An outbreak of salmonellosis in tigers at Bannerghatta Biological Park, Bangalore

Out of total 44 captive tigers at Bannerghatta Biological Park, Bangalore, 4 adults and 1 cub had anorexia, pyrexia and acute reddish brown diarrhoea with mucus. Hematological analysis revealed leucocytosis with neutrophilia. All the affected animals were treated with antibiotics and parenteral fluid therapy. All the animals showed signs of recovery except for one adult tigress (Divya), and a cub and a cub which initially showed signs of recovery but a week later became dull, off feed and died. On postmortem examination, severe lesions of acute gastroenteritis and necrotic hepatitis were observed. During the same period, similar signs were observed in 11 more tigers. Salmonella Typhimurium organisms were isolated from faecal samples and tissues collected during postmortem examination. The gross and bacteriological studies confirmed the case of salmonellosis in tigers. The source of the infection was suspected to be chickens fed to tigers.