ASSESSMENT OF SALMONELLA PREVALENCE ON LARGE PIG FARM WITH SEROLOGICAL TESTING IN FINISHING PIGS

Salmonellosis is considered to be one of the most common food borne illnesses in humans. Salmonella reduction programmes on pig farms can be achieved with serological monitoring. 945 serum samples of fatteners were tested for antibodies to Salmonella sp. from one large pig farm with IDEXX Swine Salmonella antibody ELISA. The level of samples with OD (optical density) % equal or greater than 20% (more stringent screening) and the level of samples with OD% equal or greater than 40% (general screening) was evaluated. In 2006 21.3% of the samples were positive by more stringent screening, and 8% in general screening. In 2007 and 2008 the levels of positive samples were similar (2007 OD 20% was 24%, OD 40% was 12.8%, 2008 OD 20% was 24.8%, OD 40% was 11.1%). The tested farm should be classified according to revised Danish salmonella scheme in level 1 from 3. The level of the farm remains the same also if the number of tested samples for the year is adapted to the Danish programme (100 samples instead of 375 for year 2007).