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Surveillance Data Highlights Feed Form, Biosecurity, and Disease Control as Significant Factors Associated with Salmonella Infection on Farrow-to-Finish Pig Farms
Argüello, Hector Garcia Manzanilla, Edgar Lynch, Helen Walia, Kavita Leonard, Finola C. Egan, John Duffy, Geraldine Gardiner, Gillian E. Lawlor, Peadar G.
Argüello, Hector
Garcia Manzanilla, Edgar
Lynch, Helen
Walia, Kavita
Leonard, Finola C.
Egan, John
Duffy, Geraldine
Gardiner, Gillian E.
Lawlor, Peadar G.
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2018-02-15
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Argüello H, Manzanilla EG, Lynch H, Walia K, Leonard FC, Egan J, Duffy G, Gardiner GE and Lawlor PG (2018) Surveillance Data Highlights Feed Form, Biosecurity, and Disease Control as Significant Factors Associated with Salmonella Infection on Farrow-to-Finish Pig Farms. Front. Microbiol. 9:187. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00187
Abstract
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.