title: Supplementation with Quaternary Benzo(c)phenanthridine Alkaloids Decreased Salivary Cortisol and Salmonella Shedding in Pigs After Transportation to the Slaughterhouse.
abstract: The present study was aimed at evaluating the effect of herbal extracts supplementation, particularly quaternary-benzo(c)phenanthridine alkaloids (QBA), which have been previously demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immune-modulator effects. We investigated the role of QBA on stress response and Salmonella shedding in finishing pigs transported to the slaughterhouse. A total of 82 pigs were orally challenged with a Salmonella cocktail (day 0) containing Salmonella Meleagridis, Hartford, Bovismorbificans and Newport serovars and randomly assigned to three treatment groups after 2 wks (day [D] 14): T1, in-feed QBA; T2, in-feed and water-soluble QBA; CON, nonsupplemented). Pigs were transported to the slaughterhouse 2 weeks after intervention (D 28) and slaughtered after nearly 19 h (D 29). Saliva, fecal samples, and carcass swabs were collected from all pigs. Salivary cortisol, Salmonella shedding, and carcass contamination were measured. A high positive correlation (Spearman rank correlation coefficient range 0.82-0.93) between salivary cortisol and Salmonella shedding was found after transportation in all groups (p < 0.05). Only the CON group showed an increase in salivary cortisol after transportation (5.48 ng/mL; p < 0.0001) to concentrations that were higher than in T1 (2.73 ng/mL; p = 0.0002) and T2 (1.88 ng/mL; p < 0.0001). Salmonella prevalence and shedding decreased after transportation in pigs receiving the QBA intervention (p < 0.05), whereas the control group showed a significant increase in Salmonella shedding after transportation (p = 0.04). At D 28, pigs in T2 shed lower numbers of Salmonella as compared to T1 (1.3E + 02 CFU/mL versus 8E + 03 CFU/mL; p = 0.002). Additionally, carcass contamination by Salmonella was higher in the CON group than the treated groups (p = 0.01). The findings show QBA intervention was effective in reducing transportation stress of pigs, resulting in reduced Salmonella shedding and positively impacting animal welfare and pork safety.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Artuso-Ponte
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Animal Sciences, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moeller
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Paivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rajala-Schultz
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Julius J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Medardus
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Munyalo
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Kelvin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Wondwossen A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Gebreyes
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D057138:Bacterial Shedding / Q000187:drug effects*; D053119:Benzophenanthridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013552:Swine / Q000382:microbiology*; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D014186:Transportation
chemical_list: D053119:Benzophenanthridines; D006854:Hydrocortisone