Date of Award

2005

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Environmental Science

First Advisor

Dr. Abdulmajeed Saif M. Ammeen

Second Advisor

Dr. Oskar Ruger Kaaden

Third Advisor

Dr. U. Wernery

Abstract

Salmonellosis is considered one of the most economically significant diseases, affecting man and different animals. The disease affects all ages of domesticated and wild living animals. Salmonellosis manifests a variety of clinical signs such as diarrhea, abortion, arthritis and respiratory problems. The natural habitat of Salmonella species is the intestinal tract of most animal species. Carrier animals represent a continuous source of shedding the bacteria in the surrounding environment. Salmonella infection among animals and then to man causing public health hazard.

In this study, a total of 882 samples were collected from different animal species in Al Ain area of Abu Dhabi Emirate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The fecal sample were aseptically collected from apparently healthy camels (266), cows (122), sheep (255), and goats (187). On the other hand, 52 samples were obtained from scouring and pyrexic camels (7), cows (10), sheep (6), goats (5), game animals (3) and avian species (17). Also samples were submitted from aborted foetus of a goat and fecal swab were obtained from aborting cow. All samples from apparently healthy and affected animals were subjected to Salmonella isolation and identification protocol. Each sample was inoculated into selenite broth medium and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. A loopful from each broth was streaked on plates of blood agar, Salmonella Shigella agar and Hektoen enteric agar. The plates were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. The yielded colonies were identified according to their cultural and biochemical properties. The isolated Salmonella were grouped (A-G) and partially serotyped was carried out by veterinary Laboratory Agency in Weybridge, UK.

The present findings showed that, Salmonella infection is highly prevalent in cows and camels, whereas sheep and goats score the least incidence of the disease. To our best knowledge, no records are available to date of any isolation of Salmonella species in cows, sheep and goats nor serological evidence that exist in UAE. This study reports the first isolation of Salmonella serotypes in cows, sheep and goats. Also, this study acknowledges the isolation of S. Indiana, S. Stanley, S. Haardt, S. Panama, S. Panama, S. Liverpool and S. Poona for the first time in camels of the UAE.

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