The use of a multifactorial approach to reduce Salmonella shedding

An analytic epidemiological survey was carried out in france to assess the circumstances for Salmonella shedding in finishing pigs. This study gave out a combination of risk factors. The aim of our study was to evaluate that the implementation of a programme based on these risk factors reduces Salmonella carriage

Estimation of the risk of Salmonella shedding by finishing pigs using a logistic model obtained from a survey

An analytic epidemiological survey was carried out in 105 French farms to identify factors associated with Salmonella shedding by finishing pigs. This study gave out a list of 7 risk factors using a logistic model. The aim of the present survey was to validate this model on a second sample of batches of pigs in order to estimate their Salmonella status. The validation study was carried out from April 2003 to August 2005 on 64 finishing pig batches distinct from those used originally to generate the logistic model. In each farm, Salmonella shedding of a batch of pigs at the end of the finishing phase was assessed using swabs as described in the analytical study. Questionnaires were filled in with the farmer to collect data related to management routines. Blood samples from10 growing and 10 finishing pigs were taken to assess sanitary risk factors: status vs Lawsonia intracellularis and Porcine Respiratory Coronavirus. Salmonella contamination status of a finishing room before loading, a further identified risk factor, was tested by environmental swabbing procedure. The estimated risk with the standard error, of Salmonella shedding was calculated using the logistic model and compared to the bacteriological Salmonella status of each batch. Several thresholds are proposed and sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values related to each cut-off value were calculated. A cut-off value of 0.34 maximised both sensitivity (76.9%) and specificity (68.6%) of the model. Whatever the threshold, the accuracy of the Salmonella non-shedding predicted status is better than the Salmonella shedding predicted status. In a bacteriological sampling programme, this model could be a useful tool to identify batches with low risk of Salmonella shedding and to focus attention on those getting a high probability for being positive

Husbandry factors and health conditions influencing the productivity of French rabbit farms

[EN] In 2009 productivity data from 95 kindling to finishing rabbit farms in France were analysed to identify rearing factors and health conditions that influenced their productivity. Farm productivity, expressed on a yearly basis, was described with 4 productivity indices: doe fertility and prolificacy, viability of young rabbits in the nest and mortality during the fattening period. The productivity data were obtained with the technical support of the farm and expressed in a standardised way. The average numerical productivity observed in the sample of farms was 50.9 rabbits produced per doe and per year (CI95% [49.6-52.2]). The husbandry management and health conditions were described based on a questionnaire filled out during an interview with the farmer and a farm visit. Explanatory data were organised into meaningful blocks relative to biosecurity measures, del using a Partiamaternity management, the sanitary context and the farm structure. The relationship between the 4 thematic blocks and the productivity indices was studied in a single mol Least Squares (PLS) regression model. Fertility (81.0%, CI95% [80.0-82.0]) and viability of young at nest (85.1%, CI95% [85.0-85.3] and mortality rate during fattening: 7.2%, CI95% [6.4-7.9]) were significantly associated with common factors relative to maternity management and the health context whereas prolificacy (9.7 live kits per parturition, CI95% [9.5-9.9]) was mostly influenced by a specific set of variables pertaining to those 2 blocks. Farm structure and biosecurity measures had a limited impact on fertility and on kit viability before weaning. The health conditions of the doe herd and the fattening rabbits were found to be significantly associated with several productivity indexes, but their impacts on productivity were as high as the impact of the other blocks. Genetic strain of the females, doe replacement strategy and nursing and weaning practices appeared to significantly influence reproductive performance, viability of kits before weaning and mortality rate during the fattening period. Maternity management therefore seemed to be the key point in rabbit unit management that governed the numerical productivity of the farm.The authors wish to acknowledge the CLIPP-Lapin de France, the SNGTV (French Veterinary Society - rabbit branch) and the FFC (French Federation of Cuniculture) for their collaboration. We also wish to thank the farmers and the rabbit production organisations who participated in the study. The authors are grateful to Ms. Anaïs Croisier for her participation as an investigator and to Mr. Guillaume Coutelet from the French Institute for Avian Production for his technical expertise. Funding was provided by the French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products (ANSES-ANMV)Huneau-Salaün, A.; Bougeard, S.; Balaine, L.; Eono, F.; Le Bouquin, S.; Chauvin, C. (2015). Husbandry factors and health conditions influencing the productivity of French rabbit farms. World Rabbit Science. 23(1):27-37. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2015.3076SWORD2737231Castellini, C., Dal Bosco, A., Arias-Álvarez, M., Lorenzo, P. L., Cardinali, R., & Rebollar, P. G. (2010). The main factors affecting the reproductive performance of rabbit does: A review. Animal Reproduction Science, 122(3-4), 174-182. doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.10.003Coutelet G. 2011. Performances moyennes des élevages cunicoles en France pour l'année 2010. Cuniculture Magazine, 38: 24-27.EFSA. 2005. Scientific Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Animal Health and Welfare on the impact of the current housing and husbandry systems on the health and welfare of farmed domestic rabbits. EFSA J., 2005: 1-31.Lebas F. 2010. Situation cunicole en France en 2009: performances moyennes des élevages selon les résultats du RENACEB pour l'année 2009, situation du marché cunicole français et premières évaluations pour l'année 2010. Cuniculture Magazine, 37: 74-82.Licois D., Coudert P., Marlier D. 2006. Epizootic rabbit enteropathy. In: L. Maertens, P. Coudert (ed). Recent advances in rabbit sciences. Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Melle, Belgium, 163-170.Marongiu M.L., Dimauro C., Floris B. 2007. A six-year investigation on reproductive performance of hybrid rabbits. 1. Pregnancy rate and numerical productivity at weaning as affected by season. Ital. J. Anim. Sci., 6: 770-772.Rommers J., Maertens L., Kemp B. 2006. New perspectives in rearing systems for rabbit does. In: L. Maertens, P. Coudert (ed). Recent advances in rabbit sciences. Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Melle, Belgium, 39-51.Serrano P., Pascual M., Gómez E.A. 2012. Analysis of management techniques on productivity indicators using the bdcuni Spanish database. In Proc.: 10th World Rabbit Congress, 3-6 September, 2012. Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. 1: 803-807

Study of Salmonella contamination of pig slurry in France

A study was carried out from April 2003 to August 2005 In 69 French pig farms to detect Salmonella contaminated pig batches and to assess the level of contamination of their slurry. In each herd, a batch of finishing pigs was included in the survey. In the selected room, Salmonella shedding was assessed using swabs method, pools of faecal material and 4 litres of slurry stored in the pit below the pigs. All samples were analysed for the presence of Salmonella enlerica in a classical bacteriological four-step protocol. Quantification of Salmonella was performed in pools of faecal material and slurry samples according to the most probable number method. Using the swabbing procedure, 20.3% of the batches tested Salmonella positive at the end of the finish1ng phase and 11 .6 % according to the pools of faeces (8/69). Quantification of Salmonella 1n faeces could be performed 1n 6 out of 8 pos1tive batches with levels ranging from 2.4 to 350 Salmonella/gram. The slurry of 11 .8% of the batches (8/68) was found to be Salmonella contaminated. A quantification was achieved in 3 of them Levels of less than 11 0 Salmonellalml were found. The study Indicates that pig slurry may be contammated by Salmonella enterica. However, the percentage of pos1tive samples was rather low and Salmonella could only be detected 1n slurry stored 1n the pit under the slatted floor of moderately or highly shedding batches. Since storage without introduction of new fresh slurry is known to reduce Salmonella surv1val, the probability of spreading the bactena in the environment IS expected to be low as far as adequate storage conditions are applied

The use of a multifactorial approach to reduce Salmonella shedding

An analytic epidemiological survey was carried out in france to assess the circumstances for Salmonella shedding in finishing pigs. This study gave out a combination of risk factors. The aim of our study was to evaluate that the implementation of a programme based on these risk factors reduces Salmonella carriage.</p

Authorship Statement

National audienc

Importance of domestic pigs as a reservoir for autochthonous hepatitis E in France

International audienc

Enquête nationale de prévalence du virus de l'hépatite E dans le réservoir porcin

National audienc

Study of Salmonella contamination of pig slurry in France

A study was carried out from April 2003 to August 2005 In 69 French pig farms to detect Salmonella contaminated pig batches and to assess the level of contamination of their slurry. In each herd, a batch of finishing pigs was included in the survey. In the selected room, Salmonella shedding was assessed using swabs method, pools of faecal material and 4 litres of slurry stored in the pit below the pigs. All samples were analysed for the presence of Salmonella enlerica in a classical bacteriological four-step protocol. Quantification of Salmonella was performed in pools of faecal material and slurry samples according to the most probable number method. Using the swabbing procedure, 20.3% of the batches tested Salmonella positive at the end of the finish1ng phase and 11 .6 % according to the pools of faeces (8/69). Quantification of Salmonella 1n faeces could be performed 1n 6 out of 8 pos1tive batches with levels ranging from 2.4 to 350 Salmonella/gram. The slurry of 11 .8% of the batches (8/68) was found to be Salmonella contaminated. A quantification was achieved in 3 of them Levels of less than 11 0 Salmonellalml were found. The study Indicates that pig slurry may be contammated by Salmonella enterica. However, the percentage of pos1tive samples was rather low and Salmonella could only be detected 1n slurry stored 1n the pit under the slatted floor of moderately or highly shedding batches. Since storage without introduction of new fresh slurry is known to reduce Salmonella surv1val, the probability of spreading the bactena in the environment IS expected to be low as far as adequate storage conditions are applied.</p