Relationship between Salmonella shedding at the slaughter and pig Salmonella status during the fattening period

In this study, the pig’s risk of shedding at slaughter with regard to its previous Salmonella status was estimated. A total of 133 pigs were serologically monitored monthly to determine their Salmonella status during the fattening period. Mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and faecal (FEC) samples were collected further at slaughter for bacteriology. Pigs were grouped as non-infected pigs (group A); animals likely infected at the end of the fattening period (B); and animals infected at least two weeks before the end of the fattening period (C). The probability of shedding in group A was high (36.5%) and likely related to Salmonella exposure during transport or lairage, but also to possible false-negative bacteriological results. The odds of shedding for groups B and C was 3.1 (95%CI=1.1-9.2) and 8.2 (1.4-48.6) times higher, respectively, when compared to group A. Overall most of the infected pigs from groups B and C showed same serotype in MLN and FEC samples (61% and 77%, respectively) and PFGE analysis confirmed majority were genetically related. In conclusion, the control of Salmonella infection along the fattening period appears to be of utmost importance to prevent slaughter contamination

Characterization of Salmonella enterica serovars Tyhimurium and 4,5,[12]:i:- isolated from pigs and pig environmental-related sources in the NE of Spain

A total of 117 Salmonella Typhimurium and 59 monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium (S. 4,[5],12:i:-) strains isolated from pig, wild bird, rodent, and farm environmental samples were characterized by phage typing, antibiotic susceptibility testing and Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) in order to evaluate their phenotypic and genetic relatedness. In S. 4,[5],12:i:- the most prevalent phage types were U311 (40.7%) and DT195 (22%) which did not correspond with the so-called Spanish clone, and generally showed a different resistant pattern (ASSuT). Antibiotic resistance was found in 85.8% of the isolates, with 94.1% of them displaying multidrug resistance (MDR). MLVA identified 92 different profiles, six of them shared by both serovars. The Minimum Spanning Tree showed one major cluster that included 95% of the S. 4,[5],12:i:- isolates, which came from different animal sources, geographic locations and time periods, suggesting high clonality among those Salmonella strains and the ability to spread among pig farms. Phenotypically, isolates of S. 4,[5],12:i:- were closer to European strains than to the well-characterized Spanish clone. The spread of these new strains of S. 4,[5],12:i:- would have been likely favoured by the important pig trade between this Spanish region and other European countries

Papel de la fauna silvestre en la epidemiología de la salmonelosis porcina en cebaderos

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Efficacy and Safety of Reslizumab in Patients with Severe Asthma with Inadequate Response to Omalizumab : A Multicenter, Open-Label Pilot Study

Funding: This study was endorsed by the Asthma Research Program of the Spanish Respiratory Society (PII de Asma de SEPAR) supported by a grant from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.Background: Patients with severe allergic and eosinophilic asthma could qualify for different biologic therapies. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of weight-based intravenous reslizumab dosing in patients who have previously failed therapy with omalizumab. Methods: We carried out a 24-week prospective, multicenter, open-label, single-group, self-controlled study in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma who had previously failed to respond to omalizumab. The main objective was to determine whether treatment with reslizumab significantly improved asthma symptoms assessed by the Asthma Control Test (ACT) at week 24. Secondary objectives were to evaluate symptoms at weeks 4 and 12, change in FEV at week 24, and the incidence of severe exacerbations over the study period. Results: Twenty-nine patients (62.1% women, median age, 50.8 years) were included in the study. The median ACT score significantly increased from 13.0 (interquartile range, 8.0-18.0) at baseline to 21.0 (interquartile range, 14.0-24.0) at 24 weeks (P =.002). Only 2 of 29 patients developed at least 1 severe exacerbation during follow-up and none of them required hospitalization. Overall, 15 of 25 patients (60%) were considered as being controlled (ACT score of ≥20 and no exacerbations) at week 24. The percentage of patients who were receiving daily systemic corticosteroids significantly decreased from 72.4% to 52.0% (P =.019). Adverse events were mostly moderate and within the range of previously reported side effects with reslizumab. Conclusion: Reslizumab is an effective and safe option for patients with severe eosinophilic asthma and a history of omalizumab failure

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Relationship between Salmonella shedding at the slaughter and pig Salmonella status during the fattening period

In this study, the pig’s risk of shedding at slaughter with regard to its previous Salmonella status was estimated. A total of 133 pigs were serologically monitored monthly to determine their Salmonella status during the fattening period. Mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and faecal (FEC) samples were collected further at slaughter for bacteriology. Pigs were grouped as non-infected pigs (group A); animals likely infected at the end of the fattening period (B); and animals infected at least two weeks before the end of the fattening period (C). The probability of shedding in group A was high (36.5%) and likely related to Salmonella exposure during transport or lairage, but also to possible false-negative bacteriological results. The odds of shedding for groups B and C was 3.1 (95%CI=1.1-9.2) and 8.2 (1.4-48.6) times higher, respectively, when compared to group A. Overall most of the infected pigs from groups B and C showed same serotype in MLN and FEC samples (61% and 77%, respectively) and PFGE analysis confirmed majority were genetically related. In conclusion, the control of Salmonella infection along the fattening period appears to be of utmost importance to prevent slaughter contamination.</p

Effect of the addition of protected sodium butyrate to the feed on Salmonella spp. Infection dynamics in fattening pigs

The effectiveness of a new form of sodium butyrate protected with sodium salt of coconut fatty acid distillate for the control of Salmonella infection in fattening pigs was assessed. A dose of 3 kg/T of this product was added to the basal diet of a group of pigs for the whole fattening period while another group within the same fattening unit remained without treatment. A significant reduction in the number of infected pigs (4% vs. 61%; P<0.01) and in the median OD% values (19.4 vs. 55.9) at slaughter were observed in the pigs under treatment compared to the controls. Also, a significant association between high OD% values and Salmonella shedding and infection was detected. The use of this form of protected sodium butyrate may be useful to reduce Salmonella shedding and infection in slaughter pigs.</p

Revisiting the role of pig serology in the context of Salmonella control programs in countries with high prevalence of infection—a preliminary study

In this study, we assess whether on-farm serology may be useful for predicting Salmonella shedding at slaughter. Serology on serum samples collected 60 and 90 on fattening and three days before slaughter predicted somewhat shedding at slaughter with no significant differences among them. Pigs with higher OD% values at these point times would have higher risk of shedding when arriving to slaughter. On-farm serology may help to predict to some extent the risk of Salmonella shedding at slaughter in seropositive fattening units, which may allow for prompt on-farm and slaughter interventions to mitigate the risk of shedding when pigs arrive to slaughter.</p

Characterization of Salmonella enterica serovars Tyhimurium and 4,5,[12]:i:- isolated from pigs and pig environmental-related sources in the NE of Spain

A total of 117 Salmonella Typhimurium and 59 monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium (S. 4,[5],12:i:-) strains isolated from pig, wild bird, rodent, and farm environmental samples were characterized by phage typing, antibiotic susceptibility testing and Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) in order to evaluate their phenotypic and genetic relatedness. In S. 4,[5],12:i:- the most prevalent phage types were U311 (40.7%) and DT195 (22%) which did not correspond with the so-called Spanish clone, and generally showed a different resistant pattern (ASSuT). Antibiotic resistance was found in 85.8% of the isolates, with 94.1% of them displaying multidrug resistance (MDR). MLVA identified 92 different profiles, six of them shared by both serovars. The Minimum Spanning Tree showed one major cluster that included 95% of the S. 4,[5],12:i:- isolates, which came from different animal sources, geographic locations and time periods, suggesting high clonality among those Salmonella strains and the ability to spread among pig farms. Phenotypically, isolates of S. 4,[5],12:i:- were closer to European strains than to the well-characterized Spanish clone. The spread of these new strains of S. 4,[5],12:i:- would have been likely favoured by the important pig trade between this Spanish region and other European countries.</p