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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 #155379
Title: ELIMINATING THE ABATTOIR PEN LAIRAGES TO DECREASE THE PREVALENCE OF SALMONELLA IN CULL SOWS

Author
item LARSEN, S - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item MCKEAN, J - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item Hurd, Howard
item Wesley, Irene

Submitted to: International Symposium on the Epidemiology and Control of Foodborne Pathogens in Pork
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2003
Publication Date: 10/1/2003
Citation: LARSEN, S.T., MCKEAN, J.D., HURD, H.S., WESLEY, I.V. ELIMINATING THE ABATTOIR PEN LAIRAGES TO DECREASE THE PREVALENCE OF SALMONELLA IN CULL SOWS. Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Epidemiology and Control of Foodborne Pathogens in Pork. 2003. p. 42-44.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The study objective, to determine the role of abattoir antemortem pens in preharvest Salmonella enterica contamination, was conducted over 4 sampling periods, February-April 2002. A total of 40 sows were selected for each period at the same collection point and transported to the abattoir. Twenty (20) were unloaded and sent directly and the other 20 held in antemortem pen for 2 h before harvest. Samples collected included ileocecal and subiliac lymph nodes, cecal and transverse colon contents, pre-rinse carcass sponge swabs for the right and left carcass sections and chopped meat blocks composited from these carcasses. The percentage of positive samples (all tissues) and cecal content from the sows held in the antemortem pens (59%, 55 %, respectively) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared to direct delivered (44%, 39 %, respectively). This study demonstrates that normal antemortem holding practices contributed to increased Salmonella enterica contamination of the digestive tract.