CORRELATION BETWEEN SALMONELLA-SEROLOGY AND RESULTS FROM BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS OF CAECAL CONTENTS, CARCASS SWABS, PHARYNGEAL SWABS AND CAECAL LYMPH NODES

摘要

The Danish Salmonella Surveillance Program for slaughter pig herds is based on use of the serological mix-ELISA (1). The serological response to salmonella infection in pigs has been described (1). In the Salmonella Surveillance Program slaughter pigherds are assigned to one of three levels according to the prevalence of positive samples during the previous three months. Pigs from level 3 herds, the most infected herds, are slaughtered under increased hygiene precautions. The Danish Salmonella Surveillance Program is about to be adjusted. In that context it has been essential to elucidate the correlation between the prevalence of sero-positive samples from the herd and the risk of salmonella-contamination constituted by the pigs from the herd during slaughter. This includes prevalence of Salmonella in caecal contents, in the throat and subsequently on the carcass.