Epidemiologic studies of slamonella in swine using culture and ELISA

Studies of Salmonella infections in pigs in the United States have relied almost entirely on bacteriologic culture methods. A serologic test has recently been described (Nielsen, Baggesen et al. 1995) for use as a herd monitoring test for Salmonella. This test (mix-ELISA) is an indirect ELISA that uses lipopolysaccharide (LPS) extracted from S. typhimurium (0 1, 4, 5, and 12) and S. choleraesuis (0 6, 7). The purpose of these studies was to determine if the mixELISA can be considered for use as a herd monitoring tool in the United States for the detection of herds infected with Salmonella. Two studies were conducted. In the first study, culture results from pig feces were compared with serologic results from serum for the prevalence of Salmonella. In the second study, culture results from mesenteric lymph nodes and muscle juice collected at the time of slaughter were compared for the prevalence of Salmonella