W. E. M. Morrow

Prevalence of salmonella in finishing swine raised in different production systems in North Carolina, USA

We compared the prevalence of salmonella in faecal samples from finishing pigs and in feed samples from swine herds in North Carolina, USA. Farms were either finishing sites using all-in/all-out management of buildings in multiple-site systems (14 farms) or farrow-to-finish systems using continuous flow management of finishing barns (15 farms). The two groups of herds differed with respect to several management variables. Salmonella were isolated from 565 of 2288 (24.6%) faecal samples and from at least 1 faecal sample on 24 of 29 (83%) farms. Predominant serotypes were S. derby, S. typhimurium (including copenhagen), S. heidelberg, S. worthington and S. mbandaka. Fewer farrow-to-finish farms were detected as positive compared with all-in/all-out farms. Prevalence was lower for pigs raised on slotted floors compared with all other floor types, and was highest for pigs raised on dirt lots. Modern methods of raising pigs in multiple-site production systems, using all-in/all-out management of finishing pigs, appear to have no benefit in reducing the prevalence of salmonella compared with conventional farrow-to-finish systems.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spiralis in finishing swine raised in different production systems in North Carolina, USA

We compared the seroprevalence of both Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spiralis in finishing pigs raised in different production systems in North Carolina, USA. Farms were either finishing sites using all-in/all-out management of buildings in multiple-site systems (14 farms) or farrow-to-finish systems using continuous-flow management of finishing barns or outdoor accommodation 14 farms). The two groups of herds differed with respect to several management variables. A total of 13 of 2238 samples (0.58%) were positive for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii using the modified agglutination test. Of these, 12 were from 63 pigs sampled on a farm where finishing pigs were kept on pasture. Only one of 1752 (0.057%) samples from pigs kept in total confinement systems was seropositive. Only one pig of 2183 (0.046%) tested positive by ELISA for antibodies against T. spiralis. In this region, management practices in modern production systems appear to be adequate to virtually eliminate the risk of infection of finishing pigs with both T. gondii and T. spiralis.

Longitudinal study of distributions of similar antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella serovars in pigs and their environment in two distinct swine production systems.

ABSTRACT The aim of this longitudinal study was to determine and compare the prevalences and genotypic profiles of antimicrobial-resistant (AR) Salmonella isolates from pigs reared in antimicrobial-free (ABF) and conventional production systems at farm, at slaughter, and in their environment. We collected 2,889 pig fecal and 2,122 environmental (feed, water, soil, lagoon, truck, and floor swabs) samples from 10 conventional and eight ABF longitudinal cohorts at different stages of production (farrowing, nursery, finishing) and slaughter (postevisceration, postchill, and mesenteric lymph nodes [MLN]). In addition, we collected 1,363 carcass swabs and 205 lairage and truck samples at slaughter. A total of 1,090 Salmonella isolates were recovered from the samples; these were isolated with a significantly higher prevalence in conventionally reared pigs (4.0%; n = 66) and their environment (11.7%; n = 156) than in ABF pigs (0.2%; n = 2) and their environment (0.6%; n = 5) (P < 0.001). Salmonella was isolated from all stages at slaughter, including the postchill step, in the two production systems. Salmonella prevalence was significantly higher in MLN extracted from conventional carcasses than those extracted from ABF carcasses (P < 0.001). We identified a total of 24 different serotypes, with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Salmonella enterica serovar Anatum, Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis, and Salmonella enterica serovar Derby being predominant. The highest frequencies of antimicrobial resistance (AR) were exhibited to tetracycline (71%), sulfisoxazole (42%), and streptomycin (17%). Multidrug resistance (resistance to ≥3 antimicrobials; MDR) was detected in 27% (n = 254) of the Salmonella isolates from the conventional system. Our study reports a low prevalence of Salmonella in both production systems in pigs on farms, while a higher prevalence was detected among the carcasses at slaughter. The dynamics of Salmonella prevalence in pigs and carcasses were reciprocated in the farm and slaughter environment, clearly indicating an exchange of this pathogen between the pigs and their surroundings. Furthermore, the phenotypic and genotypic fingerprint profile results underscore the potential role played by environmental factors in dissemination of AR Salmonella to pigs.

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Campylobacter Spp. Isolated from Conventional and Antimicrobial-Free Swine Production Systems from Different U.S. Regions

We conducted a study to compare the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profile of Campylobacter isolated from 34 farm-slaughter pair cohorts of pigs raised in conventional and antimicrobial-free (ABF) production systems. Isolates originated from four different states of two geographic regions (region 1--Ohio and Michigan; region 2--Wisconsin and Iowa). A total of 838 fecal and 1173 carcass samples were examined. Campylobacter isolates were speciated using multiplex polymerase chain reaction targeting ceuE and hipO genes. The minimum inhibitory concentration was determined using agar dilution to a panel of six antimicrobials: chloramphenicol, erythromycin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, and tetracycline. Campylobacter spp. was isolated from 472 of 838 pigs (56.3%). Campylobacter prevalence did not vary significantly based on production system (conventional [58.9%] and ABF [53.7%], odds ratio [OR] 1.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8-2.6, p = 0.24) or geographic region (region 1 [54.1%] and region 2 [58.2%], OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.6-1.9, p = 0.92). At slaughter plant, Campylobacter prevalence varied based on processing stages (19.4% at pre-evisceration, 25.3% at postevisceration, and 3.2% at postchill). Resistance was common to tetracycline (64.5%), erythromycin (47.9%), and nalidixic acid (23.5%). Campylobacter isolates from conventional production systems were more likely to be erythromycin resistant than from ABF (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.4-7.2, p = 0.01). The proportion of ciprofloxacin-resistant Campylobacter coli isolates were 3.7% and 1.2% from ABF and conventional production systems, respectively. Thirty-seven out of 1257 C. coli (2.9%) were resistant to both erythromycin and ciprofloxacin, drugs of choice for treatment of invasive human campylobacteriosis. The finding of ciprofloxacin resistance, particularly from ABF herds, has significant implications on the potential role of risk factors other than mere antimicrobial use for production purposes.

Comparison of Swiffer wipes and conventional drag swab methods for the recovery of Salmonella in swine production systems.

The main goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of Swiffer wipes in comparison to conventional drag swabs for the recovery of Salmonella. A total of 800 samples (400 Swiffer wipes and 400 drag swabs) were aseptically collected from randomly selected swine barns before disinfection with specific biocides and within 2 h after disinfection. From each barn, 10 samples of each swab type and negative controls were collected. Salmonellae were isolated from 43 (10.8%) of 400 drag swabs and 34 (8.5%) of 400 Swiffer wipes. There was a significant reduction in Salmonella postdisinfection as identified with both sampling procedures irrespective of the type of biocide used (P < 0.05). With the drag swabs, salmonellae were detected in 15% of the samples before disinfection versus 6.5% after disinfection, whereas with the Swiffer wipes, 13 and 4% of the samples were positive pre- and postdisinfection, respectively. Of the total 720 fecal samples collected from pigs placed in the disinfected barns, 132 (18.3%) were Salmonella positive. About 65 and 98% of the Salmonella isolates from swine barns and fecal samples, respectively, were resistant to one or more of the antimicrobials tested. Multidrug resistance was found in 35.7% of the isolates from barn swabs and 56.4% of the isolates from fecal samples. Results of this study suggest that the conventional drag swab method results in better recovery of Salmonella than does the Swiffer wipe method and thus could be a useful sampling method in monitoring Salmonella. Pentaresistant Salmonella (mainly R-type ACSSuT) was more common in fecal samples than in environmental samples.

Comparative Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Temporally Related Nontyphoidal Salmonella Isolated from Human Clinical Cases, Pigs, and the Environment in North Carolina

Nontyphoidal Salmonella infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) strains are of great public health concern. We compared the phenotypic and genotypic relationships among temporally and spatially related AMR Salmonella isolates (n=1058) representing several predominant serovars, including Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Typhimurium var. 5-, Salmonella Derby, Salmonella Heidelberg, Salmonella Muenchen, Salmonella Schwarzengrund, and Salmonella Rissen of human clinical cases (n=572), pig (n=212), and farm environment (n=274) origin in North Carolina. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the broth microdilution method, and genotypic resistance determinants, including class I and II integrons, were identified. Overall, Salmonella isolates exhibited the highest frequency of resistance to tetracycline (50%), followed by sulfisoxazole (36%) and streptomycin (27%). We identified 16 different antimicrobial resistance genes, including extended spectrum and AmpC β-lactamases-producing genes (bla(TEM), bla(PSE), and bla(CMY-2)), in all the β-lactam- and cephalosporin-resistant Salmonella isolates from humans, pigs, and the environment. Class I integrons of 1-kb and 1.2-kb size were identified from all the three sources (humans, 66%; pigs, 85%; environment, 58%), while Class II integrons of 2-kb size were identified only in pig (10%) and environmental (19%) isolates. We detected genotypic similarity between Salmonella Typhimurium isolated from humans, pigs, and the environment while serovars Derby, Heidelberg, and Muenchen exhibited genotypic diversity. Detection of AMR Salmonella isolates from humans, pigs, and the environment is a concern for clinicians and veterinarians to mitigate the dissemination of AMR Salmonella strains.

Prevalence of Yersinia enterocolitica in Antimicrobial-Free and Conventional Antimicrobial Use Swine Production

Swine are the primary reservoir for foodborne illness associated with Yersinia enterocolitica. The use of antimicrobials in animal agriculture has been hypothesized as having a potential role in the increase in prevalence of zoonotic pathogens. The objective of this study was to compare the frequency of Y. enterocolitica fecal shedding in swine reared on farms with conventional antimicrobial use policies to farms that were antimicrobial free (ABF). Swine farms were selected from three regions in the United States. In each region, farms were categorized based on antimicrobial use policy. Fecal samples were collected from pigs on-farm within 48 h of harvest. The overall proportion of Y. enterocolitica and ail-harboring Y. enterocolitica-positive pigs was 10.9% and 4.0%, respectively. There were increased odds (odds ratio [OR] 6.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.46-13.28) for a pig to be Y. enterocolitica positive if it was reared on an ABF farm as compared to a conventional farm. There was no significant association between farm antimicrobial use policy and isolation of an ail-harboring Y. enterocolitica from an individual pig (OR 1.8, 95% CI 0.90-3.61). The association of antimicrobial use policy with Y. enterocolitica shedding in feces should be interpreted cautiously, as antimicrobial use cannot be separated from other management factors (e.g., confinement or outdoor housing), which may be associated with risk of Y. enterocolitica in swine.