Salmonellaspp. Shedding by Alberta Beef Cattle and the Detection of Salmonellaspp. in Ground Beef

Breeder cows, cattle recently arrived at feedlots, and cattle about to be shipped for slaughter were tested for Salmonellaspp. No Salmonellaspp. were detected in fecal samples from breeding cows. Nineteen of 1,000 (1.9%) fecal samples from recently arrived feedlot cattle were positive for Salmonellaspp. compared to only 2 of 1,000 (0.2%) fecal samples taken within 2 weeks of slaughter. The positive fecal samples were collected in 5 of 50 (10%) “recent arrival” pens tested and in 1 of 50 (2%) pens tested within 2 weeks of slaughter. The serotypes isolated were SalmonellaAgona, SalmonellaEnteritidis, SalmonellaTyphimurium DT104, and Salmonella4,5,12:i:−. Ground beef samples purchased from retail outlets throughout Alberta were processed for Salmonellaspp. Thirteen of 1,002 (1.3%) samples were positive for Salmonellaspp. The serotypes isolated from ground beef were SalmonellaAnatum, SalmonellaHeidelberg, SalmonellaMontevideo, SalmonellaTyphimurium, SalmonellaTyphimurium var. Copenhagen, and SalmonellaRough-O:i:1,2. The antibiotic resistance and pulsed-field electrophoresis gel macrorestriction patterns of all isolates were compared.