Biologics Manual Sheep Enteric Producer Report

National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) Enteric Microbe Report

Date of report:

ID:

Dear participant,

Thank you for participating in the enteric microbe testing portion of the NAHMS Sheep 2024 Study. This report contains testing results for Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), and Campylobacter performed on sheep at your operation. Please consider sharing these results with your veterinarian.

If you have questions about the accuracy of your results, please contact Dr. Alyson Wiedenheft, the NAHMS biologics coordinator at [email protected].

Background on Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter:

The bacteria Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter all can inhabit the intestinal tract of sheep and can be shed in their feces. Sheep that are shedding these enteric microbes can have clinical signs such as diarrhea or fever, or can appear totally healthy. E. coli are normal (commensal) flora of the intestines of humans and animals, and while many subtypes are harmless, others, like E. coli O157:H7, can cause disease by producing a toxin called Shiga toxin.

When enteric microbes are shed in sheep feces, they can cause infections in other animals and humans and can contaminate the environment. Thus, it is important to take precautions when working with sheep that are known to be shedding these enteric microbes.

Overview of Enteric Microbe Testing Performed and Results Reported:

Fecal samples collected from sheep on your operation were tested for the presence of Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), and Campylobacter.

The presence (“Positive”) or absence (“Negative”) of the microbes in the samples are reported for each Sheep sampled. For some animals, there may not be enough fecal samples to complete all the testing. If an insufficient amount of fecal sample was submitted, the column will read “NA.”

Enteric Microbe RESULTS:

Individual Sheep Results:

Sample #	Sheep ID	Salmonella	STEC E. coli	Campylobacter
1		Positive	Negative	Positive
2		Negative	Negative	Negative
3		Negative	Negative	Negative
4		Negative	Negative	Negative
5		Negative	Negative	Negative
6		Negative	Negative	Negative
7		Negative	Negative	NA

For positive results:

Enteric Microbe Results Interpretation: One or more of the sheep tested from your operation were positive for Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), and/or Cryptosporidium in their feces on the day sampled. You may want to share these results with your veterinarian.

Or if all negative results:

Enteric Microbe Results Interpretation: None of the sheep tested from your operation were positive for Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), or Campylobacter in their feces on the day sampled. Fecal microbes can be shed intermittently, therefore a negative test result does not mean your sheep will never shed these microbes. If any of your sheep experience clinical signs consistent with an enteric microbe infection, you may wish to consult your veterinarian about submitting additional samples for testing.