Texas A&M Researchers Lead the Fight Against Salmonella in Veterinary Hospitals

Salmonella may be one of the smallest pathogens in the veterinary world, but its impact can be massive. Beyond being a leading cause of foodborne illness in people and animals, salmonella outbreaks are among the most common reasons large animal veterinary hospitals are forced to shut down temporarily. Researchers at Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) are now leading cutting-edge studies to better understand how salmonella spreads—and how to stop it before it disrupts animal care, food safety, and hospital operations.

The Challenge of Salmonella in Veterinary Hospitals

Veterinary hospitals face unique risks when it comes to salmonella transmission. Infected animals, even those that appear perfectly healthy, can shed large amounts of bacteria in their manure. From there, salmonella can easily contaminate surfaces, tools, hospital stalls, and even clothing or footwear, creating risks for other animals, veterinary staff, and even families at home.

“Salmonella can be very difficult to manage because of the high potential for exposure around infected animals,” explained Dr. Paul Morley, professor of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and director of research at the Veterinary Education, Research & Outreach (VERO) campus. “It doesn’t take many bacteria to cause an infection in animals or people, which makes prevention and early detection critical.”

Studying Shedding Patterns to Identify High-Risk Patients

One of the main goals of the Texas A&M team is to track shedding patterns—when and how animals release salmonella into their environment. By learning which patients are most likely to shed bacteria, hospitals can quickly identify high-risk cases and act fast to prevent outbreaks.

A current study at the VMBS Large Animal Teaching Hospital (LATH) is testing samples from 600 incoming patientsto determine how many are carrying salmonella at admission. Led by Dr. Elizabeth Rumfola, a second-year resident in food animal medicine, the project will help refine biosecurity protocols and guide hospital staff on when to implement segregation, enhanced disinfection, and protective gear.

“This research gives us the data we need to strengthen infection control measures and protect both our patients and our staff,” said Dr. Shannon Reed, clinical associate professor at VMBS.

Advanced Diagnostics: Detecting the Invisible

Another challenge with salmonella is that even tiny amounts of bacteria can cause infection. To address this, VERO researchers are using advanced molecular tools to detect and identify salmonella strains with greater speed and accuracy.

Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, researchers can detect salmonella DNA from small samples, though results may still take several days. To improve turnaround, the team is working on techniques to differentiate strains more quickly—helping determine whether an infection originated before hospital admission or within the hospital itself.

“These advanced tools allow us to track salmonella transmission with far greater precision,” Morley said. “They’re also helping us explore new questions, like whether horses can carry multiple strains at once.”

Exploring Regional and Seasonal Risks

Texas A&M researchers are also looking at how regional and seasonal conditions affect salmonella risks. Because Texas and other southern climates tend to experience higher case numbers, the team is collecting samples throughout the year to see if heat, humidity, or other environmental factors influence shedding patterns.

“Understanding local risk factors will allow us to share insights with veterinary hospitals across the country,” Reed explained. “That way, we can adapt infection control protocols to different environments.”

Protecting People as Well as Animals

While the primary focus is preventing animal illness, salmonella is also a zoonotic disease—meaning it can pass from animals to humans. This makes infection control a matter of occupational safety as well.

“Veterinarians worry about more than just the animals in our care,” Morley said. “We want to keep our teams safe and prevent anyone from unknowingly carrying salmonella home to their families or pets.”

Raising the Bar for Veterinary Medicine

The impact of Texas A&M’s salmonella research extends beyond its own teaching hospitals. The findings will inform national infection control guidelines and help veterinary hospitals across the U.S. strengthen their biosecurity protocols.

“Throughout my career, I’ve worked on infection control policies that are now used widely in veterinary medicine,” Morley noted. “At VERO, we’re continuing that mission by collaborating with hospitals across the country. By raising standards nationwide, we’re helping to protect patients everywhere—not just here in Texas.”