Outbreak of multidrug-resistant <i>Salmonella</i> infections in people linked to pig ear pet treats, United States, 2015-2019: results of a multistate investigation.
case_series · Level IV
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 38817954.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1016/j.lana.2024.100769 and PMC identifier 11137515.
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Abstract
International distribution of contaminated foods can be a source of <i>Salmonella</i> infections in people and can contribute to the spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria across countries. We report an investigation led by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state governmental officials into a multistate outbreak of salmonellosis linked to pig ear pet treats. Pig ear treats and companion dogs were tested for <i>Salmonella</i> by state officials and the FDA. Products were traced back to the country of origin when possible. Cases were defined as outbreak illnesses in people associated with one of seven <i>Salmonella</i> serotypes genetically related to samples from pig ear pet treats, with isolation dates from June 2015 to September 2019. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of isolates was used to predict antimicrobial resistance. The outbreak included 154 human cases in 34 states. Of these, 107 of 122 (88%) patients reported dog contact, and 65 of 97 (67%) reported contact with pig ear pet treats. <i>Salmonella</i> was isolated from 137 pig ear treats, including some imported from Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia, and from four dogs. WGS predicted 77% (105/137) of human and 43% (58/135) of pig ear treat isolates were resistant to ≥3 antimicrobial classes. This was the first documented United States multistate outbreak of <i>Salmonella</i> infections linked to pig ear pet treats. This multidrug-resistant outbreak highlights the interconnectedness of human health and companion animal ownership and the need for zoonotic pathogen surveillance to prevent human illness resulting from internationally transported pet food products. Animal Feed Regulatory Program Standards award. Animal and product testing conducted by FDA Vet-LIRN was funded by Vet-LIRN infrastructure grants (PAR-22-063).