title: A prevalence study of Salmonella spp., Yersinia spp., Toxoplasma gondii and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in UK pigs at slaughter.
abstract: An abattoir-based study was undertaken between January and May 2013 to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella spp. and Yersinia spp. carriage and seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv) in UK pigs at slaughter. In total, 626 pigs were sampled at 14 abattoirs that together process 80% of the annual UK pig slaughter throughput. Sampling was weighted by abattoir throughput and sampling dates and pig carcasses were randomly selected. Rectal swabs, blood samples, carcass swabs and the whole caecum, tonsils, heart and tongue were collected. Salmonella spp. was isolated from 30·5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 26·5-34·6] of caecal content samples but only 9·6% (95% CI 7·3-11·9) of carcass swabs, which was significantly lower than in a UK survey in 2006-2007. S. Typhimurium and S. 4,[5],12:i:- were the most commonly isolated serovars, followed by S. Derby and S. Bovismorbificans. The prevalence of Yersinia enterocolitica carriage in tonsils was 28·7% (95% CI 24·8-32·7) whereas carcass contamination was much lower at 1·8% (95% CI 0·7-2·8). The seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and PRRSv was 7·4% (95% CI 5·3-9·5) and 58·3% (95% CI 53·1-63·4), respectively. This study provides a comparison to previous abattoir-based prevalence surveys for Salmonella and Yersinia, and the first UK-wide seroprevalence estimates for antibodies to Toxoplasma and PRRSv in pigs at slaughter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiological Sciences,Animal and Plant Health Agency,Addlestone,Surrey,UK.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiological Sciences,Animal and Plant Health Agency,Addlestone,Surrey,UK.
authors.forename: T E A
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Cheney
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Surveillance Division,Animal and Plant Health Agency,Bury St Edmunds,Suffolk,UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.affiliation: Toxoplasma Reference Unit,Public Health Wales,Singleton Hospital,Swansea,UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guy
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiological Sciences,Animal and Plant Health Agency,Addlestone,Surrey,UK.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology,Animal and Plant Health Agency,Addlestone,Surrey,KT15 3NB,UK.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D019318:Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D019316:Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015995:Prevalence; D012475:Salmonella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D015007:Yersinia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Salmonella; Toxoplasma gondii; Yersinia enterocolitica; veterinary pathogens; zoonotic foodborne diseases