Experimental Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhimurium infection in Indian goats: clinical, serological, bacteriological and pathological studies Alok K. Sharma a , B.N. Tripathi b,* , J.C. Verma c , N.S. Parihar d a Equine Hospital, Hyderabad Race Club, Hyderabad, AP, India b Division of Pathology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243122, UP, India c National Salmonella Centre Veterinary), Division of Bacteriology and Mycology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243122, UP, India d 114, Rajendra Nagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India Accepted 26 July 2001 Abstract Experimental Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhimurium S. Typhimurium) infection was produced in Indian goats n  10) for clinical, serological, bacteriological and pathological characterisation of the disease. Clinical symptoms consisted of dyspnoea, anorexia, pyrexia, progressive weakness and diarrhoea. Important haemato-biochemical ®ndings included leukocytosis, neutrophilia, decreased packed cell volume PCV), total erythrocyte count TEC) and albumin/ globulin ratio. Faecal excretion of S. Typhimurium was detected throughout the observation period of 10 days. Serological examination revealed appearance of agglutinating antibodies against `O' and `H' antigens after 5 days of infection. Isolation of organisms from different tissues and gastrointestinal content collected at post-mortem showed consistent recovery of S. Typhimurium from the mesenteric lymph nodes MLNs) and the caecal content. Thickening of the small intestine with congested mucosa, enlarged oedematous in¯ammed MLNs and necrotic foci in liver were the major necropsy ®ndings. Histological changes consisted of degenerated and eroded villous epithelium, and in®ltration of lamina propria with polymorphs initially followed by mononuclear cells in later stage of the infection. MLNs showed oedema and focal to diffuse in®ltration of subcapsular sinuses with polymorphs. Splenitis and focal necrosis of hepatocytes along with positive cultures indicated systemic dissemination of S. Typhimurium infection in goats. # 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Salmonella Typhimurium; Clinical pathology; Serology; Histopathology; Goats 1. Introduction Salmonellosis in farm animals is widespread and is responsible for human infection through the `food chain'Nabbutetal.,1982;Wrayetal.,1990;Benson et al., 1997). Amongst more than 2435 Salmonella serotypes Pepoff and Le Minor, 1997), Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhimurium has shown the highest adaptability to a wide range of hosts. It causes typhoid like disease in rodents, and septicaemia and gastroenteritis in young kids, lambs, calves,goats,andpigletsDasetal.,1990;Wrayetal., 1990; Pepoff and Le Minor, 1997). Outbreaks of salmonellosis mainly due to S. Typhimurium have been reported in transported feral goats in Australia. Small Ruminant Research 42 2001) 125±134 * Corresponding author. Fax: 91-581-447284. E-mail address: bntripathi@ivri.up.nic.in B.N. Tripathi). 0921-4488/01/$ ± see front matter # 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII:S0921-448801)00239-5