Age at primary infection with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in the chicken influences persistence of infection and subsequent immunity to re-challenge

Salmonella enterica remains one of the most important food-borne pathogens of humans and is often acquired through consumption of infected poultry meat or eggs. Control of Salmonella infections in chicken is therefore an important public health issue. Infection with S. enterica serovar Typhimurium results in a persistent enteric infection without clinical disease in chickens of more than 3 days of age, and represents a source for contamination of carcass at slaughter and entry into the human food chain. Data presented indicate a profound effect of age at initial exposure on the persistence of infection and a lesser effect on the development of effective immunity to re-challenge. The percentage of birds positive for Salmonella was high until 8–9 weeks of age, regardless of the age at which the birds were infected (1, 3 or 6 weeks). The birds infected at 3 and 6 weeks of age produced a more rapid and higher antibody response (IgY and IgA) than those infected at 1 week of age, but in all cases infection persisted for a considerable period despite the presence of high antibody levels. Following a re-challenge infection with S. Typhimurium, all three previously-infected groups had fewer bacteria in the gut, spleen and liver compared with age-matched birds receiving a parallel primary infection. However, the birds primary infected at 3 and 6 weeks of age cleared infection more rapidly than those infected at a younger age. Interestingly older-primed birds had higher specific T lymphocyte proliferative responses and specific circulating levels of IgY antibody at time of re-challenge. Although birds initially infected at 1 week of age and those that were previously uninfected produced a stronger antibody response following re-challenge, they were slower to clear Salmonella from the gut than the older-primed groups which expressed a stronger T lymphocyte response. The data presented indicate that clearance of Salmonella from the gut is age-dependent and we propose that this relates to the increased competence of the enteric T cell response. The findings that Salmonella persists beyond 8–9 weeks, irrespective of age at exposure, has implications for the broiler sector and indicates the need to remain Salmonella free throughout the rearing period. Moreover, the re-challenge data demonstrates that infection at a young age is less effective in producing protective immunity than in older chickens. This feature of the development of protective immunity needs to be considered when developing vaccines for the broiler sector of the poultry industry.     

Herd-level risk factors for Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica in U.S. market pigs

Midwest U.S. herds (n = 63) were studied to identify risk factors for harboring Salmonella enterica among slaughter-weight pigs. Samples collected on farms (feces) and at slaughter (distal colonic content, cecal content and ileocolic lymph nodes) were cultured using conventional means. Approximately 15 pigs were studied per herd, for a total of 3754 samples. The proportion of pigs positive in one or more samples was calculated for each herd. Herd characteristics were described by a combination of interview and written survey. Logistic regression was used to detect relationships between the detection of Salmonella and potential herd-level risk factors. The mean individual pig prevalence was 5% for feces, 4% for distal colonic content, 15% for ileocolic lymph nodes, and 17% for cecal contents. One or more Salmonella isolates were detected in at least one sample type in every herd. The five most common serovars were S. Agona, S. Derby, S. Schwarzengrund, S. Typhimurium and S. Senftenberg, with 25 additional serovars detected. Salmonella prevalence estimates were positively correlated among all samples except distal colonic content and ileocolic lymph nodes. Pigs with culture positive fecal samples were at increased odds of being detected positive for each of the slaughter-collected samples examined, namely distal colonic content (OR = 30.5), ileocolic lymph nodes (OR = 12.9) and cecal content (OR = 23.2). Herds with positive fecal sample(s) had increased odds of having positive cecal content (OR > 1.5), distal colonic content (OR = 15.3) and ileocolic lymph nodes (OR = 12.7). Pigs from herds with at least some bowl drinkers had eight-fold higher odds of testing Salmonella positive than did pigs from herds with only nipple drinkers. Pigs from herds with only dry feeders had five-fold higher odds of testing Salmonella positive when compared with pigs from herds with combinations of wet/dry style feeders. Interventions at these two points should be considered when designing growing pig facilities to reduce Salmonella shedding.     

Transduction of bla(CMY-2), tet(A), and tet(B) from Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Heidelberg to S. Typhimurium

Antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella spp., especially resistance mediated by extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL), is a growing public health concern. Understanding the mechanisms through which Salmomella spp. acquire the resistance genes can lead to the development of intervention and mitigation strategies. Thirty-one Salmonella isolates of bovine origin were analyzed by serotyping, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, phage induction and bacterial host range determination, and phage transduction of antimicrobial resistance. The Salmonella isolates consisted of 12 serovars. Resistance to 1 or more antibiotics was detected in 12 isolates. Inducible phages were recovered from 19 Salmonella (61%) by spot lysis assay. Of the 19 phage samples, 13 were able to multiply in 2 or more Salmonella of various serovars. A cross-serovar transduction of antimicrobial resistance was observed from S. Heidelberg to S. Typhimurium. Transfection of an antimicrobial-susceptible strain of S. Typhimurium with a phage propagated in a S. Heidelberg resistant to multiple β-lactam antibiotics and tetracycline resulted in independent acquisition of bla_CMY-2, tet(A), and tet(B). These data indicate that inducible phages are common in Salmonella of bovine origin, many of them demonstrate a broad host range, and wild-type phage mediated transduction may contribute to the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance, including the resistance mediated by ESBL.     

Factors associated with variation in bulk-tank-milk Salmonella Dublin ELISA ODC% in dairy herds

Our objective was to determine factors that contribute to variation in bulk-tank-milk Salmonella Dublin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) corrected optic-density measurements (ODC%) in dairy herds. We constructed hierarchical mixed models with repeated bulk-tank-milk ELISA ODC% in 31 Danish dairy herds. Four models included different combinations of explanatory factors, and we compared how well these models described the variation in the data. Herd was included as a random effect nested within Salmonella status and barn type.

Detection of Salmonella Dublin or Salmonella Typhimurium by bacteriological culture of individual faecal samples or of slurry samples was associated with higher bulk-tank-milk ELISA ODC%, as was apparent Salmonella prevalence, the mean ELISA ODC% or mean-yield-corrected ELISA ODC% in milk samples collected from all individual cows. However, combinations of risk factors that included number or prevalence of cows with a very high ELISA ODC% provided better models, indicating that the effect of the cow-level explanatory variables on the bulk-tank-milk ELISA ODC% was related to the activity of the infection in the herd. Barn type (loose housing or tie stalls) was not associated with the variation in bulk-tank-milk ELISA ODC% in these models, which might be useful in planning of surveillance programs and intervention strategies.     

Isolation,Identification and Analysis of Serotype and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Pathogenic Salmonella from Chickens

To investigate the situations of predominant strain and antibiotic resistance of pathogenic Salmonella from chickens in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region, Salmonella was pre-enriched and isolated from tissues of clinical suspected chickens, and the Salmonella isolates were identified by biochemical test using ID 32E System for the identification of Enterobacteriaceae of VITEK System ATB Expression, serotypes were determined by slid agglutination test, antibiotic susceptibility was analyzed by ATB VET Susceptibility Test Strip of Enterobacteriaceae antibiotics.The results showed that 34 Salmonella strains were obtained from 310 clinical samples, of which 1 strain belonged to A serogroup, 1 to C2 serogroup, 15 to B serogroup, 14 to D serogroup and 3 to untyped serogroup, and S.typhimurium of B serogroup and S.pullorum of D serogroup were the predominant serotypes.All Salmonella isolates were sensitive to meropenem, imipenem, spectinomycine and apramycine, and the resistance rates to chloramphenicol, kanamycine and gentamicine were less than 10%, and the resistance rates to amoxicillin, streptomycine, flumequine, oxolinique, sulfamethizol, tetracycline and nitrofurantoine ranged between 50% and 90%, while the resistance rates to penicilline, oxacilline, fusidique, rifampicine and metronidazole reached to 100%.The results indicated that the serotype distribution of pathogenic Salmonella from chickens exhibited regional characteristics, and S.typhimurium and S.pullorum were the predominant serotypes in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region, and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella isolates was very serious which should be highly concerned.     

鸡源致病性沙门氏菌的分离鉴定及血清型和药物敏感性分析

为了解当前广西鸡源致病性沙门氏菌的优势流行菌株及耐药情况,掌握其最新流行特点,本试验采集疑似病鸡的组织病料,对沙门氏菌进行增菌和分离培养,运用VITEK System ATB Expression法ID 32E肠杆菌鉴定试剂条对分离菌株进行生化试验鉴定,应用玻片凝集试验进行血清型鉴定,采用ATB VET药敏试剂条对30种肠杆菌抗菌药物进行药物敏感性试验。结果显示,从310份疑似鸡病料中分离鉴定出34株致病性沙门氏菌;这些分离菌株中有A群1株、C2群1株、B群15株和D群14株,另有3株未定型,其中以B群鼠伤寒沙门氏菌和D群鸡白痢沙门氏菌为优势菌株;34株分离株均对美洛培南、亚胺培南、大观霉素和安普霉素敏感,对氯霉素、卡那霉素、庆大霉素的耐药率小于10%,对阿莫西林、链霉素、氟甲喹、噁喹酸、磺胺甲噁唑、四环素和呋喃妥因耐药率介于50%和90%之间,而对青霉素、苯唑西林、夫西地酸、利福平和甲硝唑的耐药率达到100%,并且存在多重耐药现象。结果表明,鸡源致病性沙门氏菌的流行菌株具有一定的地域性,当前广西以鼠伤寒沙门氏菌和鸡白痢沙门氏菌为主,流行菌株耐药性严重,应高度关注。     

Characterization of Salmonella isolates from beef cattle, broiler chickens and human sources on Prince Edward Island

Non-typhoid Salmonella serovars remain a potential threat to human health, and beef cattle and broiler chickens are possible sources of these organisms on Prince Edward Island (PEI). In this study, the ceca of beef cattle belonging to fasted and non-fasted groups, and broiler chickens were examined for Salmonella at the time of slaughter. The characteristics of the isolates, including antimicrobial resistance patterns and virulence genes, were studied along with the isolates obtained from cases of human salmonellosis on PEI during the study period (1996–97). The prevalence of Salmonella in beef cattle was 4.6% (11/240). The rate was significantly higher in fasted cattle (7.46%), than in non-fasted cattle (0.94%). The prevalence rate in chickens was 32.5% (39/120). In beef cattle, Salmonella typhimurium phage type (PT) or definitive type (DT) 104 which was resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfisoxazole and tetracycline, was the most predominant type (64%). In chickens, S. heidelberg, with resistance to gentamicin, streptomycin and sulfisoxazole, predominated. Of 26 isolates from humans, the most common serovar was S. typhimurium, including a multidrug-resistant strain of DT104. Examination by PCR revealed presence of the virulence gene invA in all serovars, and the spvC gene in all S. typhimurium isolates, of both beef cattle and human origin. Among the other serovars the latter gene was found in 7 human isolates, but in none of the chicken or beef isolates. All but 3 of the spvC-positive isolates possessed a 90 kilobasepair (kbp) plasmid suggesting that the 3 isolates had the spvC gene on their chromosome. These findings were confirmed by plasmid DNA isolation using 3 different protocols and by sequence analysis of the spvC-PCR product.     

75株蛋鸡源沙门菌的MLST分型与耐药性分析

旨在掌握2017年7月至2019年5月期间云南地区蛋鸡源沙门菌血清型、药物敏感性及毒力基因携带等基本情况。无菌采集发病鸡肝组织，共分离到沙门菌75株，对分离株进行MLST分型、药物敏感性及相关耐药基因和毒力基因检测。结果显示，MLST鉴定到ST78序列型鸡伤寒沙门菌54株(72.00%)、ST92序列型鸡白痢沙门菌21株(28.00%)；分离株对青霉素的耐药率为100%，对其它抗生素的耐药率分别为: 四环素26.67%、强力霉素26.67%、复方新诺明22.67%、阿莫西林18.67%、氨苄西林16.00%、恩诺沙星14.67%、链霉素8.00%、环丙沙星2.67%、庆大霉素1.33%，共存在7种耐药谱型，28.00%的菌株表现为多重耐药，且集中于鸡伤寒沙门菌；耐药基因tetA、sul2和blaTEM的检出率分别为26.67%、10.67%和8.00%；毒力基因mogA、mgtC、bcfA、araB、stn和spvC的检出率均高达100%，而spvB的检出率为 89.33%。结果表明，鸡伤寒沙门菌和鸡白痢沙门菌为云南地区蛋鸡源沙门菌主要流行血清型，多重耐药情况严重，耐药基因与毒力基因检出率较高。     

Serological and bacteriological observations on experimental infection with Salmonella hadar in chickens

Over the past 3 years the frequency of Salmonella hadar infections has increased in Belgium in both poultry and humans. Therefore, the course of infection with S. hadar in poultry was investigated. One day-old and 4 week-old specific pathogen-free chickens were orally infected with one of two S. hadar strains, SH1 or SH2. Mortality was 6% (SH1) and 17% (SH2) in birds infected at 1 day-old. Chickens infected at 1 day-old with SH2 showed a mild diarrhoea. The S. hadar faecal excretion in birds infected at 1 day-old remained high throughout the experiment until 12 weeks post-inoculation (pi). Faecal excretion was lower in older birds. Antibodies to S. hadar were observed from 2 weeks pi (SH2, infected at 1 day-old) or 4 weeks pi (SH1, both groups; SH2, chickens infected at 4 weeks of age). The percentage of chickens with antibodies was higher after infection at 1 day-old than after infection at 4 weeks of age. In a second experiment 1 day-old chicks were infected with SH1 and autopsied at regular intervals until 42 days pi. SH1 was isolated from the caeca from 3 h pi onwards and from the liver and spleen from 18 h until 14 days pi. Serous typhlitis and omphalitis were the main lesions. The number of macrophages in the lamina propria of the caecal tonsils was slightly increased from 18 h until 2 weeks pi. In the liver, inflammation was observed in the portal triads and in the sinusoids. This study indicates that infections with S. hadar lead to intense colonisation of the gut and extensive faecal shedding. It may also cause invasive infections in 1 day-old chickens.     

鸭源沙门菌的分离鉴定、耐药性及致病性分析

【目的】为防控鸭源沙门菌感染,本试验针对四川德阳地区鸭源沙门菌的感染情况开展研究。【方法】从该地区3个种鸭场和1个鸭孵化场共采集不同类型样本222份,按国标GB 4789.4－2016方法对沙门菌进行分离鉴定,进一步通过K-B法检测分离菌对14种抗菌药物的敏感性,并对鉴定出的稀有血清型沙门菌进行致病性研究。【结果】疑似沙门菌分离株在BS琼脂上呈黑色、灰色或棕褐色、有金属光泽菌落,在XLD琼脂上呈无色透明、或中心黑色或几乎全黑的菌落。将疑似沙门菌株接种三糖铁琼脂斜面进行生化鉴定,疑似沙门菌分离株均能使三糖铁斜面变为红色,底部变为黄色带黑色,符合沙门菌生化特性。通过PCR对沙门菌特异性基因invA进行扩增,经琼脂糖凝胶电泳后可在500 bp左右观察到目的条带,确认共分离到17株沙门菌,总分离率为7.7%（17/222）,包括鼠伤寒沙门菌、哈托沙门菌和波恩沙门菌3种血清型,其比例分别为47.1%（8/17）、29.4%（5/17）和23.5%（4/17）,优势血清型为鼠伤寒沙门菌。分离菌对β-内酰胺类和氨基糖苷类抗菌药耐药率最高,对氨苄西林和链霉素的耐药率分别为82.4%（14/17）和88.2%（15/17）,对喹诺酮类抗菌药最敏感,其中对萘啶酸100%（17/17）敏感。分离菌存在严重的多重耐药现象,其中耐10种以上（包括10种）抗菌药的6株,占比35.2%,且10种抗菌药分别来自至少6类不同种类抗菌药;耐8种抗菌药物的2株,占比11.8%;耐5~7种抗菌药的6株,占比35.3%;耐2~3种抗菌药物的共3株,占比17.6%。通过寇氏改良法测得稀有血清型菌株H4、B2的LD₅₀分别为3.98×10⁶和1.58×10⁶ CFU,致病性试验结果表明,哈托和波恩沙门菌均能引起小鼠急性死亡,脏器充血、出血,细胞变性等。【结论】本研究成功分离到17株鸭源沙门菌,从鸭中分离到哈托沙门菌在国内外属首次。分离菌具有严重的耐药性和多重耐药现象,2株稀有血清型沙门菌对小鼠的致病力均较强,且致病作用相似。本研究结果可为鸭场沙门菌病的防治提供参考。     

表达乳铁蛋白肽的猪源罗伊氏乳酸杆菌对断乳仔猪抗霍乱沙门菌感染的效果分析

旨在分析表达牛乳铁蛋白肽的重组猪源罗伊氏乳酸杆菌pPG-LFCA-E/LR-CO21作为饲用微生态制剂对仔猪促生长与抵抗猪霍乱沙门菌感染的作用。将该重组菌连续饲喂28日龄断乳仔猪21 d,并设立空菌组、对照组以及抗生素组。第21天时对断乳仔猪连续口服感染猪霍乱沙门菌3 d,并设置7 d的观察期;仔猪感染后采集试验组与对照组血清、肠黏液及肠组织。检测结果显示重组菌组仔猪平均日增重与免疫器官指数均显著提高（P<0.05）,料重比极显著降低（P<0.01）。感染猪霍乱沙门菌后,相对于对照组,重组菌组仔猪日增重提高,腹泻率降低;重组菌组仔猪血液中IgG以及肠黏液中IL-4、sIgA的量极显著提高（P<0.01）,IL-2、IL-12、IL-6的量显著降低（P<0.05）;重组菌组仔猪肠道紧密连接蛋白ZO-1、Claudin-1的基因转录水平和TLR4、Myd88和MLCK的基因转录水平极显著提高（P<0.01）,仔猪肠道内猪霍乱沙门菌的数量极显著降低（P<0.01）;重组菌组与抗生素组无明显差异（P>0.05）。以上结果表明,表达牛乳铁蛋白肽的重组猪源罗伊氏乳酸杆菌pPG-LFCA-E/LR-CO21可以提高断乳仔猪的生长性能、促进肠道形态发育、增强肠道屏障功能,并且在一定程度上可以保护仔猪免受猪霍乱沙门菌的感染,表明重组菌作为微生态制剂替代断乳仔猪的饲用抗生素具有一定的应用前景。     

Salmonella in Belgian laying hens: an identification of risk factors

Since the 1980s, the prevalence of Salmonella in Belgian poultry layers and broilers has greatly fluctuated with a rise observed in 2003 and a significant decrease in 2005. In order to alleviate the risk at egg consumer level, it is crucial to understand the factors which influence the contamination and the spread of Salmonella in laying hens. To study such determinants we explored the Belgian data from the 2005 baseline study on the prevalence of Salmonella in laying flocks of Gallus gallus in the European Union. The response variables corresponded to presence or absence of Salmonella from dust and faecal samples taken from the environment of a Belgian layer flock. The explanatory variables included: region of Belgium, sampling time (month the flock was sampled), production type (cage or barn and free range), Salmonella vaccination status, flock age and flock size. Analyses of these data were performed using a bivariate logistic regression model assuming independence between the two responses and bivariate generalized estimating equations model, which incorporates the correlation between the two responses on the same flock. The main risk factor that was identified was rearing flocks in cages compared to barns and free-range systems. The results also showed a significant higher risk for Salmonella for a 1 week increase in flocks’ age as well as with a unit increase in the size of the flock.     

火炭母缓解鼠伤寒沙门菌致小鼠肝损伤的机制研究

【目的】探讨火炭母口服液对鼠伤寒沙门菌感染小鼠肝脏的保护作用及其机制。【方法】将48只雄性BALB/c小鼠随机分为6组：空白对照组、模型组、阳性药物组及火炭母高、中、低剂量组,每组8只。阳性药物组小鼠灌胃庆大霉素(20 mg/kg),火炭母高、中、低剂量组小鼠分别灌胃16、8和4 g/kg火炭母,空白对照组和模型组小鼠分别给予等体积的PBS,连续给药8 d。预防性给药2 d后,空白对照组小鼠灌胃0.2 mL PBS,其他组小鼠一次性灌胃0.2 mL 5×10⁴ CFU/mL鼠伤寒沙门菌溶液。给药结束后处死小鼠,解剖取肝脏,制作组织切片并经HE染色观察肝脏病理变化,平板培养基培养肝脏组织悬液检测小鼠肝脏载菌量,Western blotting检测α干扰素(IFN-α)、IFN-β、IFN-γ、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、白介素1β(IL-1β)、TANK结合激酶1(TBK1)、干扰素调节因子3(IRF3)蛋白表达水平。【结果】肝脏病理观察结果显示,模型组小鼠肝脏有淤血,大量炎性细胞浸润,肝细胞明显肿胀、排列紊乱,胞质染色加深,肝细胞坏死和凋亡;经火炭母处理后,高剂...     

Survival of Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium in slurry applied to clay soil on a Danish swine farm

A pilot study was carried out on a Danish swine farm infected with multi-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 (MRDT104). We aimed to (1) investigate to which degree the decline of Escherichia coli and Salmonella in swine slurry applied to farmland depended on the application method; (2) estimate the survival times of E. coli and Salmonella in the soil surface following deposition of naturally contaminated pig slurry; and (3) simulate survival of Salmonella in different infection levels using E. coli data as input estimates. Slurry was deposited by four different methods: (1) hose applicator on black soil followed by ploughing and harrowing; (2) hose applicator on black soil followed only by harrowing; (3) hose applicator on a field with winter-wheat seedlings without further soil treatment; (4) slurry injector on a field with winter-wheat seedlings without further soil treatment. E. coli and Salmonella could not be detected at all in soil following treatment 1. Following the other treatments, E. coli was not detected in soil samples after day 21 and Salmonella was no longer detected after day 7. Simulation results showed that clinical (4 log CFU g⁻¹) and sub-clinical Salmonella levels (2500 CFU g⁻¹) would fall below the detection limit within 10 or 5 days, respectively. Analysis of samples from 62 Danish MRDT104-infected swineherds showed that nearly 75% of these herds had low levels of MRDT104 (<10 CFU g⁻¹) in their slurry. Our results show that ploughing and harrowing of soil amended with contaminated pig slurry was an effective means to reduce environmental exposure to E. coli and Salmonella on this clay-soil farm.     

Risk factors for fecal shedding of Salmonella from horses in a veterinary teaching hospital

Identification of risk factors for horses shedding Salmonella in their feces helps identify patients at-risk of infection and protect the overall population through heightened biosecurity. Fecal samples from 230 hospitalized horses were cultured for Salmonella spp. Historical data were collected on 21 putative risk factors and assessed for association with the risk of a horse being culture positive using forwards stepwise logistic regression. Salmonella was isolated from 13 horses—most commonly from either the first (n=5) or second (n=4) sample collected. Only presenting complaint (confounded by age, breed and gender) was significantly (P≤0.05) associated with positive Salmonella-culture results. Analysis of residuals showed that the model was robust, but individual risk-factor estimates were changed by removal of outliers. Overall, presenting complaint (for example, lower-respiratory-tract disease) was the most important indicator of culture status.     

鼠伤寒沙门菌sapC基因缺失株的构建及生物学特性分析

旨在研究鼠伤寒沙门菌ABC转运膜蛋白SapC在沙门菌致病机制中的功能。本研究利用λ-Red重组技术构建了鼠伤寒沙门菌sapC基因缺失突变株SMΔsapC,对其进行生长特性、酸性应激试验、多黏菌素B敏感性试验、生物被膜检测、胞内存活和小鼠体内毒力试验。结果显示,基因缺失株SMΔsapC与亲本菌株和互补菌株相比,其生长速度无明显差异;在酸应激条件下,SMΔsapC存活率显著低于亲本菌株;sapC基因缺失降低了鼠伤寒沙门菌生物被膜的形成能力;同时,SMΔsapC基因缺失株在鼠源巨噬细胞内的增殖能力和小鼠体内的毒力显著低于亲本菌株。研究表明,sapC基因影响鼠伤寒沙门菌的抗酸能力、生物被膜形成能力,从而影响沙门菌在体内外的毒力。本研究为进一步阐释鼠伤寒沙门菌的致病机制奠定了基础。     

Nation-wide Salmonella enterica surveillance and control in Danish slaughter swine herds

A nation-wide Salmonella enterica surveillance and control programme was initiated in Danish finishing herds over the first quarter of 1995. In Denmark, all swine for slaughter are identifiable by a unique herd code. For each herd code, and depending on the herd's annual kill, random samples ranging from four to more than 60 swine are obtained quarterly at the abattoir. A meat sample from each pig is frozen, and meat juice (harvested after thawing) is examined for specific antibodies against S. enterica using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ELISA combines several S. enterica O-antigens, and allows detection of antibody response after a variety of different S. enterica serovar infections. Results are transferred to a central database, which each month (based on meat-juice tests obtained in the previous 13 weeks) assigns all herds into three S. enterica infection levels: Level 1, in which the S. enterica prevalence is deemed low and acceptable; Level 2, where there is a moderate prevalence of S. enterica seroreacl.ors (from > 50% in the smallest to > 10% in the largest herds); Level 3, in which S. enterica seroreactor prevalence is clearly unsatisfactory ( > 50% for most herd sizes). Irrespective of Salmonella level, all herds receive a monthly update on the current results of the S. enterica test results. If a herd is categorized in Level 2 or 3, it must receive an advisory visit by a practising veterinarian and a local swine extension specialist, and certain management hygiene precautions must be taken. If a herd is categorized in Level 3, the finishers from the herd must additionally be slaughtered under special hygiene precautions. This is supervised by the veterinary authorities.

During 1995, 604000 samples were tested for S. enterica, corresponding to 3.0% of the total kill. In December 1995, 15522 herds (representing > 90% of the national production) were categorized into one of the three levels: 14551 herds (93.7%) in Level 1; 610 herds (3.9%) in Level 2; 361 herds (2.3%) in Level 3. The proportion of serologically positive meat-juice samples collected during 1995 ranged from a mean of 2.9% in smaller herds (101–200 swine slaughtered per year) to 6.1% in relatively large herds (more than 5000 swine slaughtered per year).     

Prevalence of multidrug resistant (MDR) Salmonella in bovine dairy herds in western France

As a part of our effort in quantitative risk analysis of food-borne diseases, we carried out an epidemiologic study to estimate the prevalence of multidrug resistant (MDR) Salmonella in dairy herds situated in western France. The study population consisted of 489 farms in the region and manure or slurry was sampled from these operations and tested for the Salmonella spp. All strains isolated during the study were serotyped and tested for their antimicrobial susceptibility. Salmonella spp. was isolated from 8.1% (95% confidence interval (CI 95%): 4.5–13.3%) of the sampled herds. The herd prevalence of MDR Salmonella among the sampled herds was 1.9% (CI 95%: 0.5–5.4%). Spatial statistics were used to check for sampling representativeness and to determine if infected herds were clustered spatially.     

Genomic lineage of Salmonella enterica serovar Dublin

Thirty five strains of the host adapted Salmonella serotype Dublin (S. Dublin) have been characterized by IS200 patterns, ribotyping, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), restriction fragment polymorphism after hybridization with five randomly cloned DNA-framents of S. enteridis (RFLP), and plasmid profiling in order to divide the strains into ‘genomic lines’. For comparison, 20 other strains of 9 different group-D serotypes were included. The IS200 patterns were identical in all strains of S. Dublin examined. These patterns were different from those observed in other group-D Salmonella with the exception of one strain S. Enteritidis phage type 11 and a strain of S. Rostock. The insertion element IS200 was not detected in strains of S. Dar-es-Salam, S. (II) 9,12:z -, and S. Panama. RFLP, based on probing with five random cloned chromosomal fragments gave the same pattern in all strains except for one isolate from the UK. This strain was also found to have an unique PFGE pattern and ribotype. Among the remaining strains, three different PFGE patterns and 7 different ribotypes were observed. Based on all four typing methods, 8 different ‘genomic lines’ of S. Dublin were identified. The same grouping could be obtained from the use of ribotyping alone, but PFGE and RFLP were found to provide valuable information on possible relationships between ribotypes. Seven different plasmid profiles and a group of strains without plasmids were observed. In several cases, the same plasmid profile was shown to be present in more than one ‘genomic line’.     

Risk factors for Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica infection in senegalese broiler-chicken flocks

Our objective was to assess the association of managerial practices, general hygiene and Salmonella infection in Senegalese broiler flocks. Seventy broilers farms were studied from January 2000 to December 2001 around Dakar. A questionnaire was submitted to the farmers and samples of fresh broiler droppings were taken. A 28.6% of the flocks were infected by Salmonella (mainly Hadar and Brancaster serovars). Salmonella infection of the previous flock (OR=6.82) and of day-old chicks (OR=3.73), frequent poultry farmers’ visits (OR=5.38) and keeping sick birds inside the farm (OR=5.32) increased the risk of Salmonella infection. But, using antibiotics on day-old chicks (OR=0.17) and a detergent for cleaning (OR=0.16) decreased the risk.