Salmonellosis "is an infection of bacteria called Salmonella." The two common types of Salmonella are typhimurium and enteriditis (1) salmonella is a rod shaped, gram-negative facultative anaerobic bacteria (2). The most common transmission of salmonella is through ingestion of the organism from an infected animal or contamination of food that has been contaminated by feces of an infected animal or person (3). The contaminated food comes from an animal and that is why salmonellosis is classified as a food-borne disease (3). Salmonella infectious agents are transmitted mostly through water and soil. Humans who have salmonella have to wash their hands constantly especially after they use the bathroom or else they can get others sick by contaminating anything and everything they touch. It's hard to detect foods that have been contaminated because there is no odor and it is invisible to the naked eye. The reservoirs are poultry, cattle, rodents, chicks, dogs, cats, rats, birds, turtles, reptiles, milk, eggs including vegetables and humans patients.
To diagnosis salmonella in human is when a sample of feces is taken to be isolated using selective media (4). For animals cultures feces and foods of animal origin are use to diagnosis salmonella. Salmonella is identified with several biochemical tests: serologic test, blood, feces are plated and on nonselective and selective media like blood, MacConkey, eosin-methylene blue, bismuth sulfite, salmonella-Shigella, and brilliant green agar." (4)
Salmonellosis was discovered in 19th century by a scientist name Danial Salmon (2)
The people who are infected with salmonella have symptoms like diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours after infected (1). The symptoms can go on for 4-7 days and the person who is infected has to drink lots of water to prevent dehydration because of serious diarrhea. Diarrhea and sometime vomiting is how our body gets rid of the bacteria. People usually recover from salmonellosis but sometime death can occur among the elderly, infants and people with a weak immune system.
In order to keep from getting salmonella one must wash their hands before handling food and after using the restroom. Good hygiene is very important. Avoid cross contamination and handle food properly by using a different cutting board for meats and vegetables. Always wipe conter thoroughly after handling food. Use a thermometer when cooking to make sure that food cooks to a proper temperature. (2). In most cases of Salmonellosis a person can recover without any treatment (3).
In order to prevent food from getting contaminated a person should always disinfect the counter top before handling food. One should always wash their hand before eating, preparing food and after using the restroom (5). Cooking poultry properly should help the risk of getting salmonella. Never eat raw eggs and always drink pasteurized milk (3) When handling any type of animals always were protective clothing. keep reptile away from food and do not prepare food without washing hands after handling a reptile.
References:
1. "Salmonellosis" http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbld/diseaseinfo/salmonellosis_g.htm Access on 4/26/02
2. Szymanski, Michael J. "Salmonella spp" http://www.inweh.unu.edu/biology447/DistanceEd/assign2000/szymanski/assignment 2.htm Access on 4/26/02
3. "Communicable Disease Fact Sheet." 10/9/00. http://www.metrokc.gov/health/prevcont/salmon.htm#Diagnosis Access on 4/28/02
4. Peratta, J.M. "Salmonellosis" http://web.vet.cornell.edu/crar/oHp/SALMON.html Access on 4/28/02
5. Jayarao, Bhushan "Haracteristics of Salmonella and Salmonellosis---points to remember" 10/27/00 http://foodsafety.cas.psu.edu/Control_of_Salmonella_on_dairy_farms/sld003.htm Access on 4/28/02