Quantitative risk assessment of the introduction and transmission of Salmonella infection in the stable-to table chain of pork production

In Denmark, the presence of Salmonella is monitored at various stages of pork production. The main purpose is to identify producers for whom intervention measures are required, due to unacceptable levels of Salmonella. Commonly, the compiling and presentation of data from the monitoring programs is made public in the form of simple descriptive figures in e.g. annual reports. To make more efficient use of this vast source of information, routinely collected data is being utilized to develop a probabilistic risk assessment model to simulate the dynamics of Salmonella contantination throughout the stable-to-table chain of pork production. In addition, results obtained from several national and international research projects, a survey of Danish butchers and relevant literature sources were made available

Salmonella-prevalences in Danish organic, free-range, conventional and breeding herds

The results from the Danish serological Salmonella surveillance on meat juice from slaughter pigs in the herd types: conventional herds, organic herds, free-range herds and breeder herds were compared. Seropositive samples were found in all herd types. The relative risk for a sample to be seropositive in free-range herds was 1.7 compared to conventional herds (p=O,OOOI) when confounder control for herd size was applied. An apparent increased risk in organic herds and reduced risk in breeder herds were not statistically significant. The analysis of results from organic herds was based on relatively few samples. Due to the expected increase in number of alternative production systems and difficulties in application of the full panel of recommendations for reduction of the Salmonella infection in these herds, future studies should focus on identification of specific Salmonella risk factors within alternative production systems and develop new tools based on this knowledge

Quantification of Salmonella and Yersinia on pork carcasses by simulation modelling

Stagnation in the success of control programmes in pig production in Denmark has led to an increased interest in the development of alternative control strategies such as decontamination of carcasses to further decrease the attribution of pork meat to human foodborne illness. This project sets out to develop a model for quantitative estimation of slaughterhouse output of Salmonella and Yersinia . Distributions of the occurrence of Salmonefla, Yersinia and E. coli on pork carcasses are based on the analysis of paired faecal samples and carcass swabs from 2880 animals originating from four abattoirs. By combining the estimated quantity of faecal contamination of carcasses with a semi-quantitative distribution of the number of Safmoneffa or Yersinia per gram faeces, an output distribution describing the number of Salmonella or Yersinia bacteria per carcass can be established. In order to validate the model, carcass swabs, analysed for Salmonefla and Yersinia serve as control. After the model has been validated, the effect of various decontamination methods on human exposure to foodborne pathogens in pork will be evaluated in both economic terms as well as with regard to public health impact

Salmonella in Pork (SALINPORK), a new EU- project on pre-harvest and harvest control options based on epidemiologic, diagnostic and economic research

The occurrence of foodborne infections caused by consumption of animal products, contaminated with Salmonella enterica, has drawn increasing attention worldwide (Acha and Szyfres, 1987). Pork has been identified as a potential reservoir of infection (e.g. Oosterom et al., 1982; Wegener and Baggesen, 1996) and is presently estimated to be responsible for about 15% of the human cases of Salmonellosis in Denmark (Anon., 1997). Part of recently completed Danish research project, entitled \u27Reduction and control of salmonella-infection in pig herds\u27, stood model for an international research program funded by the European Union, entitled \u27Salmonella in Pork\u27 or SALINPORK. This three-year program started on April 1st 1996 and involves institutes and universities from 6 EU-member states

Eliciting expert knowledge on Salmonella enterica dynamics in swine at the pre-harvest level

A workshop was conducted to elicit expert knowledge on infection status and transmission of salmonella in pigs at the farm of origin, during transport and during lairage. Thirty-six experts from II countries filled in a paper-and-pencil questionnaire during an international conference. The group of US and Danish experts were large enough to be analysed separately. The results indicated that experts from all countries agreed on the risk of salmonella introduction related to live animals and the significance of general hygiene and all-in/all-out management for salmonella control. However, workshop participants from Denmark put more weight on factors related to feed while experts from the USA rated factors related to rodents and people contact higher. The experts believed that 1/3 of the infected pigs from a chronically infected farm would be shedders. There were differences in risk perception between experts from Denmark and the USA regarding contamination during Jairage and transport as well as regarding incidence of salmonella shedding during transport and Jairage. In conclusion, the results reflect the differences in the level of salmonella infection and control between countries. The study does not allow differentiation between true differences in salmonella dynamics between countries or differences in perception only

Implementing mentor mothers in family practice to support abused mothers: Study protocol

Contains fulltext : 97988.pdf (postprint version ) (Open Access)ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence is highly prevalent and mostly affects women with negative consequences for their physical and mental health. Children often witness the violence which has negative consequences for their well-being too. Care offered by family physicians is often rejected because abused women experience a too high threshold. Mentor mother support, a low threshold intervention for abused mothers in family practice, proved to be feasible and effective in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The primary aim of this study is to investigate which factors facilitate or hinder the implementation of mentor mother support in family practice. Besides we evaluate the effect of mentor mother support in a different region. METHODS/DESIGN: An observational study with pre- and posttests will be performed. Mothers with home living children or pregnant women who are victims of intimate partner violence will be offered mentor mother support by the participating family physicians. The implementation process evaluation consists of focus groups, interviews and questionnaires. In the effect evaluation intimate partner violence, the general health of the abused mother, the mother-child relationship, social support, and acceptance of professional help will be measured twice (t = 0 and t = 6 months) by questionnaires, reporting forms, medical records and interviews with the abused mothers. Qualitative coding will be used to analyze the data from the reporting forms, medical records, focus groups, interviews, and questionnaires. Quantitative data will be analyzed with descriptive statistics, chi square test and t-test matched pairs. DISCUSSION: While other intervention studies only evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the intervention, our primary aim is to evaluate the implementation process and thereby investigate which factors facilitate or hinder implementation of mentor mother support in family practice.6 p

Assessing the risk of Salmonella transmission within primary pork production in Denmark

Since the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (\u27SPS Agreement\u27) under the governance of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), risk analysis has become the standard method for the scientific documentation of risks related to animal products and trade (I). Similar principles have also been adopted in food safety as described by the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (2). The framework of risk analysis appears - therefore to be appropriate for the assessment of salmonella transmission and contamination in the Danish pork production chain

Herd-level risk factors for the introduction and spread of Salmonella in pig herds

Salmonella has been identified in all stages of pork production. Effons to decrease the Salmonella burden on society should be targeted at all levels of the production chain. One of the greatest challenges for Salmonella free or controlled pork production lies in identifying effective measures that can be taken at the herd-level