References

Davies R, Gosling RJ, Wales AD, Smith RP. Use of an attenuated live Salmonella Typhimurium vaccine on three breeding pig units: A longitudinal observational field study. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis.. 2016; 46:7-15 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2016.03.005

De Lucia A, Rabie A, Smith RP Role of wild birds and environmental contamination in the epidemiology of Salmonella infection in an outdoor pig farm. Vet Microbiol.. 2018; 227:148-54 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2018.11.003

De Ridder L, Maes D, Dewulf J Use of a live attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium vaccine on farrow-to-finish pig farms. Vet J.. 2014; 202:(2)303-8 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.09.012

Analysis of the baseline survey on the prevalence of Salmonella in holdings with breeding pigs in the EU, 2008-Part A: salmonella prevalence estimates. EFSA J.. 2009; 7:(12) https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2009.1377

The European Union summary report on trends and sources of zoonoses, zoonotic agents and food-borne outbreaks in 2017. EFSA Journal. 2018; 16:(12)

The European Union summary report on antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic and indicator bacteria from humans, animals and food in 2017. EFSA J.. 2019; 17:(2)

Martelli F, Lambert M, Butt P Evaluation of an enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocol in Salmonella contaminated pig holdings in the United Kingdom. PLoS One. 2017; 12:(6) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178897

Martelli F, Andres VM, Davies R, Smith RP. Observations on the introduction and dissemination of Salmonella in three previously low prevalence status pig farms in the United Kingdom. Food Microbiol.. 2018; 71:129-34 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2017.05.004

Peeters L, Dewulf J, Boyen F Bacteriological evaluation of vaccination against Salmonella Typhimurium with an attenuated vaccine in subclinically infected pig herds. Prev Vet Med.. 2019; 21 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.04.016

SchÖning S. Untersuchungen zur Epidemiologie von Salmonelleninfektionen und zur Sanierung von salmonelleninfizierten Schweinezuchtund–vermehrerbetrieben, Vet Med Diss.Hannover1999

Smith RP, Andres V, Dormer L, Gosling R, Oastler C, Davies RH. Study of the impact on Salmonella of moving outdoor pigs to fresh land. Epidemiol Infect.. 2017; 145:(10)1983-92 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268817000930

Salmonella spp. in pigs: an update on diagnostics and control

02 January 2020
8 mins read
Volume 25 · Issue 1
Figure 4. Pooled faeces sampling using the sock method ensuring that all areas of the farm are sampled.
Figure 4. Pooled faeces sampling using the sock method ensuring that all areas of the farm are sampled.

Abstract

Salmonella spp. is an important topic for both human and animal health, particularly Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium including its monophasic strains. Salmonella is an increasing problem on pig farms and the bacteria are transmitted through breeding pyramids, and can spread rapidly due to the high number of subclinical cases. Therefore, diagnosis on farm is extremely important, ensuring sampling from all areas of the unit to gain the overall infection picture. Modern diagnostic techniques allow differentiation between field and vaccine strains which is extremely important when implementing a vaccination programme on the farm. Vaccination accompanied by hygiene and biosecurity measures make up the three pillars of Salmonella spp. control, each of which should be given equal attention. Vaccination has been shown to be very effective in reducing environmental pressure and therefore prevalence and clinical signs due to S. enterica ser. Typhimurium. Vaccination forms part of successful Salmonella spp. control, although it is important to remember that Salmonella spp. control requires a long-term approach using a combination of interventions and avoiding the long-term use of antimicrobial treatment.

Salmonella spp. is still the second most common zoonosis within the EU with over 91 000 cases reported in 2017 (European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2018). In pig meat, S. enterica ser. Typhimurium was the commonest reported serovar and accounted for 161 (27%) out of the 595 Salmonella spp. isolates serotyped. The group of monophasic variants of Salmonella Typhimurium was the commonest reported serovar from pigs and pig meat accounting for, respectively, 167 (37.4%) and 129 (22%) isolates. These results confirm that pigs are the main animal reservoir for monophasic variants of Salmonella Typhimurium. Farm animals are an important source of infections to humans, with risk of contamination of the food chain when infected animals are transported to slaughter facilities. Salmonella Typhimurium prevalence in UK and Irish herds in both breeding and slaughter pigs have historically been the highest in the EU, with figures of 19.4% and 17.5% respectively (EFSA, 2009) (Figure 1).

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting UK-VET Companion Animal and reading some of our peer-reviewed content for veterinary professionals. To continue reading this article, please register today.