Salmonella is a well-known challenge in animal production and beyond, with the bacterium being known as the causative agent of salmonellosis in humans. Despite a lot of effort at different points along the farm-to-fork chain, salmonellosis remains firmly in the top three most common zoonotic diseases worldwide.
BIOSECURITY MANAGEMENT
To control and reduce the risk of Salmonella, implementing a good biosecurity management plan on-farm is essential. This overall plan should include general biosecurity measures as well as supporting the animals from within.
A good biosecurity management plan is not only relevant in periods of production downtime: measures must be continuously in place and respected at all times. In general, there are three distinct parts of a proper biosecurity plan:
1. General biosecurity at all times
2. Biosecurity between production rounds
The complete premises and any moveable equipment should be cleaned, sanitised and disinfected between production rounds. This will help to reduce the risk of biosecurity challenges during the following production period. In general, seven stages in the cleaning and disinfection programme can be distinguished as:
3. Water quality management
BIOSECURITY WITHIN THE ANIMAL
Apart from external biosecurity, there are also tools available to mitigate Salmonella within the animal. As described by Rivera-Chávez et al. (2016), faecal-oral Salmonella expansion and transmission is fuelled by available oxygen in the hindgut (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Changes in energy production in the absence of butyrate can lead to accelerated Salmonella proliferation, as oxygen becomes more available in the lumen (adapted from Rivera-Chávez et al., 2016)
This process is heavily influenced by butyrate, a well-known short-chain fatty acid (SCFA).
Normal situation: butyrate present
Commensal Clostridia produce butyrate which is utilised together with oxygen for energy production by the colonocytes. This prevents excess oxygen from being released into the lumen.
High-risk situation: no butyrate present
In the absence of butyrate, colonocytes use glucose for their energy production. Oxygen is not utilised in this process. Instead, oxygen is released into the lumen.
The level of butyrate in the hindgut will thus heavily influence the expansion and transmission of Salmonella. Consequently, ensuring sufficient butyrate in the hindgut is key to restricting Salmonella on-farm. However, traditional forms of butyrate do not usually reach these later stages of the gastrointestinal tract.
This is where Miya-Gold / Top Gut can help, containing a unique strain of probiotic Clostridium butyricum. The probiotic not only delivers significant amounts of butyrate, but it also does so to the location where it is most relevant: in the hindgut. The probiotic strain in Miya-Gold / Top Gut is so effective thanks to:
As a result, the probiotic reduces free oxygen and delivers butyrate to the hindgut, thereby mitigating Salmonella expansion and transmission.
CONCLUSION
Salmonella remains a serious challenge to human health. Good biosecurity on-farm is essential to help reduce the risk. It is important to keep in mind that:
For more information on general biosecurity, hygiene products, water quality management or feed additives, contact your local Huvepharma representative.