Which type of animals can shear salmonella spp. asymptomatically?

The correct answer is dairy cows because certain strains of Salmonella spp. can reside in the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants, including cows, without causing noticeable symptoms. These animals may shed the bacteria in their feces, thereby serving as carriers. This asymptomatic shedding can pose a risk for transmission to other animals and humans, especially in environments like farms where close contact occurs.

In contrast, other animals such as poultry are also known carriers of Salmonella, but they are generally more likely to show clinical signs of infection compared to dairy cows. Goats can also harbor the bacteria, but their prevalence and significance in asymptomatic shedding do not match that of dairy cows. Horses are less commonly associated with Salmonella shedding; while they can carry the bacteria, they do not typically do so asymptomatically in significant numbers like dairy cows.