Alert: Salmonella Suspected in Pets with Exposure to Dead Pine Siskins and Goldfinches

Link: http://www.piedmontwildlifecenter.org/

The following information is from Piedmont Wildlife Center

Alert: Salmonella Suspected in Pets with Exposure to Dead Pine Siskins and Goldfinches

It has recently been documented that there is an outbreak of Salmonella killing songbirds in the Southeastern United States (http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/03/15/birds0315.html). In the last 3 weeks, Bowman Animal Hospital has hospitalized three cats and one dog due to suspected Salmonella infection from contact with sick or dead Pine Siskin or Goldfinch songbirds. It was confirmed by the North Carolina Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory that a dead Goldfinch (which one of the pets had in its mouth) tested positive for a Salmonella isolate belonging to serogroup B. This serogroup includes serotypes that can infect humans and animals. This is not the same strain of Salmonella found in the birdseed that was recently recalled or the peanut butter sold for human consumption. For information on the recall see: http://www.agr.state.nc.us/fooddrug/feed/BirdFoodRecallFAQ

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