title: Factors associated with the serological prevalence of Salmonella enterica in Greek finishing swineherds.
abstract: Blood samples were taken from 50 finishing pigs at 90-105 kg in each of 59 randomly selected farrow-to-finish herds. The sera were tested for antibodies to Salmonella enterica by the Danish mix-ELISA. Samples with an optical density of > 10% were considered to be positive. Associations between the odds of seropositivity of pigs and possible risk factors were evaluated in multivariable logistic regression models. The results of the analysis indicated that pigs fed non-pelleted dry or wet ration had 11 (P = 0.0004) or 9 (P = 0.02) times, respectively, lower odds of seropositivity than those fed pelleted ration. The risk of seropositivity was 4 (P = 0.0006) times higher in pigs fed a combination of chlortetracycline, procaine penicillin and sulphamethazine during fattening than in those fed an approved growth promotor or a probiotic.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Epidemiology and Economics of Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Leontides
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grafanakis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Genigeorgis
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006115:Greece; D012307:Risk Factors; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D019779:Salmonella enterica / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents