Prevention of salmonellosis:: New opportunities in veterinary medicine

It is known that salmonellosis is the most complex and economically the most significant foodborne zoonosis. We have witnessed the emergence of new serovars; and phage types and concomitant increase of cases in several countries as well as in Hungary. Based on the zoonotic nature, protection of animals from Salmonella (primarily from S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium) should have a top priority. The authors summarize the initiatives made in this direction during the last decade in Hungary and they point out their experiences with some of the methods applied. Furthermore the authors confirm their earlier (1997) proposals for establishment of a National Salmonella Reduction Plan, partly organized by the government, based on its significance to human health. This Hungarian plan should aim to establish a program for Salmonella monitoring and for Salmonella reduction, primarily for poultry, but later also for swine. In support of such a program, the authors present international and some Hungarian data on the area of diagnostic and epidemiology for supporting a monitoring program. Results and observations regarding vaccinations (serovar specificity and on cross protection) are also discussed. Furthermore the newly recognized quorum sensing" signal mechanism of Salmonella is pointed out as one possible area to improve the efficiency of live oral vaccines.