Prevalence of Mycobacterium avium in Slaughter Pigs Based on Serological Monitoring Results and Bacteriological Validation

Abstract

Mycobacterium avium (MA) is a potential food safety hazard in pigs. Blood samples of slaughtered pigs in the Netherlands and Germany were tested for the presence of MA antibodies to estimate the serological prevalence in the tested population. In the Dutch and German population 1.0% and 1.7% samples were positive, and 0.5% and 17.4% of the herds were at risk for having a MA infection respectively. The validity of the applied MA-ELISA was evaluated under field conditions. The specificity of the MA-ELISA was high (>98.4%). The average herd sensitivity was 18%. In the affected herds on average 50% of the animals were tested bacteriological positive for MA. It can be concluded that serological screening for the presence of MA antibodies is capable of identifying pig populations that are at risk for a MA infection.

Exploring target-specific primer extension in combination with a bead-based suspension array for multiplexed detection and typing using Streptococcus suis as a model pathogen

“…Use of imperfect assays for classification of herds is possible 5 and has been applied for identification of Mycobacterium avium –positive herds with an ELISA that has a low sensitivity. 14 Therefore, even though the sensitivities of the suspension array for S. suis are not very high for each separate target gene ( Table 2 ), the assay may be used to screen herds for circulating S. suis serotypes. Setting cutoffs for field application is an issue that still needs to be resolved; ideally, a large set of samples would be used, and analyzed with a reference method that can be used to set fixed thresholds.…”

Large-scale serological screening of slaughter pigs for Toxoplasma gondii infections in The Netherlands during five years (2012–2016): Trends in seroprevalence over years, seasons, regions and farming systems

“…Serum samples which were routinely collected in five slaughterhouses in the Netherlands for the serological monitoring of Mycobacterium avium infections in pigs ( Hiller et al, 2013 ) were also tested for anti T. gondii antibodies. At every delivery (a group of pigs from the same farm, delivered on the same date to one slaughterhouse) of pigs, blood samples were collected haphazardly from pigs during bleeding.…”

“…At every delivery (a group of pigs from the same farm, delivered on the same date to one slaughterhouse) of pigs, blood samples were collected haphazardly from pigs during bleeding. Criteria for the number of pigs sampled were based on the M. avium monitoring system ( Hiller et al, 2013 ). Briefly, new suppliers were put on a regime of two samples per delivery.…”

Toxoplasma prevalence in Dutch slaughter pigs in the period 2012-2014

“…Serum samples which were routinely collected in 5 slaughterhouses in the Netherlands for the serological monitoring of Mycobacterium avium infections in pigs (Hiller 2013) were also tested for anti T. gondii antibodies. At every delivery (a group of pigs from the same farm, delivered on the same date to one slaughterhouse) of pigs, blood samples were collected randomly from pigs during bleeding.…”