Transmission study of Salmonella in pigs with 3 intervention strategies

In this study, the effect of 3 different intervention strategies on the transmission of Salmonella in pigs was evaluated: feed supplementation with coated calcium-butyrate salt, vaccination and acidified drinking water.Strategies were evaluated serologically and bacteriologically using an experimental in vivo seeder setup.Significantly higher antibody titers were detected in the groups with acidified drinking water and vaccination.In the group with calcium-butyrate supplemented feed and in the group with oral vaccination, significantly less infected animals were observed during the transmission experiment.The overall level of Salmonella-specific antibodies in meat juice was significantly lower compared to serum.Our results indicate that vaccination with Salmoporc ® and feed supplemented with coated calcium-butyrate limit Salmonella Typhimurium transmission in swine.The detection of Salmonella-specific antibodies in vaccinated pigs however, does not allow differentiation of vaccinated and infected animals and can therefore interfere with the Belgian monitoring and surveillance programme.Salmonella-specific antibody levels in meat juice are lower than those in serum, which might have consequences in surveillance programmes based on meat juice analysis.