Identification of risk factors for Salmonella spp.: In pigs and control measures during management and transport of animals

Abstract

Pigs and pork meat products are common source of human salmonellosis. Salmonella can enter the food chain at any point such as the livestock feed, via the on-farm production site, at the slaughterhouse or packing plant, as well as during manufacturing, processing and retailing of food, or through catering and food preparation at home. The understanding of epidemiology of Salmonella sp. at all stages of production chain is of crucial importance. The production of 'Salmonella free pigs' would reduce the risk for the occurrence of human infections Also, production of 'Salmonella free pigs' is difficult to achieve due to a number of practical and financial reasons. However, serological status of particular pig farm can be determined based on the analysis of blood- or meat juice samples taken from slaughtered pigs. This procedure enables the identification of Salmonella free farms'. The basic actions for preventing salmonellosis in humans should involve the following: preventing the entrance of Salmonella to the farm, reducing the number of infected animals and preventing the spread of the infection. The best way to prevent the disease is to keep the infection away from the farm. In order to successfully resolve the problem of human salmonellosis associated with infected pork meat or meat products, control measures need to be simultaneously implemented at all levels of meat production chain.

Keywords

• salmonellosis
• pigs
• risk factors
• control measures