Manifestations of Salmonellosis in Small Ruminants in The Netherlands over a Period of 15 Years

Salmonella spp. are major zoonotic pathogens and an important cause of foodborne disease. However, information on the occurrence of salmonellosis in small ruminants in The Netherlands is limited, and no specific control programme exists for sheep and goats. This study investigated temporal trends, serovar distribution, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and outbreak characteristics of salmonellosis in Dutch sheep and goats, using surveillance and diagnostic data from the national animal health monitoring system of Royal GD (GD). Overall, salmonellosis in small ruminants was relatively rare, but clear species-specific differences were observed among diagnosed cases, clinical presentation, serovar distribution, and epidemiological drivers. Between 2006 and 2020, Salmonella spp. were isolated from 34 sheep originating from 25 farms. No confirmed cases were recorded between 2006 and 2012 in goats; from 2013 onwards, 42 cases were diagnosed on 14 farms. In goats, the disease occurred predominantly during the neonatal period and was associated with environmental contamination, animal movements, limited therapeutic options, and, on some farms, also human cases of salmonellosis related to direct contact with the infected goat kids. Concurrent farm-level outbreaks caused by Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium with shared or closely related MLVA profiles, together with human cases linked to infected dairy goat farms, underline the One Health relevance of salmonellosis in this sector. These findings highlight the need for species-specific approaches for surveillance, prevention, and control to support animal health management, prudent antimicrobial use, and mitigation of public health risks.