How and why Salmonella Typhimurium circumvents seroconversion in pigs

Salmonellosis is one of the most important bacterial zoonotic diseases and represents a considerable burden to humans in both developing and developed countries1. The consumption of contaminated pork is a major source of Salmonella Typhimurium infections in humans. Porcine carcass contamination is correlated with long-term Salmonella persistence in pigs, resulting in so called asymptomatic ‘carrier pigs’. Since interference of several pathogens with the host’s immune system has already been shown to be of major importance for successful long-term infection2, Salmonella Typhimurium persistence in pigs could be the result of the bacterium being able to circumvent the host’s cellular and/or humoral immune responses. It was the aim of the present study to examine if, how and why Salmonella Typhimurium escapes the porcine humoral immune system