1Centre for Animal Disease Research and Diagnosis, ICAR-lndian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, UP
2Division of Biotechnology, ICAR-lndian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, UP
Division of Bacteriology and Mycology, ICAR-lndian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, UP
*E-mail address: mmashooqgojar5@gmail.com
Online published on 9 September, 2016.
To determine the prevalence and distribution of Salmonella in sheep and goats, a total of 312 faecal samples was collected aseptically from healthy sheep and goats from Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir states. Samples were examined by cultural and molecular methods (real-time polymerase chain reaction, qPCR) for presence of Salmonella. Out of 312 faecal samples 22 (7.05%) and 26 (8.33%) were positive for Salmonella detected by cultural method and qPCR, respectively. The results revealed 6.74% (12) and 8.42% (15) goats compared to 7.46% (10) and 8.2% (11) sheep positive for Salmonella identified by cultural method and qPCR, respectively. The study revealed that Salmonella is commonly present in small ruminants and its prevalence varies from place to place. The qPCR is a sensitive and specific tool to detect the presence of Salmonella in faecal samples.
Goats, Prevalence, Salmonella, Sheep