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Title: Microencapsulated sorbic acid and pure botanicals affect Salmonella Typhimurium shedding in pigs: a close-up look from weaning to slaughter in controlled and field conditions

Author
item GRILLI, E - University Of Bologna
item FORESTI, F - University Of Bologna
item TUGNOLI, B - University Of Bologna
item FUSTINI, M - University Of Bologna
item ZANONI, M - University Of Bologna
item PASQUALI, P - Department Of Veterinary Laboratory Of L'Herault
item Callaway, Todd
item PIVA, A - University Of Bologna
item ALBORALI, G - University Of Bologna

Submitted to: Foodborne Pathogens and Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/30/2015
Publication Date: 10/6/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/61643
Citation: Grilli, E., Foresti, F., Tugnoli, B., Fustini, M., Zanoni, M.G., Pasquali, P., Callaway, T.R., Piva, A., Alborali, G.L. 2015. Microencapsulated sorbic acid and pure botanicals affect Salmonella Typhimurium shedding in pigs: A close-up look from weaning to slaughter in controlled and field conditions. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease. 12:813-819.

Interpretive Summary: Organic acids and natural botanical compounds can inhibit or kill foodborne pathogenic bacteria. In our study, we examined the impact of organic acids and natural botanicals on populations of artifically inoculated Salmonella in newly weaned pigs. Intestinal populations of Salmonella were reduced by the treatment, but colonization was not prevented. A second study performed was a commercial production setting field-trial that found feeding the natural botanicals and organic acids reduced naturally occurring Salmonella fecal populations, but did not reduce the numbers of pigs that tested positive for Salmonella. These additives were effective, but did not completely protect pigs from colonization or reinfection. Organic acid/botanical products may have a role as part of an integrated multiple hurdle pathogen reduction scheme.

Technical Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a combination of sorbic acid, thymol, and carvacrol in reducing the prevalence and shedding of Salmonella Typhimurium in pigs either in a controlled challenge environment or in a production setting. In the first study, 24 weaned piglets were distributed in four isolation units (6 piglets/isolation unit). Each unit received either a basal diet (no treatment) or a microencapsulated mixture of sorbic acid, thymol, and carvacrol at 1, 2, or 5 g/kg of feed. After 21 days, pigs were orally challenged with 106 cfu of S. Typhimurium. Blood samples and feces from rectal ampulla were collected every week and on d 56 of the study, pigs were euthanized and necropsied to collect jejunum-colon contents and ileo-cecal lymph nodes. Samples were analysed for S. Typhimurium, and serological analysis was also conducted. In the second study, an all-in-all-out multisite pig farm positive for monophasic S. Typhimurium and receiving either a basal diet or the basal diet added with 5 g/kg of the additive was followed throughout a production cycle from weaning to slaughter. Environmental, fecal, and blood samples were collected monthly and cecal contents and ileo-cecal lymph nodes were collected at slaughter to perform Salmonella isolation and counts. The results indicate that the additive at 5 g/kg tended to reduce Salmonella fecal prevalence and counts in both a controlled challenge experimental set-up and in in-field conditions. Nevertheless, the additive did not reduce the number of pigs seropositive to Salmonella nor reduced the prevalence at slaughter, therefore indicating that these additives are not effective alone but must be used in addition to appropriate containment measures at lairage in order to prevent pigs re-infection and to reduce the number of pigs carrying Salmonella at the slaughterhouse.