The Salmonella Problem in Lebanon and Its Role in Acute Gastroenteritis

Abstract

The present report presents the available data on the first isolation, occurrence, and distribution of the unadapted group of salmonellae in various nonhuman sources in Lebanon. Salmonella typhimurium was the most predominant serotype in poultry. It is the leading serotype in its zoological distribution as it was isolated from 10 animal species. Other unadapted Salmonella isolates from poultry, listed according to their descending frequency, included Salmonella bareilly, Salmonella pullorum, Salmonella infantis, Salmonella oranienburg, and Salmonella aqama. Salmonella dublin was the most frequent in cattle followed by S. typhimurium. The four most common serotypes encountered in animal feed were Salmonella meleagridis, Salmonella tennessee, Salmonella Chester, and Salmonella seftenberg, whereas the most predominant Salmonella serotypes recovered from sewage effluent were Salmonella montevideo, Salmonella goetborq, Salmonella paratyphi B, Salmonella bovis-morbificans, Salmonella livingstone and Salmonella muenster. The latter was isolated from leftover poultry meat that was incriminated in four separate food poisoning outbreaks of gastroenteritis which occurred in different places in East Beirut. The same serotype was isolated from the stools of some of the affected patients. Some of the documented Salmonella gastroenteritis outbreaks in Lebanon are briefly reviewed. The prevention and control of human salmonellosis are discussed.