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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 #411007
Research Project: Analysis of Genetic Factors that Increase Foodborne Pathogen Fitness, Virulence, and Antimicrobial Resistance Transfer, to Identify Interventions against Salmonella and Campylobacter in Food Animals

Location: Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research

Title: Salmonella

Author
item Bearson, Shawn
item MAINENTI, MARTA - Iowa State University

Submitted to: Diseases of Swine
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2024
Publication Date: 8/1/2025
Citation: Bearson, S.M., Mainenti, M. 2025. Salmonella. In: Zimmerman, J.J., Burrough, E.R., Karriker, L.A., Schwartz, K.J., Zhang, J., editors. Diseases of Swine. 12th edition. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p.1073-1088.

Interpretive Summary: Salmonella is a bacterium that causes disease in both humans and animals. In humans, Salmonella is typically a foodborne pathogen, and infections with Salmonella result in a gastrointestinal illness. Animals are a primary source of Salmonella, and swine colonized or infected with Salmonella are a concern for two major reasons: clinical disease in pigs (salmonellosis) and contamination of pork products that serve as a transmission source for human foodborne illness. Clinical appearance of Salmonella in pigs varies from absence of clinical signs to significant disease affecting multiple organ systems. The ability to prevent, control and detect Salmonella in pigs is challenged by the abundant presence of Salmonella in the swine production environment and the subclinical status of Salmonella-carrier pigs.

Technical Abstract: Salmonella colonization or infection in swine is a concern for two major reasons: clinical disease in pigs (salmonellosis) and contamination of pork products that serve as a transmission source for human foodborne illness. Swine can be colonized with a variety of the >2,600 serovars of Salmonella, and clinical manifestation can range from subclinical to significant enteric or systemic disease. Primary pathogens in swine include serovars Typhimurium, I 4,[5],12:i:- (monophasic variant of Typhimurium), and Choleraesuis. Clinical signs and lesions of S. Typhimurium and S. I 4,[5],12:i:- infections in swine are essentially indistinguishable and are mainly ascribable to enteric disease (enterocolitis), while S. Choleraesuis is frequently associated with septicemia and pneumonia. The commensal-like state established by a carrier pig, the ubiquitous nature of Salmonella in the environment, and the arsenal of redundant virulence mechanisms in the pathogen contribute to the immense challenge of prevention, control, and diagnosis of Salmonella in swine production.