1 - Biological pathogens in animals

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the biological pathogens in animals. It discusses only a selection of the zoonotic agents. The most important zoonotic pathogenic bacteria in food-producing animals are: Salmonella spp. ; Verotoxin (VT) producing Escherichia coli (EC) (VTEC), particularly in cattle and sheep; Campylobacter jejuni , often in poultry; Yersinia enterocolitica , usually in pigs; Listeria monocytogenes , mainly in cattle and sheep; and Staphylococcus aureus, on hide, skin, and in udder. Among the zoonotic parasites, listed in this chapter are: Cryptosporidium , a small intracellular protozoan in the intestinal tract of young cattle; Toxoplasma , a coccidian parasite with zoonotic significance as cysts in the muscles of sheep and pigs; the coccidian parasite, Sarcocystis , in the muscles of cattle and pigs; Trichinella , a historically important parasitic nematode that can occur as a reservoir of larvae in the muscles of pigs and horses; the infective intermediate stadiums of the tapeworms, Taenia saginata in the muscles of cattle ( Cysticercus bovis ) and cysts of Taenia solium in muscles of pigs.