Incidence of Salmonellae in Lymph Nodes, Spleens and Feces of Sheep and Goats Slaughtered in the Riyadh Public Abattoir.

During the period July, 1980 to June, 1981, 618 samples consisting of mesenteric lymph nodes, spleens and feces, collected from 307 sheep and goats slaughtered in the Riyadh Public Abattoir, were examined for salmonellae. Salmonellae were recovered from 14.7% of 307 lymph nodes, 4.7% of 192 feces and from 0.8% of 119 spleens. Among the 23 serotypes recovered, the most common was Salmonella typhimurium followed by S. newport , S. havana , S. bovismorbificans , S. reading , S. braenderup , S. eastbourne , and S. poona . Other less common serotypes were also encountered. Lymph nodes and feces from slaughtered animals may be a source for contamination of the red meat and other edible parts of the carcase with salmonellae. Consumption of contaminated meat or meat products either raw or undercooked may cause Salmonella food poisoning in man.