Risk Factors Associated with Salmonella enterica Prevalence in Three-site Swine Production Systems in North Carolina, U.S.A.

The goal of this study was to identify risk factors associated with increased fecal shedding of S enterica (SE) in groups of market swine. Forty-nine groups of pigs were monitored for S enterica by fecal culture. Data regarding finisher site, biosecurity, growth performance, medication usage, and environmental temperature were collected. Biosecurity and hygiene practices (absence of a toilet, more than 2 people present at a finisher site daily, and other domestic species at the site), environmental temperature (winter/spring seasons, high temperature variability, and below median high temperature the day of sampling), and production performance (above median feed conversion) were associated with elevated S enterica prevalence. In addition, decreased floor space allowance/pig at the time of sampling was associated with increased prevalence. These results identify management practices for evaluation for S. enterica control and suggest caution in interpretation of fecal culture results when sampling from different marketing groups of swine