Bacteriological prevalence in finishing pig farms assigned as Salmonella risk farms by serological screening

Abstract

<p>The Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) installed a National Salmonella surveillance and control program in pigs, the Salmonella Action Plan (SAP), which became compulsory by means of a Royal act in July 2007. Assignment as Salmonella risk farm is based on serological analysis of blood samples collected from the fattening pigs. The knowledge of prevailing serovars of Salmonella by bacteriological methods is essential to develop and/or evaluate the serological method. In 57% of all the assigned farms, based on serological screening (~ mean SIP-ratio's), there is 'firm evidence' by bacteriological isolation. This suggests that a sufficient correlation is achieved at herd level in the first stage of the Salmonella Action Plan.</p>