Presence of Salmonella sp. in the intestinal tract and tonsils/mandibular lymph nodes in pigs at slaughter

Estudou-se a associação entre o isolamento de Salmonella sp. do trato intestinal de suínos ao abate e sua presença em tonsilas/linfonodos submandibulares (T/LS), utilizadas no preparo de embutidos. Colheram-se linfonodos mesentéricos (LM), conteúdo intestinal (CI) e T/LS de 90 animais. Em 71 (79%) deles isolou-se Salmonella sp. em pelo menos uma das amostras coletadas. Observou-se associação entre amostras de T/LS positivas e isolamento de Salmonella sp. a partir de LM e/ou CI (P<0,001), com odds ratioLTpositivo 5,6. T/LS de outros 75 animais foram processados separadamente, verificando-se associação (P< 0,0001) entre T/LS e isolamento de Salmonella. Os sorovares mais encontrados foram Typhimurium e Bredeney. Conclui-se que a presença de Salmonella sp. no trato gastrintestinal é fator de risco para a contaminação de partes da carcaça utilizadas na fabricação de embutidos.The association between Salmonella sp. isolated from the intestinal tract of pigs at slaughter and its presence in tonsils/mandibular lymph nodes (T/MDL) used in the sausage manufacture was assessed. In a trial mesenteric lymph nodes (LM), intestinal contents (IC) and T/MDL were collected from 90 animals. Salmonella sp. was isolated from 71 (79%) animals in at least one of the samples. T/MDL contaminated samples were correlated with Salmonella sp. isolated from LM and/or IC (P<0.001), with odds ratioLTpositive 5.6. In other trial, T/MDL of 75 animals processed separately, were associated with isolation of Salmonella sp (P< 0.0001). The serovars more prevalent were Typhimurium and Bredeney. It was concluded that Salmonella sp. presence in the intestinal tract is a risk factor for contamination of the portions of carcasses used in sausage manufacture