Salmonella in Swine at Slaughter: Incidence and Serovar Distribution at Different Seasons

Abstract
Throughout a 1-year period samples were obtained from 874 hogs at slaughter at one local, state-inspected slaughter plant. Caecal contents were the source of the samples. A total of 118 salmonellae was isolated yielding 16 different serovars. Major serovars were derby (57%), alachua (11%), agona (8%), and newport (5%). The average number of hogs sampled per trip was 17. The maximum number of serovars obtained at any one sampling day was 3. The maximum number of Salmonella-positive samples in any one day was 11 of 17 samples (64.7%). Total numbers of Salmonella isolates did not vary with season; however, during the hot, dry summer and fall seasons, 10 and 11 different serovars were isolated, respectively, compared to 3 and 1 serovars for the cooler, wetter winter and spring seasons, respectively.