Importance of breeding pigs in the spread of Salmonella on farms

Stojanac, NenadStevančević, OgnjenPotkonjak, AleksandarSavić, BožidarStančić, IvanVračar, Vuk

Background: Pigs infected with Salmonella represent a high risk for contamination and cross-contamination of carcasses with Salmonella from feces, tonsils and mesenteric lymph nodes, which occurs on the slaughter line. The environment itself represents a potential source of infection, as it is Salmonella infection of other individuals in the herd (sows, boars, piglets, fattener pigs). One of the leading sources of infection is contaminated feed for pigs, or its ingredients. If an infection occurs at any stage and category of production, those individual animals can become a potential source of infection for all others on farm. Materials, Methods & Results: This study examines the importance of breeding categories of pigs in the spread of salmonellosis in piglets and fattener pigs on seven farrow-to-finish farms in Serbia. From each farm, 30 sows, 121 boars and 90 piglets were tested from the weaning to the time of dispatch to the slaughterhouse. Pigs were examined for the presence of Salmonella-specific antibodies in blood sera and the presence of Salmonella in feces. Pigs feed on the farms were also examined for the presence of Salmonella. The identification of serotypes was conducted according to the Kauffmann-White scheme. For antimicrobial sensitivity and resistance testing, isolates were tested by disc diffusion against a panel of 11 antimicrobials. The numbers...(AU)

1. Salmonella
2. feed
3. prevalence
4. breeding pigs