Reduction of subclinical Salmonella infection in fattening pigs after dietary supplementation with a ß-galactomannan oligosaccharide

Abstract

Aims: To assess the efficacy of a b-galactomannan oligosaccharide (ß-GMOS)for the control of Salmonella infection in fattening pigs.Methods and Results: Three different doses (05, 3 and 2 kg ß-GMOS per tonof feed) were used during the entire period of growing in three similar andindependent field trials carried out in a small fattening unit (100 pigs).Treatment was randomly assigned to half of the pens. Individual serumsamples (20–25 per group) were collected at different times during thefattening period and a similar number of faecal samples during the fatteningperiod and at slaughter. In addition, mesenteric lymph nodes were collected atslaughter. HerdcheckâSwine Salmonella ELISA was used for serologicalanalyses, the ISO 6579:2002/Amd 1 : 2007 for bacteriology and the PFGE formolecular characterization of Salmonella strains. The addition of ≥2kgt1ofß-GMOS to the pig diet during the entire fattening period was associated witha reduction in Salmonella prevalence, shedding and seroconversion.Conclusions: Feed supplementation with ß-GMOS may be a usefulcomplementary tool for the control of salmonellosis in fattening pigs.Significance and Impact of the Study: ß-GMOS may be a complementary wayof reducing Salmonella shedding and infection in fattening pigs.