ABSTRACT: Stray carnivores are often exposed to intestinal infection with Salmonella species and might remain carriers for long period, so they have great possibilities for shedding these organisms; particularly the stray cats in cities are more than others because of their size and habits; thus they might contribute actively in contamination of environment. The aim of this study was to detect Salmonella species in stray cats and to access their role in spreading of salmonella infection. Rectal swabs from 59 apparently healthy cats were cultured, tetrathionate broth and Salmonella-Shigella agar were used. Euthanization and post mortem examinations were done later. Bacterial isolation from internal organs was carried out also. Morphological properties and biochemical tests were dependent for detection of Salmonella organisms. They were serotyped in Central Health Laboratory in Baghdad. A high isolation rate of Salmonellae (10.16%) was recorded (by rectal swabs). Various Salmonella serovars were observed: S. anatum (3.38%), S. montevideo (3.38%), S. typhimurim (1.69%) and S. brenrderup (1.69%). The isolation rate from internal organs was lower (0.67%) than that from rectum, S. typhimurim (1.69%) and S. montevideo (1.69%) were isolated from small intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes respectively. Stray cats have great chances to get intestinal infection in comparison with the house cats due to their living style. In conclusion asymptomatic (carriers) stray cats were considered a dangerous source of infection with Salmonellae, besides their significant role in contamination of environment; they will threat public and animal health particularly in cities

And M Abdul-Mohsen Al-Talibi

M Mushgil Zenad

Q Talib Al-Obaidi

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133 
To cite this paper: Mushgil Zenad M., Talib Al-Obaidi Q. and Abdul-Mohsen Al-Talibi M. 2014. Prevalence of Salmonella species in stray cats in Mosul city, 
Iraq. Online J. Anim. Feed Res., 4 (5): 133-136. 
Scienceline/Journal homepages: http://www.science-line.com/index/; http://www.ojafr.ir 
Copyright © 2014 Scienceline Publication  
Online Journal of Animal and Feed Research                                                                                            
Volume 4, Issue 5: 133-136  (2014)                                                                                                                                                                ISSN 2228-7701 
                                                                                                                                                                                      
 
PREVALENCE OF Salmonella SPECIES IN STRAY CATS IN MOSUL 
CITY, IRAQ 
 
M. MUSHGIL ZENAD1, Q. TALIB AL-OBAIDI2 AND M. ABDUL-MOHSEN AL-TALIBI2 
1PhD, Assistant Prof.; Department of Internal and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of 
Baghdad, Iraq  
2MSc, Lecturers; Department of Internal and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of 
Mosul, Iraq 
 
*Email: Zenadaboodi@yahoo.com 
 
ABSTRACT: Stray carnivores are often exposed to intestinal infection with Salmonella species and 
might remain carriers for long period, so they have great possibilities for shedding these organisms; 
particularly the stray cats in cities are more than others because of their size and habits; thus they 
might contribute actively in contamination of environment. The aim of this study was to detect 
Salmonella species in stray cats and to access their role in spreading of salmonella infection. Rectal 
swabs from 59 apparently healthy cats were cultured, tetrathionate broth and Salmonella–Shigella 
agar were used. Euthanization and post mortem examinations were done later. Bacterial isolation 
from internal organs was carried out also. Morphological properties and biochemical tests were 
dependent for detection of Salmonella organisms. They were serotyped in Central Health Laboratory 
in Baghdad. A high isolation rate of Salmonellae (10.16%) was recorded (by rectal swabs). Various 
Salmonella serovars were observed: S. anatum (3.38%), S. montevideo (3.38%), S. typhimurim 
(1.69%) and S. brenrderup (1.69%). The isolation rate from internal organs was lower (0.67%) than 
that from rectum,  S. typhimurim (1.69%) and S. montevideo (1.69%) were isolated from small 
intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes respectively. Stray cats have great chances to get intestinal 
infection in comparison with the house cats due to their living style. In conclusion asymptomatic 
(carriers) stray cats were considered a dangerous source of infection with Salmonellae, besides 
their significant role in contamination of environment; they will threat public and animal health 
particularly in cities. 
Keywords: Salmonella, Cats, Enteric Infection in Mosul. 
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INTRODUCTION 
 
Salmonellosis is a world wide spread infection, it causes considerable economic losses and it is of public 
health significance (Hoelzer et al., 2011).  Salmonella species mostly inhibits the intestinal tract of vertebrate and 
invertebrate, consequently they are excreted in feces and resulting in contamination of food, water and 
environment (Hale et al., 2012). Despite the disappearance of clinical signs the infected cats remain carriers for 
long period; particularly those recovered from acute infection continue to shed salmonellae in their feces for 12 
week (Wall et al., 1995). Moreover excretion of the organisms may be increased with stress factors and prolong 
uses of antibiotics (Shane et al., 2003 and Mather et al., 2013). Cats can carry Salmonella organisms 
asymptomatically and the clinical form is uncommon (Gallaway, 2008). Stray cats feed on diet of animal sources: 
rodents, wild birds, carcasses and west products of slaughters which will in turn increase the infection rate in cats 
and other species of animals. Salmonellosis had been extensively investigated in the different parts of the world: 
Infection rate of salmonellosis in apparently healthy cats (160) in Iran was 9.4% and in pet cats 18.4% (Shimi and 
Barin, 1977), in Sudan 10.5% (Khan, 1970), in the same instance very few studies on stray carnivores were 
performed in Iraq: high rate of Salmonella infection was reported in stray dogs in Mosul governorate- Iraq (Zenad 
and Ali, 2003), also it was reported a higher infection rate in diseased than healthy cats (Shimi and Barin, 1977). 
This was a preliminary study on cats in Mosul city. The aim of the present work is to find the prevalence of 
Salmonella species in stray cats and to access their role in spreading of disease in Mosul city. 
 
MATRIAL AND METHODS 
     
Fifty nine stray cats had been captured by using suitable cages, they were apparently healthy. Rectal swabs 
were taken for culturing, all these cats were humanly euthanized and post mortem examination was carried out. 
134 
To cite this paper: Mushgil Zenad M., Talib Al-Obaidi Q. and Abdul-Mohsen Al-Talibi M. 2014. Prevalence of Salmonella species in stray cats in Mosul city, 
Iraq. Online J. Anim. Feed Res., 4 (5): 133-136. 
Scienceline/Journal homepages: http://www.science-line.com/index/; http://www.ojafr.ir 
Specimens (one gram) from internal organs: mesenteric lymph node, spleen, liver, brain and one milliliter of small 
intestinal content were collected; tissue organs were aseptically cut into small pieces. All tissue specimens and 
rectal swabs were inoculated into 10 ml buffer pepton water and incubated at 37 ◦C for 24 hours, one ml of the later 
transferred into 10 ml of enrichment tetrathionate broth and incubated at 42 ◦C for 48 hours, one loop full from the 
later broth was streaked on selective Salmonella-Shigella agar and incubated at 37 ◦C for 24 hours. The 
characteristic appearance of Salmonella colonies was dependent for identification and selection of them for further 
biochemical tests: triple sugar iron, Simmon citrate and urea agar test. Accordingly those give positive reaction in 
triple sugar iron test and Simmon’s citrate as well as negative reaction to urease, were selected for serotyping in 
Central Health Laboratory in Baghdad-Iraq (OIE, 2003). This work was done by approval of veterinary medicine 
college council and diroctorate of veterinary hospital in Mosul city. 
 
RESULTS  
    
 Eight out of 59 apparently healthy cats were positive for Salmonella species isolation, the total isolation rate 
was 13.5% (Figure 1). Four different serovars (by rectal swabs) were isolated (10.16%) from six cats; they were: 
Salmonella anatum (3.38%), Salmonella montevideo (3.38%), Salmonella typhimuruim (1.69%) and Salmonella 
brenderup (1.69%; Table 1). Two other serotypes were isolated from internal organs of two cats (negative to rectal 
swab isolation): Salmonella typhimuruim (1.69%) from small intestinal content and Salmonella montevideo (1.69%) 
from mesenteric lymph nodes. The isolation rate from internal organs of necropsitzed cats was lesser than that 
from rectal swabs. The most frequent serotype was Salmonella montevideo (37.5%), Salmonella anatum and 
Salmonella typhimuruim (25% for each) and Salmonella brenderup (12.5%; Figure 1). Insignificant variation among 
both sexes was observed. 
 
 
Table 1 - Salmonella serovars isolated from different samples. 
Samples No. of samples 
No. of (+ve )*samples 
for Salmonella sp. 
(%) of different salmonella serovars 
Fecal swabs 59 
2 S. anatum (3.38) 
2 S. montevideo (3.38) 
1 S. typhimurium (1.69) 
1 Salmonella brenderup (1.69) 
Total 59 6 10.16 
Internal organs 
Mesenteric L.N 59 1 S. montevideo (1.69) 
Spleen 59 0 - 
Liver 59 0 - 
Brain 59 0 - 
Small intestinal contents 59 1 S. typhimurium (1.69) 
Total 295 2 0.67 
(+ve )*= positive samples of feces and tissues of organs examined for salmonella species 
 
 
Figure 1 - Frequent rate of different salmonella serovars 
 
135 
To cite this paper: Mushgil Zenad M., Talib Al-Obaidi Q. and Abdul-Mohsen Al-Talibi M. 2014. Prevalence of Salmonella species in stray cats in Mosul city, 
Iraq. Online J. Anim. Feed Res., 4 (5): 133-136. 
Scienceline/Journal homepages: http://www.science-line.com/index/; http://www.ojafr.ir 
DISCUSSION  
 
Salmonellosis had been investigated in different animal species in Mosul city (Al-Nakshabandy and Zenad, 
2004 and Saleem, 2003), as well as in human being (Al-Juboory et al., under publication). Seldom studies on stray 
carnivores had been done in Iraq. Salmonella infection rate was higher in stray dogs (15%) than other species 
(Zenad and Ali, 2003) in Mosul, in the same instance, low rate of Salmonella infection (4.6%) was recorded in 
housed dogs in Baghdad-capital city- of Iraq (Kallo and Hasso, 2001). The variations of Salmonella infection in dogs 
were recorded in many different countries (Nastasi et al., 1986; Kwaga et al., 1989 and Kozak et al., 2003). These 
variations could be attributed to differences in geography, time of studies, environments etc., and /or other factors 
(Ojo and Adetosoye, 2009). A total rate of Salmonella infection in stray cats was 13.5%, it was near to that value 
reported in stray dogs (15%) in Mosul (Zenad and Ali, 2003). Also it was similar to the prevalence of salmonellosis 
in cats in Iran (13.6%) reported by Shimi and Barin (1977). The isolation rate by rectal swabs (10.16%) was higher 
than that from internal organs (0.67%), this result increased the probability of shedding Salmonellae in feces of 
infected cats, furthermore the rate of Salmonella infection in apparently healthy pet cats was 12.8% in Iran (Shimi 
et al., 1977) also Fox and Beaucage (1979) reported an isolation rate 10.6% in cats from different sources. 
Moreover a surprising high rate of Salmonella infection (51.4%) in housed cats was reported (Immerseel et al., 
2004). In contrary lower infection rate (1.92%) in healthy cats was reported in German (Weber et al., 1995). 
Similarly 1% of Salmonella infection rate was recorded in Colorado (Hill et al., 2000). Low rate of salmonella 
infection (0.36%, 0.8%) in healthy cats were also recorded in Belgium and New York (Immerseel et al., 2004 and 
Spain et al., 2001), however a wide range of isolation rate of salmonellae from clinically normal cats (0-14 %) was 
reported (Center et al., 1995). The variations of salmonella infection rates in cats in different localities are seemed 
to be resembled to those in dogs and might be due to the same factors. Despite asymptomatic infection of cats 
with Salmonella species they become carriers and can shed Salmonella organisms (Carter and Quinn, 2000) in 
their feces. Some researchers considered the apparently healthy cats have low risk on public health (Wilson, 2004). 
As the Salmonella organisms commonly inhibit the digestive tract and their associated lymph nodes of infected 
cats, they excrete Salmonella organisms intermittently in their feces (Gallaway et al., 2008 and Carter and Quinn, 
2000). In spite of infected cats being asymptomatic they can perpetuate the Salmonella species in their bodies, 
besides an increase dissemination of Salmonellae occurs when they are exposed to stress factors or concurrent 
diseases (Bhaiyat et al., 2009) and prolong uses of antimicrobial drugs (Mather et al., 2013), therefore carriers will 
actively contribute to contamination of environment. Moreover stray cats scavenge or hunt: carcasses, west 
products of slaughter houses, rodents and wild birds, which in turn increase the rate of infection in such species. 
Also the uncontrolled wandering of stray cats helps in spreading of Salmonellae over a wide size area in cities. 
Moreover the small size and quite behavior of cats as compared to other carnivores; besides the merciful looking to 
them by people are greatly facilitated the spread of these organisms. This study revealed that Salmonella 
montevideo was the dominant serovar (37.5%) followed by Salmonella anatum and Salmonella typhimurium (25% 
for each Figure 1). In other studies the most frequent serovar was Salmonella typhimurium (Weber et al., 1995 and 
Philbey et al., 2008), this could be due to differences in geographical areas, time and species (Jay et al., 2003 and 
Tewari et al., 2012).  
 
CONCLUSION 
 
Asymptomatic (carriers) stray cats were considered a dangerous source of infection with Salmonellae, 
besides their significant role in contamination of environment; they will threat public and animal health particularly 
in cities. Conclusively the stray cats are potentially posing a significant threat to public health, therefore stray 
carnivors in large towns must be taken in consideration when prevention, control or irradication programs of 
salmonellosis carried out. Condamination of stray cats and dogs is ethically unaccepted now. The campaigns of 
hunting and surgical castration of males in veterinary hospitals are more humane procedures, beside education 
and awareness of people were necessary for cooperation. 
 
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Prevalence of Salmonella species in stray cats in Mosul city

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Prevalence of Salmonella species in stray cats in Mosul city

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