Use of Herd Information for Predicting Salmonella Status in Pig Herds

Contamination of pig carcass with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium monophasic variant 1,4[5],12:i:- originates mainly in live animals

Pork is considered a major source of Salmonella Typhimurium infection in humans in the EU, including monophasic strains (mST). Widespread distribution of virulent serotypes such as monophasic variants of S. Typhimurium have emerged as a public health threat. Despite the current situation, within the EU there is no mandatory programme for the control of Salmonella at pork production level. In this context, the aims of this study were: to examine the presence of Salmonella in the swine production system from arrival at the slaughterhouse until the end of processing, and investigate the genetic relationship among serovars. A total of 21 pig herds were intensively sampled during processing at the slaughterhouse. ERIC-PCR followed by PFGE were performed among isolates recovered at the different steps in the slaughterhouse to assess their genetic relationship. The results showed a high level of Salmonella pork batch contamination upon arrival at the slaughterhouse (71.4%) and at the end of the slaughtering process (66.7%), with mST the main serovar isolated from both origins (53.1% and 38.2%, respectively). Similarly, this study shows that 14.3% of the strains isolated from carcasses have the same Xbal-PFGE profile as those previously recovered in the slaughterhouse environment, but not in the live animals from that same batch. In conclusion, there is a high level of Salmonella swine batch contamination upon arrival at the slaughterhouse and at the end of the slaughtering process, mST being the most frequently isolated serovar. Moreover, a strong genetic relationship has been observed between strains isolated from the batch on arrival at the slaughterhouse, the processing environment and pork carcass contamination. In this sense, it would be necessary to implement a control programme to reduce the bacterium from pork farms and raise the awareness of biosecurity measures.

Antibiotic Resistance Profiles of Salmonella Recovered From Finishing Pigs and Slaughter Facilities in Henan, China

With the increase in commercial pig farming, there is a simultaneous increase in the use of antibiotics for prophylaxis as well as therapeutics in China. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence and resistance diversity of salmonellae isolated from feces of asymptomatic, live and slaughtered pigs. We analyzed 1,732 pig fecal samples collected over 8 months, at Henan province of China. The salmonellae were isolated and identified by PCR. They were serotyped using commercial antisera and assayed for the MIC of 16 antibiotics by broth microdilution method. The average prevalence of Salmonella was 19.4% (95% CI: 17.6–21.4). Large farms (herd size ≥1,000) were found to have a higher prevalence as compared to the small- and medium-scale farms (p < 0.0001). The prevalence of salmonellae in samples collected from the farms [11.77% (95% CI: 10.1–13.6)] and from the slaughterhouse [45.23% (95% CI: 40.3–50.30)] was statistically different (p < 0.0001). Uncommon serovars of Salmonella such as Agama and common serovars such as Derby and Typhimurium were isolated. High resistance (>80%) was recorded toward ciprofloxacin (100%), tetracycline (99.4%), doxycycline (97%), sulfamethoxazole (85.8%), ampicillin (81.6%), and amoxicillin (80.4%). Multidrug resistance (MDR) to four, five, and seven classes of antibiotics was recorded to be approximately 25% in the most prevalent serovar like Derby. We conclude that the presence of alarmingly high resistance, toward the critical antibiotics such as fluoroquinolones and beta-lactams, in large swine farms in China, should draw public attention. These results highlight the need for continued antibiotic stewardship programs for judicious use of critical antibiotics in animal health as well as for producing safe pork.

Surveillance Data Highlights Feed Form, Biosecurity, and Disease Control as Significant Factors Associated with Salmonella Infection on Farrow-to-Finish Pig Farms

Among the zoonotic pathogens affecting pigs, Salmonella stands out due to the high number of human cases linked to pork consumption. In the last two decades many countries have put considerable effort into the control of the infection by surveillance and control strategies on farm. Despite this effort, many herds still have a high Salmonella prevalence and they require guidance to address this problem. The present study, using the serological surveillance data of finishing pigs from the Irish National pig Salmonella Control Programme, aimed to highlight factors associated with increased risk or that might mitigate Salmonella occurrence on farm. A questionnaire with 33 questions regarding herd characteristics, management, feeding, biosecurity, and health was completed for 61 individual herds. After the multivariate analysis by linear regression, nine variables were retained in the final model and linked to herd seroprevalence. Home produced-feed linked to the use of meal showed an eight points reduction in Salmonella prevalence compared to purchased feed (p = 0.042). Different biosecurity measures were associated to lower seroprevalence. Changing of footwear from outside to inside the farm decreased seroprevalence nearly 20 units (p = 0.014) and policies not permitting access to the farmyard to feed trucks (p = 0.048) or avoiding the presence of cats on the farm (p = 0.05) were estimated in 10 units less of seroprevalence. In contrast, the lack of perimeter fence increased the chance to have higher seroprevalence in five units (p = 0.05). Finally, intestinal diseases such as swine dysentery (p = 0.044) and E. coli diarrhea (p = 0.1) were estimated to increase Salmonella prevalence in ~20 and 10 units, respectively, demonstrating the importance of controlling other enteric pathogens in an on-farm Salmonella control programme. These results show the usefulness of surveillance data to improve on-farm control and confirm that Salmonella infection in pigs is multi-factorial and the approach to its control should be multifaceted.

Use of a live attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium vaccine on farrow-to-finish pig farms

Salmonella enterica infection in pigs is economically important and poses a zoonotic risk. In this study, the efficacy of an attenuated S. enterica serovar Typhimurium strain was evaluated in three farrow-to-finish pig herds. In each herd, 120 piglets were vaccinated orally at 3 and 24 days of age, while 120 piglets served as unvaccinated controls. Faeces, ileocaecal lymph nodes and caecal contents were examined for S. Typhimurium by isolation and serum was analysed for antibodies against S. Typhimurium by ELISA. All pigs were weighed at pre-weaning and slaughter to determine daily weight gain. In vaccinated pigs prior to slaughter, significantly fewer animals excreted S. enterica, there was a significantly lower S. enterica-specific mean antibody titre and there was a significantly higher mean daily weight gain compared to unvaccinated controls. In two herds, there were significantly lower proportions of S. enterica positive ileocaecal lymph nodes and caecal contents at slaughter between the vaccinated and control groups, but this difference was not significant across all three herds. S. enterica with the same auxotrophic characteristics and genotype as the vaccine strain was isolated from several samples of faeces, ileocaecal lymph nodes and caecal contents from vaccinated pigs. These findings indicate that vaccination with an attenuated S. Typhimurium strain reduces S. enterica shedding, but the reduction is not consistent and the vaccine strain may persist in tissues.

Relationship between biosecurity and production/antimicrobial treatment characteristics in pig herds

The biosecurity status of 95 breeder-finisher pig herds was quantified using a risk-based weighted scoring system. Data relating to herd-, farmer- and production-characteristics and to the prophylactic use of antimicrobials were also collected. The average external biosecurity score (measures to prevent pathogens from entering a herd) was 65 (range, 45-89) and the average internal score (measures to reduce the within-herd spread of pathogens) was 52 (range, 18-87). External scores were positively associated with herd size, while internal scores were negatively associated with both 'age of buildings' and 'years of experience of the farmer', indicating that biosecurity is generally better implemented in larger herds, in more modern facilities and by younger farmers. External and internal biosecurity scores were positively associated with daily weight gain and negatively associated with feed conversion ratio of fattening pigs. Internal scores were negatively associated with disease treatment incidence, suggesting that improved biosecurity might help in reducing the amount of antimicrobials used prophylactically. This study demonstrates and quantifies a clear link between biosecurity and both production- and antimicrobial treatment-related criteria in pig herds.

A Review of the Use of Organic Amendments and the Risk to Human Health

Historically, organic amendments—organic wastes—have been the main source of plant nutrients, especially N. Their use allows better management of often-finite resources to counter changes in soils that result from essential practices for crop production. Organic amendments provide macro- and micronutrients, including carbon for the restoration of soil physical and chemical properties. Challenges from the use of organic amendments arise from the presence of heavy metals and the inability to control the transformations required to convert the organic forms of N and P into the minerals available to crops, and particularly to minimize the losses of these nutrients in forms that may present a threat to human health. Animal manure and sewage biosolids, the organic amendments in greatest abundance, contain components that can be hazardous to human health, other animals and plants. Pathogens pose an immediate threat. Antibiotics, other pharmaceuticals and naturally produced hormones may pose a threat if they increase the number of zoonotic disease organisms that are resistant to multiple antimicrobial drugs or interfere with reproductive processes. Some approaches aimed at limiting N losses (e.g. covered liquid or slurry storage, rapid incorporation into the soil, timing applications to minimize delay before plant uptake) also tend to favor survival of pathogens. Risks to human health, through the food chain and drinking water, from the pathogens, antibiotics and hormonal substances that may be present in organic amendments can be reduced by treatment before land application, such as in the case of sewage biosolids. Other sources, such as livestock and poultry manures, are largely managed by ensuring that they are applied at the rate, time and place most appropriate to the crops and soils. A more holistic approach to management is required as intensification of agriculture increases.

Assessing risk profiles for Salmonella serotypes in breeding pig operations in Portugal using a Bayesian hierarchical model

Background

The EU Regulation No 2160/2003 imposes a reduction in the prevalence of Salmonella in pigs. The efficiency of control programmes for Salmonella in pigs, reported among the EU Member States, varies and definitive eradication seems very difficult. Control measures currently recommended for Salmonella are not serotype-specific. Is it possible that the risk factors for different Salmonella serotypes are different? The aim of this study was to investigate potential risk factors for two groups of Salmonella sp serotypes using pen faecal samples from breeding pig holdings representative of the Portuguese pig sector.

Methods

The data used come from the Baseline Survey for the Prevalence of Salmonella in breeding pigs in Portugal. A total of 1670 pen faecal samples from 167 herds were tested, and 170 samples were positive for Salmonella. The presence of Salmonella in each sample (outcome variable) was classified in three categories: i) no Salmonella, ii) Salmonella Typhimurium or S. Typhimurium-like strains with the antigenic formula: 1,4,5,12:i:-, , and iii) other serotypes. Along with the sample collection, a questionnaire concerning herd management and potential risk factors was utilised. The data have a “natural” hierarchical structure so a categorical multilevel analysis of the dataset was carried out using a Bayesian hierarchical model. The model was estimated using Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods, implemented in the software WinBUGS.

Results

The significant associations found (when compared to category “no Salmonella”), for category “serotype Typhimurium or S. Typhimurium-like strains with the antigenic formula: 1,4,5,12:i:-” were: age of breeding sows, size of the herd, number of pigs/pen and source of semen. For the category “other serotypes” the significant associations found were: control of rodents, region of the country, source of semen, breeding sector room and source of feed.

Conclusions

The risk factors significantly associated with Salmonella shedding from the category “serotype Typhimurium or serotype 1,4,5,12:i:-“ were more related to animal factors, whereas those associated with “other serotypes” were more related to environmental factors. Our findings suggest that different control measures could be used to control different Salmonella serotypes in breeding pigs.