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Establishing a campylobacter-free pig population through a top-down approach
M J Weijtens1, H A Urlings, J Van der Plas
1Department of the Science of Food of Animal Origin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. m.j.b.m.weijtens@cable.a2000.nl
Letters in Applied Microbiology
|June 10, 2000
Summary
Eliminating campylobacter in pigs requires a top-down strategy. Introducing campylobacter-free breeding stock and implementing strict hygiene successfully reduced infection rates on a repopulated farm.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Animal Husbandry
- Food Safety
Background:
- Campylobacter infections are prevalent in fattening pigs, posing a significant challenge to the swine industry.
- A top-down approach, targeting breeding and reproduction farms, is proposed for effective control of campylobacter.
- Understanding the efficacy of this strategy is crucial for developing comprehensive eradication programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a top-down approach in eliminating campylobacter from pig populations.
- To assess campylobacter prevalence in sows from different farm types, including specific pathogen-free (SPF), top-breeding, and repopulated farms.
- To analyze the genetic diversity of campylobacter strains to understand transmission dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Faecal samples were collected from sows on SPF, top-breeding, and a repopulated farm (Farm 5).
- Campylobacter presence was determined using microbiological analysis.
- Genetic typing of campylobacter isolates was performed using ERIC-PCR and RFLP.
Main Results:
- The SPF farm was campylobacter-free.
- Top-breeding farms showed a high prevalence of campylobacter (98%).
- The repopulated Farm 5 had a lower initial prevalence (22%), which did not significantly increase over 20 months. High genetic diversity of campylobacter was observed.
Conclusions:
- A top-down approach, utilizing campylobacter-free breeding stock, is a viable strategy for reducing campylobacter in pig populations.
- Combining this approach with stringent hygiene management is essential for establishing and maintaining campylobacter-free breeding farms.
- The findings support the development of integrated programs for campylobacter control in the swine industry.