Prevalence of Salmonella spp. in Neonatal Calves with Acute Diarrhea: A Study in Şanlıurfa Province, Southeastern Anatolia, Türkiye

Abstract

Diarrhea is one of the most important health problems in neonatal calves. Salmonellosis, one of the causes of diarrhea in neonatal calves, continues to be one of the major health problems worldwide. Prevalence data on enteropathogens can provide basic information for control and prevention strategies. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in neonatal calves with acute diarrhoea in Şanlıurfa province located in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Türkiye. The animal material of the study consisted of 100 neonatal calves with acute diarrhoea aged 1-28 days. The presence of Salmonella spp. was determined by PCR method from rectal fecal samples taken from the calves included in the study. As a result of the study, 5% prevalence of Salmonella spp. was determined. This study showed that there is a potential risk of zoonotic Salmonella spp. infection in neonatal calves with acute diarrhoea in the region and an original contribution was made to determine the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in Türkiye. It was emphasized that treatment for the causative agent and necessary protective measures should be taken in the region. In addition, further studies with multifocal serotyping in human and animal populations living in this region and other regions of Türkiye are needed in terms of the epidemiology of zoonotic Salmonella spp.