Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance of Salmonella sp. Isolated from Dogs and Cats in Northeastern Thailand

During the period December 2009-November 2010, 600 fecal samples were collected from 250 diarrheal and 250 non-diarrheal dogs, 50 diarrheal and 50 non-diarrhea cats. It was found that 11.6 and 13.2% of diarrheal and non-diarrheal dogs and 8.0 and 10.0% of diarrheal and non-diarrheal cats were infected with Salmonella, respectively. The five most common serovars in dogs were S. stanley, S. rissen, S. enterica ser 4, 5, 12:i:-, S. weltevreden and S. tryphimurium (14.5, 12.9, 11.3, 11.3 and 9.7%, respectively). The five most common serovars in cats were S. weltevreden, S. eastbourne, S. typhimurium, S. virchow and S. hvittingfoss (44.4, 22.2, 11.1,11.1 and 11.1%, respectively). Isolates from dogs were resistant to amoxicillin (43.5%), gentamicin (8.1 %), nalidixic acid (9.7%), sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim (12.9%) and tetracycline (43.5%). The isolates from cats were resistant to amoxicillin (25%) and tetracycline (25%). Detection of Salmonella sp. in dogs and cats without clinical signs indicated that the animals were in carrier stage and potentially able to pass the disease to their owners.