarily for breeding; operation cleanliness was characterized as poor by the data collector; and new resident equids had been added to the operation without routine quarantine.(AU)

No levantamento que envolveu 972 criatórios de cavalos, com número igual ou maior que três cavalos por criatório em 28 estados norte-americanos, foram coletadas 8.417 amostras de fezes de cavalos e submetidas à cultura para testar a presença de Salmonella spp. Os criatórios foram classificados como positivos se pelo menos uma amostra testada fosse positiva para Salmonella spp. As percentagens de criatórios positivos foram calculadas de acordo com o manejo e outros fatores (coletados por meio de questionários) que hipoteticamente estavam relacionados com Salmonella spp em fezes de cavalos. Um modelo de regressão logística foi ajustado às observações de forma a identificar fatores associados com Salmonella spp nas fezes de cavalos nos criatórios. A probabilidade de o criatório ser positivo para Salmonella spp aumenta com o número de cavalos do criatório. Além disso, os seguintes fatores foram identificados como associados ao aumento da probabilidade do criatório ser positivo para Salmonella spp: cavalos utilizados essencialmente para reprodução, deficiência na higiene do criatório e adição de novos cavalos sem respeitar as normas de quarentena.(AU)