Salmonella and Salmonellosis

Context: The rapid and unselective use of traditional antibiotics gives rise to the emergence of drug resistant phenotype in typhoidal and non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars, which has increased the difficulties in curing Salmonella-induced food-borne illnesses (majorly typhoid or paratyphoid fever, gastroenteritis, and diarrhoea) worldwide.

About Salmonella Typhimurium:

• It is often associated with animals and animal products that are eaten.
• Salmonella Typhimurium can be transferred to humans through raw or undercooked infected food including meat and eggs.
• Salmonella Typhimurium causes gastroenteritis (inflammation of the gut).
• Salmonella typhimurium ST313, an invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella serovar, causes bloodstream infection in the malnourished and immunocompromised population of sub-Saharan Africa.
• Recent studies have reported the emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) phenotype in Salmonella tphimurium DT104, which causes infection in humans and cattle.
• The continuous adaptation of this bacteria to the available antibiotics creates a risk of developing antimicrobial resistance in the future.

About Salmonellosis:

• Salmonellosis is an infection with a bacteria called Salmonella.
• Salmonella live in the intestinal tracts of animals, including birds.
• Salmonella are usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal faces.
• Contaminated foods are often of animal origin, such as poultry, pork, beef, poultry, milk, or eggs, but all foods, including vegetables may become contaminated.
• Thorough cooking kills Salmonella.
• Commonly infected foods include:
  • Raw meat, poultry and seafood
  • Raw or undercooked eggs
  • Unpasteurized dairy products
  • Fruits and vegetables

Source: The Hindu

Previous Year Question

Q.1) Which one of the following statements best describes the role of B cells and T cells in the human body?  (2022)

1. They protect the environmental allergens. body
2. They alleviate the body’s pain and inflammation.
3. They act as immunosuppressants in the body.
4. They protect the body from the diseases caused by pathogens.

Q,2) In the context of hereditary diseases, consider the following statements:

1. Passing on mitochondrial diseases from parent to child can be prevented by mitochondrial replacement therapy either before or after in vitro fertilization of the egg.
2. A child inherits mitochondrial diseases entirely from the mother and not from the father.

Which of the statements given above is’/are correct?  (2021)

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2