Survey of occurrence in meat-producing rabbitries in Switzerland.

Background: An outbreak of salmonellosis due to Typhimurium was detected coincidentally in a Swiss meat rabbitry, given that surveillance of in rabbits is not mandatory in Switzerland.

Methods: To assess the extent of potentially subclinical carriage in meat rabbits, faecal pool samples of 50 farms (90% of Swiss commercial rabbitries) with ground covering litter and group housing were bacteriologically tested. Additionally, 236 rabbits showing clinical signs compatible with intestinal diseases, such as salmonellosis, were examined postmortem and analysed bacteriologically.

Risk factors for oral antimicrobial consumption in Swiss fattening pig farms - a case-control study.

Background: Antimicrobial consumption in veterinary medicine is of great importance. Increased awareness by the public and media has led to demands for decreased use of antimicrobials in pigs. This study aimed to identify risk factors for regular oral antimicrobial consumption in Swiss fattening pig farms, and to quantify the amount of antimicrobial active substances administered orally to pigs at the farm level.