Zoonotic Agents

Assessing Pig Farm Biosecurity Measures for the Control of Salmonella on European Farms

Authors: R. P. Smith (Animal and Plant Health Agency) , H. E. May (Animal and Plant Health Agency) , E. Burow (Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) , M. Meester (Utrecht University) , Tijs Tobias (Royal GD) , Elena Lucia Sassu (Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety) , E. Pavoni (Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna) , Christopher Prigge (Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety)

Abstract

Salmonella spp. is the second most common zoonotic pathogen in the European Union, causing gastrointestinal infections in people. Although poultry (and eggs) are typically identified as the most common source of zoonotic Salmonella infection in Europe, pigs are the second most common source. Controlling and limiting Salmonella on pig farms is deemed important for reducing the risk of zoonotic transmission, alongside proper slaughterhouse practices. Although farm biosecurity is believed to be important for controlling Salmonella transmission on farm, robust evidence is lacking on which specific measures are most effective. The aim of the study was to assess the use and effectiveness of biosecurity measures for the control of Salmonella on European commercial pig farms.

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How to Cite: Smith, R. P. , May, H. E. , Burow, E. , Meester, M. , Tobias, T. , Sassu, E. L. , Pavoni, E. & Prigge, C. (2023) “Assessing Pig Farm Biosecurity Measures for the Control of Salmonella on European Farms”, SafePork. 14(1).