Food, water, or surfaces may become contaminated. Salmonella gastroenteritis is probably the most common zoonotic disease of humans. It is estimated there are two million cases annually in the United States. The organism is commonly found in animals, especially birds and reptiles. The bacteria are shed for some time following infection.
Many animals are persistent carriers.
Dehydration is often a problem. The disease is characterized by tonic spasms of the muscle groups of the jaw, neck, and back. Untreated, there is a 70 percent mortality rate. Acute wound-associated tetanus can be prevented by appropriate wound management, including active or passive immunization. Also included are over 100 species of mammals and 25 species of birds.