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Establishing a campylobacter‐free pig population through a top‐down approach
Author(s) -
Weijtens M.J.B.M.,
Urlings H.A.P.,
Van der Plas J.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1046/j.1472-765x.2000.00750.x
Subject(s) - campylobacter , biology , feces , population , veterinary medicine , campylobacter coli , reproduction , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , bacteria , genetics , environmental health , medicine
Fattening pigs are often infected with campylobacter. To eliminate campylobacter from the pig population, a top‐down approach, involving the breeding and reproduction farms, seems appropriate. In order to investigate the effectiveness of a top‐down approach, sows' faeces from the following farms were analysed for the presence of campylobacter: one specific pathogen free (SPF) farm, three top‐breeding farms with no connection with SPF breeding, and a breeding farm repopulated with SPF sows after a period of vacancy (farm 5). The faeces samples from the SPF farm were free from campylobacter. The three top‐breeding farms provided faeces samples which were 98% positive for campylobacter. However, only 22% of the faeces samples from farm 5 were positive for campylobacter. In a period of 20 months, the percentage of sows infected with campylobacter on farm 5 did not significantly increase. Genetic typing with ERIC‐PCR and RFLP of campylobacter isolates from one of the top‐breeding farms and from farm 5 showed a high diversity of campylobacter types. The results suggest that a campylobacter‐free pig population can be established in breeding farms by combining a top‐down approach (campylobacter‐free top‐breeding farms) with a strict regime of hygiene management.