Mechanisms of host-agent interactions in subclinical salmonella infection in pig herds

Abstract

<p>Salmonella spp. are ubiquitous in nature and have been recovered from nearly all vertebrates (Taylor and McCoy, 1969) and there is little dispute that Salmonella is an intestinal pathogen (D'Aoust, 1991; Hsu, 1989). Typically, the organism is thought to pass through the stomach after oral exposure, enter into the intestine, replicate intraluminally, pass through the glycocalyx, undergo endocytosis through the cell cytoplasm, then exocytosis through the basement membrane (Hale and Formal, 1988). Malabsorption and/or the release of prostaglandins may play a role in the manifestation of diarrhea (Gianella et al., 1973). Other factors that may influence fluid loss include the presence of an enterotoxin or cytotoxin/hemolysin (Prasada et al., 1990; Libby et al., 1990; Reitmeyer, 1986).</p>