**1.1 Aim of chapter**

This chapter will 1) describe prevalence, antimicrobial drug resistance (AMR) and molecular characterization of *Salmonella* commonly isolated from domestic animals, humans and meat

Antimicrobial Drug Resistance and Molecular Characterization

(Sensititre, Trek Diagnostics, Westlake, Ohio).

**2.1.3** *Salmonella* **from dairy cattle** 

2007a) in fecal specimens.

**2.1.4** *Salmonella* **from bison** 

Diagnostic Systems, Westlake, OH.

**2.2** *Salmonella* **from meats** 

of *Salmonella* Isolated from Domestic Animals, Humans and Meat Products 219

fed cattle in North Dakota. A total of 212 cattle (97 calves and 115 cows) originating from 7 cow-calf farms in the ND counties of Billings, Dunn, Mercer and Stark participated in the study. A random sample of at least 30 cattle (15 calves and 15 adult cows) were selected from each of the 7 herds that participated in the study except where less than 30 animals in each category were available; in that case all of them were sampled. One herd had only calves and 2 herds had only adult cows and so 30 animals of one category were sampled from each of these herds. Approximately 20 grams of feces were obtained from the rectum of individual cattle and shipped by Fedex overnight to the department of Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences, at North Dakota State University. The fecal samples were processed within twenty-four hours of their arrival to the laboratory. The fecal samples were cultured in the laboratory using culture methods optimized for the detection of *Salmonella* (Khaitsa et al., 2007a) in fecal specimens. Presumptive *Salmonella* isolates were sent to NVSL in Ames, IA for serotyping. Antimicrobial susceptibility of *Salmonella* isolates was determined using a custom designed panel according to the manufacturer's instructions

A study (Khaitsa et al, 2004) investigated the prevalence of cattle shedding *Salmonella* in their feces at the NDSU dairy and to test antimicrobial susceptibility of *Salmonella* isolates. In June, 2004, fecal samples from a random sample of thirty cows out of 60 at the NDSU dairy were collected and cultured for *Salmonella* at the Department of Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences. Approximately 20g of fecal matter was obtained from the rectum of each cow and transported on ice to the Department of Veterinary and Microbiology Sciences at NDSU for microbiologic culture. The fecal samples were cultured in the laboratory using culture methods optimized for the detection of *Salmonella* (Khaitsa et al

Twenty bison from one herd in North Dakota, US were run through a chute and approximately 20 grams of feces obtained from the rectum of each animal. Fecal samples were transferred into sterile plastic cups, placed on ice and transported to the laboratory for culturing. *Salmonella* spp were cultured using the procedure described by Khaitsa et al (2007a). All suspect colonies were sent to National Veterinary Services Lab, Ames, IA for serotyping. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out using Sensititre Trek

A study (Khaitsa et al 2007b) investigated the occurrence of *Salmonella* in raw and ready to eat turkey meat products, and factors associated with its occurrence in 959 turkey meat products (raw, n =614; and ready to eat (RTE), n = 345) purchased from four retail outlets in one city in the Midwestern United States. Another study (Kegode et al, 2008) investigated occurrence of *Salmonella* species, in 456 fresh raw meat products (turkey (n=87, 19.1%) chicken (n=123, 27.0%) chicken, pork (n=113, 24.8%) and beef (n=133, 29.2%)) purchased from five retail outlets in the Midwestern United States during a 12 week period (July 11, 2005 to October 3, 2005). Three stores were visited each week until all the stores had been visited a total of five times. The stores were sampled on different

products and 2) assess the relatedness of AMR and genetic profiles of *Salmonella* from various sources and their role in transferring antimicrobial resistance to humans.
