Q. Source of the bacteria of Salmonellosis?
The initial source of the bacteria is the intestinal tract of birds, reptiles, farm animals, humans and occasionally insects. As intestinal form, the organisms are excreted in faeces from which they maybe transmitted by insects and other living creatures to a large number of places, polluted water and contaminated food. The organism may get transferred from diseased individual or from carriers. A carrier is defined as a person or an animal that repeatedly sheds bacteria, usually through faeces, without showing any signs or symptoms of the disease. Infected rodents, rats and mice may contaminate unprotected foods with their faeces and thus spread Salmonella bacteria. Flies may play an important role in the spread of Salmonella, especially from contaminated faecal matter to foods. Humans acquire the bacteria from contaminated protein rich food and water.