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The purpose of this study was to test a protocol for a standardized ERIC PCR for its capability of genotyping Salmonella, isolated from pigs and their environment, in an epidemiologic approach. To test repeatability, four different Salmonella isolates were subjected to PCR three times. Furthermore, it was tested if the profiles on gel differed when a higher annealing temperature was used. Four Salmonella isolates were subjected to four different annealing temperatures (36, 40, 48 and 55°C). Moreover it was tested if the differentiation of Salmonella isolates, based on the genotypes, differed when a higher annealing temperature was used. Eight Salmonella isolates were tested at normal (36°C) and high (55°C) annealing temperatures. The results showed that this standardized ERIC PCR protocol was an efficient tool for typing many Salmonella isolates within a short period of time. The profiles were repeatable within one PCR reaction, but some profiles differed when they were compared between reactions. A higher annealing temperature resulted in profiles that contained more or fewer bands. The differentiation between isolates, when comparing profiles, remained the same. It was concluded that the standardized ERIC PCR protocol is useful for genotyping Salmonella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk assessments are mostly carried out based on available data, which do not reflect all data theoretically required by experts to answer them. This study aimed at developing a methodology to assess data availability, accessibility and format, based on a scoring system and focusing on two diseases: Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis ( VEE), still exotic to Europe, and alveolar echinococcosis, caused by Echinococcus multilocularis ( EM), endemic in several Member States ( MSs). After reviewing 36 opinions of the EFSA- AHAW Panel on risk assessment of animal health questions, a generic list of needed data was elaborated. The methodology consisted, first, in implementing a direct and an indirect survey to collect the data needed for both case studies: the direct survey consisted in a questionnaire sent to contact points of three European MSs (Belgium, France and the Netherlands), and the organization of a workshop gathering experts on both diseases. The indirect survey, focusing on the three MSs involved in the direct survey plus Spain, relied on web searches. Secondly, a scoring system with reference to data availability, accessibility and format was elaborated, to, finally, compare both diseases and data between MSs. The accessibility of data was generally related to their availability. Web searches resulted in more data available for VEE compared to EM, despite its current exotic status in the European Union. Hypertext markup language and portable document files were the main formats of available data. Data availability, accessibility and format should be improved for research scientists/assessors. The format of data plays a key role in the feasibility and rapidness of data management and analysis, through a prompt compilation, combination and aggregation in working databases. Harmonization of data collection process is encouraged, according to standardized procedures, to provide useful and reliable data, both at the national and the international levels for both animal and human health; it would allow assessing data gaps through comparative studies. The present methodology is a good way of assessing the relevance of data for risk assessment, as it allows integrating the uncertainty linked to the quality of data used. Such an approach could be described as transparent and traceable and should be performed systematically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to effectively manage the problem of human salmonellosis attributable to pork and pork products, control measures should be taken simultaneously at all levels of production. These measures require an understanding of the epidemiology of Salmonella within and between links of the production chain. Two major factors of pre-harvest Salmonella epidemiology are the introduction and subsequent transmission of infection within and between herds. Stress imposed by transportation and the associated handling can significantly increase the number of pigs excreting Salmonella upon arrival at the abattoir and during lairage, exposing negative pigs to Salmonella. Positive pigs carry Salmonella on the skin, in the gastro-intestinal system or in the mouth. The (cross-)contamination of carcasses is basically a matter of redistributing the Salmonella bacteria from the positive pigs during the various slaughter processes. Although the manufacturing and retail levels of pork production depend on the quality of raw materials that are delivered, they share the responsibility for the quality and safety of the end products reaching the consumer. At this level and onwards, the three main factors which influence the microbiological quality of meats are handling, time and temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]