Salmonella in slaughter pigs of German origin: An epidemiological study

The Salmonella prevalence in slaughter pigs of German origin was determined in seven abattoirs located in different regions of the country between Feb ruary and June 1996. A total of 11,942 pigs delivered to the abattoirs in 7 52 batches, most of them comprised of pigs from individual finishing farms, was investigated by the bacteriological examination of faecal and gut lymp h node samples, as well as of surface swabs taken from the carcasses. Salmo nellae were isolated from 3.7% of the faecal samples, 3.3% of the lymph nod es and 4.7% of the surface swabs. The estimated overall prevalence of Salmo nellae was 6.2% in the slaughter pigs, ranging between 1.9% and 12% in indi vidual abattoirs. In the samples taken from carcasses, the estimated preval ence of Salmonellae reached 10.3%. 648 out of 752 batches could be included in a statistical analysis. No Salmonellae were detected in nearly 70 perce nt of the batches included in this analysis (n = 648). High Salmonella prev alences of more than 50 percent positive animals were detected only in 13 b atches (2.0%). A statistically significant influence of the duration of the transport of slaughter pigs to the abattoirs or the waiting period in the abattoirs prior to slaughter could not be detected.