Keep an eye out for Salmonella

The risk of Salmonella is higher than previous years. The graph below shows the incidence of Salmonella cases in the Waikato diagnosed at the lab over the last 8 years. As you can see, every year there is generally a peak of cases during autumn followed by a bigger peak during spring. This year the autumn peak (red arrow) was much higher than previous years, indicating that we may be in for a lot of Salmonella cases this spring (hypothetical caseload in purple).

Please keep an eye out for Salmonella, which is extremely contagious to both humans and to cattle. Clinical signs include:

• Diarrhoea (sometimes with blood and/or mucous)

• Dehydration

• Abortion

• Death

  
  

Call us if you have any suspect cases so that we can diagnose and treat appropriately.

There is also a cost-effective vaccine available, Salvexin, which can either be given in the face of an outbreak, or can be preventatively given to your whole herd (not to be given within a week of calving or mating). This vaccine is effective in significantly decreasing the amount (spread) and severity of cases.

Please call the clinic if you suspect you have a cow with Salmonella (prompt treatment and prevention is key), or if you would like to vaccinate your herd for Salmonella.