Salmonella Paratyphi B - Research Paper Example

Salmonella is a rod shaped gram negative, non-spore forming, and facultative bacteria. It is not visible to the naked eye as it has 0.7 to 5 µm, lengths from 2 to 5 µm and it also consists of a flagella. They belong to chemoorganotrophs who obtain the energy by oxidization and reduction reactions. Most of their species have reported to produce hydrogen sulphide as various experiments approved this when its culture was grown and detected on mediums such as TSI. Salmonella affects the cold blooded as well as warm blooded animals including humans. It lives in the intestines of humans and is transmitted to humans or animals when they consume the food contaminated with animal faeces. A fair number of cases of transmission have also been attributed to exposure to pets infected with the microbe. Approximately 40,000 people develop salmonella infection in the United States each year. Most patients are younger than 20. The highest rate occurs from July through October. Recently, the Peanut Corporation of America has been blamed for a nationwide outbreak of salmonella poisoning. Symptoms usually occur within 12 to 24 hours after eating the contaminated food. A person who suffers from salmonella infection might exhibit symptoms of nausea, vomiting, muscle pain ,diarrhoea , fever , chills , abdominal pain etc. These symptoms develop after 12 to 72 hours of infection. Some people recover early and easily but in some cases diarrhoea as a result of food poisoning become so severe that a person has to go and see a doctor. Salmonella transmits usually on consumption of foods like poultry beef and eggs that have not been cooked properly or have been contaminated with salmonella milk when not handled with care or not properly boiled dehydration may also occur. Habitats of China, Japan and people who eat reptiles such as turtles, snakes and frogs are a subject to salmonella infection. The salmonella bacteria that spreads through food is usually non-typhoidal bacteria. Two types, Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium, account for approximately half of all human infections. It is diagnosed by taking a proper relevant history, observation of symptoms and moreover stool cultures and blood tests confirm the diagnosis in majority of cases. Salmonellosis is the proper word used for infection caused by salmonella bacteria and is the most common foodborne illnesses. Food poisoning which is a form of acute gastro enteritis is the most common infection that affects people widely all over the world and according to FDA estimates around 400 deaths occur per year due to food poisoning and the cases that have been reported are around 2 to 4 million. There is currently no vaccine available for salmonella infection but antibiotics and consumptions of fluid to prevent dehydration are the main line of treatment. Salmonella can also spread through cross infection contamination like using unhygienic equipments for cutting of salads or meat .Salmonella, if affects the chicken being brought up in the poultry farms might be very harmful for the people who will be consuming these products later on. In order to prevent harmful effects and food poisoning as a result of salmonellosis chicken should be free of salmonella bacteria when they are brought to the poultry farm and to confirm that bacteria has not entered a particular chicken their samples should be taken from chick box liners, swabs and dead chicks. Chickens should be thoroughly monitored by taking samples from litter faecal samples boot or drag swabs dust samples. If a sample turns out to be positive those chicken should be slaughtered and should not be used or should be given antibiotics tills the salmonella bacteria completely eradicates . Moreover slaughterhouse and hatchery representatives should be informed about this. Broiler breeder and all other types of chicken are vaccinated against salmonella infection which lessens its harmful effects on food industry. The inclusion of Competitive Exclusion products in the diet of broilers on the farm results in extra protection against Salmonella infection as experiments show that there is a decline in rate of marine pathogenic bacteria causing salmonellosis. Cleaning and disinfection should be carried out properly to prevent outbreak of salmonellosis. While chicks are being hatched it should be kept in mind that salmonella may transmit to the chicks through contaminated egg shells and so dirty eggs should be separated and chicks being hatched should be monitored .As we know that reptiles and other animals like pigs, birds might carry salmonella so a farm on which they are being raised should have good monitoring systems along with provision of chlorinated water and diet free of salmonella bacteria should be consumed. Temperature control should also be monitored as it helps in preventing infusion of salmonella bacteria. Recent researches have showed that some vegetables might also contain salmonella so it should be made sure that good care of plants should be taken on the farms and quality of water given to plants should be good. Almost 13.000 cases where vegetables were the source of contamination has been reported form 1990. In order to prevent or decline the rate of infections that occur due to salmonella bacteria health workers, poultry farm workers and farmers and breeders should be educated and should be made aware about the measures that should be adopted to prevent salmonella infections. People should be informed to always eat hygienic food washed properly and eaten properly .Unpasteurized milk should be avoided, boiled water should be consumed. Other than food poisoning researches have shown that salmonella bacteria is responsible for causing typhoid fever, reiters syndrome which if becomes severe leads to arthritis, conjunctivitis, urinary tract infections and kidney infections and reproductive organs . Hence salmonella infection are life threatening and pose a great risk to individuals health so preventive measures should be taken, community health programs should be advertised about ways of preventing salmonellosis. It is one of the main issues that poultry farm workers and farmers and breeders face and hence take various measures as discussed above. Bibliography Chapman, Ben. Salmonella Paratyphi B outbreak in Western North Carolina. 27 April 2012. Online. 27 April 2012. Ehrlich, Steven D. Food poisoning. 30 August 2010. Online. 25 April 2012. Marler, Bill. India Tuna source of Salmonella Bareilly and Nchanga outbreak. 27 April 2012. Online. 27 April 2012. Read More