title: Outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Infantis infection in humans linked to dry dog food in the United States and Canada, 2012.
abstract: CASE DESCRIPTION--In April 2012, Salmonella enterica serotype Infantis was detected in an unopened bag of dry dog food collected during routine retail surveillance. PulseNet, a national bacterial subtyping network, identified humans with Salmonella Infantis infection with the same genetic fingerprint as the dog food sample. CLINICAL FINDINGS--An outbreak investigation identified 53 ill humans infected with the outbreak strain during January 1 to July 5, 2012, in 21 states and 2 provinces in Canada; 20 (38%) were children ≤ 2 years old, and 12 of 37 (32%) were hospitalized. Of 21 ill people who remembered the dog food brand, 12 (57%) reported a brand produced at a plant in Gaston, SC. Traceback investigations also identified that plant. The outbreak strain was isolated from bags of dry dog food and fecal specimens obtained from dogs that lived with ill people and that ate the implicated dry dog food. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME--The plant was closed temporarily for cleaning and disinfection. Sixteen brands involving > 27,000 metric tons (> 30,000 tons) of dry dog and cat food were recalled. Thirty-one ill dogs linked to recalled products were reported through the FDA consumer complaint system. CLINICAL RELEVANCE-- A one-health collaborative effort on epidemiological, laboratory, and traceback investigations linked dry dog foods produced at a plant to illnesses in dogs and humans. More efforts are needed to increase awareness among pet owners, health-care professionals, and the pet food industry on the risk of illness in pets and their owners associated with dry pet foods and treats.
authors.affiliation: Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC, Atlanta, GA 30333.
authors.forename: Maho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imanishi
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Rotstein
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reimschuessel
authors.forename: Colin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Schwensohn
authors.forename: Dillard H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Woody
authors.forename: Samuel W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: April D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Katherine D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Arends
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Achen
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lynn F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Denny
authors.forename: Quyen N
authors.initials: QN
authors.lastname: Phan
authors.forename: Lavin A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Carla C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tuite
authors.forename: Joanne R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Tataryn
authors.forename: Casey Barton
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Behravesh
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D019779:Salmonella enterica / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology