Risk factors associated with the presence of Salmonella in swine herds in Quebec

Based on the generic HACCP plan for swine production developed by the Canadian Pork Council, Agriculture and Agrifood Canada and provincial authorities, a questionnaire was developed to evaluate the relationship between the application of good production practices and the presence of Salmonella in swine herds. Seventy eight finishing units were sampled (n=l5) at 2 different occasions to detect the presence of Salmonella in fecal material and in the environment. Each producer was asked to answer 20 questions and their answers were validated by a veterinarian during the herd sampling. Salmonella was found in 16 out of 28 herds. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the use of multiple sources for the purchase of incoming animals was correlated with the presence of salmonella in herds. Reduction of the number of sources for incoming animals should thus be considered in order to reduce the risk of acquiring Salmonella in swine herds