Occurence and changes of significance of Salmonella spp. in Hungarian slaughter pigs

In 20 years time (1978-1997) in a Hungarian slaughter-house-laboratory during normal slaughtering complementary bacteriological meat inspections of pigs were achieved in 11,933 cases, Salmonellae were isolated in 59 cases (0.49%). It was established that the occurrence of the pig-adopted S. Choleraesuis and S. Typhisuis has become either lower or sporadic, their importance of meat inspection got minimized. The number of the so-called non-adopted Salmonellae has relatively increased, their importance has upgraded. The pathological alterations of pork Salmonella cases were also analysed. It was established that the classic pathological view of pork-salmonellosis in normal slaughtering cannot be expected nowadays. Chronic disorders (51 pigs, 86.44%) were dominant, while acute cases occurred in a smaller number (8 pigs, 13.56%). Chronic disorders were mainly different cases with abscess. In this case it is not unlikely that stool originated Salmonella enters the pig directly from the environment, (through the wounded leg, or from castration-induced abscess, etc.). According to the inspections, Salmonella infections of the viscera, and abscesses were the most common occurrences, while infections of "meat" (the muscle, and lymph nodes of the body) were found more rarely. From the aspect of public health qualification as inappropriate for consumption and confiscation of the viscera (spleen, liver, kidney) and the pathologically altered organs (abscesses) of pigs separated for further inspection, significantly increases food safety, and decreases the number of pork-originated human Salmonella infections. Spreading of Salmonella-containing abscesses may contaminate the slaughter-line.