The Importance of Hazard Analysis by Critical Control Point for Effective Pathogen Control in Animal Feed: Assessment of Control in Feed Production in Sweden, 1982-2005.

This study is the first to show that Hazard Analysis by Critical Control Point (HACCP)-based monitoring can be an effective tool for ensuring -safe feed, by virtually eliminating feedborne infection even in broiler production. Data from the control of in feed and food animal production during 1982-2005, showed that conventional endpoint testing in feed mills did not ensure a -safe feed, and in one feed mill failed to detect contamination, resulting in the feed infecting 80 out of 197 (40.6%) recipient broiler flocks.

Successful Prevention of Antimicrobial Resistance in Animals-A Retrospective Country Case Study of Sweden.

The misuse and overuse of antibiotics have resulted in an alarmingly high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in human and animal bacteria. European monitoring programmes show that AMR occurrence in food animals is lower in Sweden than in most other EU Member States and that the use of antibiotics for animals is among the lowest in Europe. In this retrospective country case study, we analysed published documents to identify factors contributing to this favourable situation.

Biosafety considerations and risk reduction strategy for a new veterinary faculty building and teaching hospital in Sweden.

Introduction: This paper describes a hazard- and risk-based strategy and recommendations on relevant biosafety levels in facility design of a new veterinary faculty building including a veterinary medical teaching hospital. Both animal and human health were considered.

Materials And Methods: Agents listed in the regulatory frameworks on animal and human health were identified as the main potential hazards.

Occurrence of Salmonella spp.: a comparison between indoor and outdoor housing of broilers and laying hens.

Background: Outdoor production of poultry is rapidly increasing, which could be associated with increased risks for exposure to different environmental sources of Salmonella. We report a comparison on the occurrence of Salmonella during 2007-2015 in broilers and laying hens in outdoor and indoor production subjected to the same requirements for the prevention and control of Salmonella as applied in Sweden.

Results: Our results give no indication that, during the period studied, the exposure to Salmonella in outdoor poultry production was higher than in the indoor production.

Prevention of Salmonella contamination of finished soybean meal used for animal feed by a Norwegian production plant despite frequent Salmonella contamination of raw soy beans, 1994-2012.

Background: Salmonella contaminated animal feed is a major source for introducing Salmonella into the animal derived food chain. Because soybeans frequently are contaminated with Salmonella, soybean meal used as animal feed material, a by-product of a "crushing plant" which produces oil from soybeans, can be important source of Salmonella in the animal feed.

Results: During the 19-year period, 34% of samples collected during unloading of ships delivering soybeans yielded Salmonella; the proportion of samples from ships that yielded Salmonella varied from 12-62% each year.

Estimation of costs for control of Salmonella in high-risk feed materials and compound feed.

Introduction: Feed is a potential and major source for introducing Salmonella into the animal-derived food chain. This is given special attention in the European Union (EU) efforts to minimize human food-borne Salmonella infections from animal-derived food. The objective of this study was to estimate the total extra cost for preventing Salmonella contamination of feed above those measures required to produce commercial feed according to EU regulation (EC) No 183/2005.

Nutritional strategies to combat Salmonella in mono-gastric food animal production.

Nutritional strategies to minimize Salmonella in food animal production are one of the key components in producing safer food. The current European approach is to use a farm-to-fork strategy, where each sector must implement measures to minimize and reduce Salmonella contamination. In the pre-harvest phase, this means that all available tools need to be used such as implementation of biosecurity measures, control of Salmonella infections in animals at the farm as well as in transport and trade, optimal housing and management including cleaning, disinfection procedures as well as efforts to achieve Salmonella-free feed production.

Scientific and technical factors affecting the setting of Salmonella criteria for raw poultry: a global perspective.

Concerns about foodborne salmonellosis have led many countries to introduce microbiological criteria for certain food products. If such criteria are not well-grounded in science, they could be an unjustified obstacle to trade. Raw poultry products are an important part of the global food market.

An assessment of soybeans and other vegetable proteins as source of Salmonella contamination in pig production.

Background: The impact of salmonella contaminated feed ingredients on the risk for spreading salmonella to pigs was assessed in response to two incidences when salmonella was spread by feed from two feed mills to 78 swine producing herds.

Methods: The assessment was based on results from the salmonella surveillance of feed ingredients before introduction to feed mills and from HACCP--based surveillance of the feed mills. Results from the mills of the Company (A) that produced the salmonella contaminated feed, were by the Chi.

Low occurrence of Clostridium difficile in retail ground meat in Sweden.

This pilot study was conducted to evaluate the occurrence of Clostridium difficile in samples of ground meat in Sweden. From April to September 2008, 82 meat samples were collected from randomly selected retail shops in Uppsala County (central Sweden). C.

Defining output-based standards to achieve and maintain tuberculosis freedom in farmed deer, with reference to member states of the European Union.

Within the European Union (EU), detailed legislation has been developed for cattle, but not deer, to minimise disease risks associated with trade in animals and animal products. This legislation is expressed as input-based standards, providing a detailed outline of the activity required (for example, testing of animals and application of defined control measures), on the expectation that an adequate output (for example, confidence in freedom) will be achieved. Input-based standards are at odds with the increasing shift towards output-based standards, particularly in OIE rules governing international trade.

Antimicrobial resistance in Scandinavia after ban of antimicrobial growth promoters.

The banned use of antimicrobial growth promoters resulted in a considerably decreased use of antimicrobials in food animal production in Sweden (65%), Denmark (47%), Norway (40%) and Finland (27%). The current prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in animal bacterial populations is also considerably lower than in some other countries in the EU. In the swine production, no or limited effect was found in the finisher production (>25 to 30 kg).

Salmonella contamination: a significant challenge to the global marketing of animal food products.

Salmonellosis is the most common food-borne bacterial disease in the world. Salmonella is a significant pathogen for food-producing animals and these animals are the primary source of salmonellosis. It is estimated that herd prevalence varies between 0% and 90%, depending on the animal species and region.

Usage of veterinary therapeutic antimicrobials in Denmark, Norway and Sweden following termination of antimicrobial growth promoter use.

Antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) were phased out in Denmark, Norway and Sweden in 1998-1999, 1995 and 1986, respectively. The annual usage of therapeutic antimicrobials in animals in Denmark almost doubled during the period when AGPs were phased out (1988-1999) and in the subsequent 2 years. The increase was mainly due to an increased consumption of therapeutic antimicrobials in weaning pigs.

The experience of reducing antibiotics used in animal production in the Nordic countries.

The Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) have a long tradition of infectious disease control in animal production. Special attention has also been paid to the use of antibiotics. This has resulted in a relatively low use of antibiotics and also relatively favourable status of antibiotic resistance.

The Swedish experience of the 1986 year ban of antimicrobial growth promoters, with special reference to animal health, disease prevention, productivity, and usage of antimicrobials.

In Sweden the use of antimicrobial growth promoters (AMGP) was banned in 1986. The experiences gained from that ban are presented. In production of slaughter pigs, specialized beef, and turkeys, no negative clinical effects were reported as a consequence of the ban.

The control of microbial diseases in animals: alternatives to the use of antibiotics.

In animal husbandry the control and prevention of infectious diseases is of basic economic importance. The introduction of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections almost 50 years ago led to a dramatic improvement in animal production. The emergence of antibiotic resistant strains demonstrates that the treatment of bacterial infections can not rely on the use of antibiotics without some critical consideration.

Vaccination and eradication programme against Aujeszky's disease in five Swedish pig herds with special reference to herd owner attitudes.

A vaccination eradication programme against Aujeszky's disease (AD), based on the use of gE-negative killed vaccine, was carried out between 1987 and 1992 in 5 Swedish weaner pig producing or farrow-to-finish herds, with 63 to 398 breeding animals. All breeding animals were tested at the start and the end of the programme. Seroprevalence to Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) ranged between 47% and 100% in the herds at the first test.

Patterns of seroconversion to Aujeszky's disease virus in unvaccinated chronically infected Swedish weaner pig-producing herds.

This study was carried out in nine unvaccinated Swedish weaner pig-producing herds, ranging in size from 20 to 134 breeding animals, which had experienced a previous outbreak of Aujeszky's disease (AD) and in which seropositive sows were still present. The objective was to quantify the seroconversion rate to Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) in breeding animals and to find out whether unvaccinated herds could become free from ADV by using only seronegative animals for replacement. Serum samples were initially obtained from all adult pigs in the herds.

Eradication of Aujeszky's disease virus from a Swedish pig herd using gI-/TK-vaccine.

An attenuated glycoprotein I-negative (gI-)/thymidine kinase-negative (TK-) constructed vaccine was used to eradicate Aujeszky's disease virus from a large farrow-to-finish herd in Sweden. The herd had had problems every year for seven years and two attempts to eradicate the virus without vaccination had failed. At the start of the vaccination programme 86 per cent of the 396 breeding animals were seropositive to the virus.

Agricultural policy and social returns to eradication programs: the case of Aujeszky's disease in Sweden.

Economic-welfare analysis of animal disease prevention programs frequently ignore the constraints of the agricultural policy environment. Prevention programs affect producers, consumers and the government. The policy environment to a large extent determines the magnitude as well as the distribution of benefits of the program among these groups.

Control of Salmonella enteritidis in Sweden.

The Swedish control of Salmonella, with special reference to Salmonella enteritidis, in poultry is described. The control is directed at all serotypes of Salmonella and imported grandparent chickens are controlled, which is considered to be the main reason why Sweden so far is not found to be involved in the worldwide spread of different phagetypes of S. enteritidis.

Experience of a 10-year use of competitive exclusion treatment as part of the Salmonella control programme in Sweden.

In Sweden, competitive exclusion (CE) treatment has been used since 1981 as a part of the national control programme for Salmonella. According to the programme all broiler flocks are tested for Salmonella before slaughter thus providing an evaluation of CE treatment. The CE culture used is mainly for the two consecutive flocks raised in a unit after a Salmonella-infected flock has been identified.