European veterinary dissertations |
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| Authors: | PJ van der Wolf DMA Lo Fo Wong WB Wolbers ARW Elbers HMJF van der Heijden FW van Schie |
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| Institution: | 1. Pig Health Department , Animal Health Service , Post Office 9, Deventer, 7400 AA, The Netherlands Phone: +31–570–660222 Fax: +31–570–660222 E-mail: p.vd.wolf@gdvdieren.nl;2. Danish Veterinary Laboratory , Danish Zoonosis Centre , Copenhagen, Denmark;3. Pig Health Department , Animal Health Service , Deventer, the Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | Summary The purpose of this investigation was to study the incidence and course of Salmonella infections in finishing pig herds in order to asses the stability of a given Salmonella herd status. Five low‐ and 7 high‐seroprevalence herds were followed for seven sampling rounds. Each round, blood and faecal samples were tested in an indirect ELISA and by bacteriological culturing, respectively. In high‐seroprevalence herds a positive Salmonella status was an indication of a long‐term problem and the status was relatively stable over time. The herds experiencing clinical salmonellosis were not necessarily the herds with the highest seroprevalence. It is possible to deliver seronegative finishers to the slaughterhouse, even though these pigs were seropositive as growers. In three out of five low‐prevalence herds, major infection incidents occurred, indicating that changes in the Salmonella status should be anticipated. Low‐prevalence herds can remain negative over a longer period of time as a result feeding a complete liquid feed containing fermented by‐products. |
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| Keywords: | Bacteria Salmonella enterica subsp enterica pig ELISA monitoring |
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