Salmonella shedding and seropositivity and its association with in-feed flavophospholipol in nursery pigs

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of in-feed flavophospholipol on Salmonella shedding and antibody response in nursery pigs. Weaned pigs were fed either a diet containing 4 ppm flavophospholipol (n = 16) or a non-medicated feed (n = 16) for 36 d. All pigs were orally challenged with a 2-mL dose of 10⁸ colony-forming units (CFUs)/mL of Salmonella Typhimurium on Days 7 and 8 of the trial. On Day 36, all pigs were euthanized and samples were collected from the liver, spleen, and ileocecal lymph nodes. Fecal and tissue samples were quantitatively cultured for Salmonella and serum samples were tested for the presence of the Salmonella antibody by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). There was no difference between the 2 groups in antibody response and the presence of Salmonella in feces and tissue (P > 0.05). Medicating nursery diets with flavophospholipol at 4 ppm did not appear to reduce Salmonella infection in nursery pigs.

Figure 1

Salmonella colony-forming units (CFUs)/gram of feces in 32 nursery pigs challenged orally with Salmonella Typhimurium DT 104 on Days 7 and 8 fed a medicated diet with 4 ppm flavophospholipol (treatment) or non-medicated diet (control) from Day 1 to Day 36.

Figure 2

Salmonella seropositivity in 32 nursery pigs challenged orally with Salmonella Typhimurium DT 104 on Days 7 and 8 fed a medicated diet with 4 ppm flavophospholipol (treatment) or a non-medicated diet (control) for the duration of the trial (Day 1 to Day 36).