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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #153614
Title: EFFECT OF SHORT-TERM LAIRAGE ON THE PREVALENCE OF SALMONELLA ENTERICA IN CULL SOWS

Author
item LARSEN, S - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item HURD, HOWARD
item MCKEAN, J - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item GRIFFITH, R - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item WESLEY, IRENE

Submitted to: Journal of Food Protection
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/21/2004
Publication Date: 7/20/2004
Citation: Larsen, S.T., Hurd, H.S., McKean, J.D., Griffith, R.W., Wesley, I.V. 2004. Effect of short-term lairage on the prevalence of Salmonella enterica in cull sows. Journal of Food Protection. 67(7):1489-1493.

Interpretive Summary: This study was designed to compare the Salmonella prevalence in sows held in a holding pen at the abattoir for ~ 2 hrs (hold sows) with sows slaughtered immediately after transport to the abattoir (no-hold sows). Cull sows (older breeding stock ready for market) were sampled over 8 weeks. Sows originated from a farrow-to-finish swine farm and were sent to a live-hog market, and then to the slaughter facility. Before test sows entered the pen, samples were taken from the pen floor for S. enterica culture. Sows were alternatively assigned to the hold or no-hold group. Samples collected from sows during slaughter were: ileocecal lymph node, cecal contents, transverse colon contents, subiliac lymph node, sponge swabs of the left and right carcass section, and chopped meat. A lower percentage of S. enterica was isolated from the no-hold sows compared to the held sows. Also, no-hold sows had a lower cecal content prevalence compared to held sows. There were fewer S. enterica serovars isolated from the no-hold sows compared to the held sows. Results of this study suggest holding pens contribute to increased S. enterica carriage in cull sows. Abattoir holding pens might be an important control point for S. enterica in the pork production chain.

Technical Abstract: This study was designed to compare the S. enterica prevalence in sows held in a holding pen at the abattoir for ~ 2 hrs (hold sows) with sows slaughtered immediately after transport to the abattoir (no-hold sows). Cull sows (n = 160) were sampled over 8 weeks (February'March 2002). Sows originated from an integrated swine farm and were sent to a live-hog market, and then to the slaughter facility. Before test sows entered the pen, four 100-cm**2 4-ply gauze squares were placed randomly on the pen floor for S. enterica culture. Sows were alternatively assigned to the hold or no-hold group. Samples collected from sows during slaughter were: ileocecal lymph node, cecal contents, transverse colon contents, subiliac lymph node, sponge swabs of the left and right carcass section, and chopped meat. S. enterica was isolated from 44% (35 of 80) of the no-hold sows, which was significantly less (P < 0.05) than 59% (47 of 80) of the held sows. Also, no-hold sows had a lower cecal content prevalence (39%; 31 of 80) compared to that (55%; 44 of 80) of held sows (P < 0.05). S. enterica serovars isolated from no-hold sows were Brandenburg (n = 16), Derby (n = 12), Hadar (n = 8), Infantis (n = 6), Johannesburg (n = 3), 6,7:z10-monophasic (n = 3), and Typhimurium (n = 1). S. enterica serovars isolated from held sows (n = 61 isolates) were Derby (n = 19), 6,7:z10-monophasic (n = 15), Brandenburg (n = 10), Infantis (n = 6), Hadar (n = 5), Johannesburg (n = 4), and Tennessee (n = 2). Serovars recovered from the pen were Reading (n = 6), Derby (n = 4), Uganda (n = 2), and Manhattan (n = 2). Results of this study suggest holding pens contribute to increased S. enterica carriage in cull sows. Abattoir holding pens might be an important control point for S. enterica in the pork production chain.