title: Assessment of Risk Factors for a High Within-Batch Prevalence of Yersinia enterocolitica in Pigs Based on Microbiological Analysis at Slaughter.
abstract: The purpose of the current study was to find farm-level factors influencing the bacteriological prevalence of Yersinia enterocolitica in pigs at time of slaughter. On 100 farms, data concerning a broad range of farm aspects (e.g., management and housing system, biosecurity, and hygiene measurements) were collected using a face-to-face questionnaire. At the slaughterhouse, tonsils of on average 70 slaughter pigs per batch were sampled to determine the infection status of pigs. After univariable mixed-effect logistic regressions, variables that were related to the Yersinia prevalence (p<0.05) were included in a multivariable model. In this model, the factors remaining positively associated with a higher Y. enterocolitica carriage in the tonsils (p<0.1) were an increasing number of piglet suppliers, a high density of pig farms in the area, and the use of semislatted floors in the fattening pig unit. The proper use of a disinfection bath before entering the stables and a poor biosecurity level were protective factors, although a higher prevalence was associated with a significant positive interaction between the presence of pets in the stables and a poor biosecurity level. Reducing the number of piglet suppliers, using a disinfection bath properly, and prohibiting pets inside the stables could be easily implemented by pig farmers to lower the prevalence of Y. enterocolitica in pigs at slaughter.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University , Merelbeke, Belgium .
authors.forename: Gerty
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vanantwerpen
authors.affiliation: 2 Unit of Veterinary Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Animal Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine , Antwerp, Belgium .
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berkvens
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University , Merelbeke, Belgium .
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Van Damme
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University , Merelbeke, Belgium .
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Zutter
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University , Merelbeke, Belgium .
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Houf
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D004203:Disinfection; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005516:Food Microbiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000382:microbiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013552:Swine / Q000382:microbiology*; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000302:isolation & purification*