Isolation of Salmonella from Cecal Content and Ileocolic Lymph Nodes of Finishing Pigs

Abstract

We isolated Salmonella from cecal content and ileocolic lymph nodes of finishing pigs, and examined the usefulness of ileocolic lymph nodes. We also examined the enrichment culture time of the ileocolic lymph nodes. Three of 25 farms (12%), and 13 of 250 (5.2%) pigs harbored Salmonella. Then, we examined Salmonella isolation in pig carried by positive 2 farms. In total, we found 52 of 340 (15%) pigs possessed Salmonella. The Salmonella-positive rate of the cecal content was 10%, which was not statistically different from 11% of ileocolic lymph nodes. However, the results of only the cecal content showed that the Salmonella carriage rate of the test pigs was 10%, but the carriage rate increased to 15% when the results of the ileocolic lymph nodes were combined. Therefore, it is considered that the use of ileocolic lymph nodes as well as cecal content as materials can provide a more accurate picture of Salmonella carriage in pigs. As for the enrichment culture time of the ileocolic lymph nodes, the positive rate of the 48-hour culture was 11%, significantly higher than 7.9% of 24-hour culture.