Detection of anti-Salmonella antibodies in food animals of Nagpur region by In-house ELISA

Salmonella is a widespread enteric pathogen of many animal species, including mammals, birds, insects, reptiles and humans. It is an opportunistic bacterium, infecting immunosuppressed animal and takes over lead in the absence of other competing gut bacteria. Salmonella Typhimurium  DT104, is of particular public health concern. In the present study sero-survey based on in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) have been attempted to study prevalence of anti-Salmonella antibodies among food animals by employing whole cell (WC) and lipopolysachharide (LPS) antigens. A total of 200 sera samples comprising 50 each from slaughter male cattle, buffaloes, goats and pigs were included in a study. WC-ELISA recorded 24% (cattle), 6% (buffalo), 68% (goat) and 74% (pigs) seropositivity for Salmonella whereas LPS-ELISA estimated seroprevalence of 8%, 0%, 56% and 40% among cattle, buffaloes, goats and pigs respectively. Though the results of ELISAs based on two antigens are not parallel, but the fact of presence of anti-Salmonella antibodies among food animals cannot be denied which is important from public health point of view. More comprehensive studies on livestock salmonellosis are required for further analysis of the bacterial reservoir for human infection. The usefulness of these two antigens as the diagnostic markers for detecting anti-Salmonella antibodies requires more study.