Purpose: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) on Austrian dairy farms, and to compare this to the level of antimicrobial use (AMU) on these farms. Methods & Materials: Farms included were participating in a larger observational study of AMU on 250 farms, quantified by Defined Daily Doses for veterinary medicine (DDDvet). Farmers were recruited using convenience sampling. Here, 50 farms (25 of the highest antimicrobial users and 25 of the lowest users) located in the Austrian federal state of Styria were included in an additional analysis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Each farm was visited once in July 2017 and the following environmental samples were collected: boot swabs from the alleyways of freestalls or the slurry passage in tie-stalls, pooled faecal samples from calf, and youngstock, pens (1–5 head per sample), and dust samples collected on dry gauze from 3-5 areas of the main cowshed. Samples were then cultured on selective media specific for MRSA or ESBL-EC detection. Results: MRSA in the dust samples was only isolated from one farm (2% of farms), whereas ESBL-producing E.coli were detected in at least one faecal sample on 13 of 50 farms (26%). The Mann-Whitney U test determined no statistically significant difference between the level of AMU (calculated as total DDDvet) on farms where ESBL-producing E.coli were detected, compared to those where all faecal samples were negative (U-score 189.0, asymptotic 2-tailed p = 0.255). Similarly, no difference was noted when the level of use of third and fourth generation cephalosporins only was compared with the presence of ESBL-producing E.coli (U-score 206.5, asymptotic 2-tailed p = 0.447). Due to the extremely low prevalence of MRSA in this farm population, statistical analyses would not be meaningful and were not done. Conclusion: MRSA was rarely detected, whereas ESBL-producing E.coli were isolated in around a quarter of 50 Austrian dairy farms. At this relatively low level of AMU in a small sample of Austrian dairy farms, no relationship between AMU and the presence of ESBL-EC could be demonstrated.

To evaluate the influence of porcine circovirus type 2 vaccination (PCV-2) on the probability and severity of pneumonia, postmortem findings of 247,505 pigs slaughtered between 2008 and 2011 were analysed by applying a cumulative link mixed model. Three major effects could be observed: (1) PCV-2 vaccination significantly (P<0.01) reduced the odds (coefficient: -0.05) of postmortem findings of mild, moderate and severe pneumonia for vaccinated pigs. (2) Pigs from fattening farms were less likely (coefficient: -0.44; P<0.05) to exhibit signs of pneumonia at slaughter than pigs from farrow-to-finish farms. (3) When vaccinated, the odds of detecting postmortem signs showed an even more pronounced reduction (coefficient: -0.19; P<0.001) for pigs from fattening farms. Combining PCV-2 vaccination, farm type and interaction effects between these two factors, a pig vaccinated against PCV-2 from a fattening farm had only half the chance (OR 0.51) of pneumonia being detected at postmortem than a non-vaccinated pig from a farrow-to-finish farm. The study demonstrates the benefit of a vaccination programme against PCV-2 as an important tool to reduce the risk of postmortem pneumonia findings and the severity of pneumonia in pigs at slaughter.

Introduction The European Union surveillance measures for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) were adapted several times between January 2001 and December 2009. Materials and Methods The economic consequences of five different surveillance strategies and their effects on trade have been mathematically modelled. Three of the five surveillance models only take the age of the animals to be tested into account. The two remaining models follow a risk-based approach. One implements the requirements of type B surveillance of the OIE, while the other represents a BSE surveillance system that detects a prevalence of 0.1% with 99% confidence. Results The various surveillance strategies are discussed with regard to OIE compliance, number of tests to be performed and resulting costs. The outcome of the analysis clearly demonstrates that a surveillance model in accordance with the OIE provisions is superior to the other options in terms of expenditure and cost effectiveness and of the international marketability of domestic cattle. Conclusions This approach allows Austria to modify its existing surveillance system to achieve an optimal cost-benefit ratio. Article 6 (1) (b) of Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 allows implementation of this approach in many Member States.

ZusammenfassungGegenstand und Ziel: Das Porzine Reproduktive und Respiratorische Syndrom (PRRS) verursacht weltweit bedeutende wirtschaftliche Verluste in der Schweineproduktion. Die Studie untersuchte den Zusammenhang zwischen dem PRRS-Betriebsstatus, ermittelt durch Nachweis von PRRS-Virus-Antikörpern (PRRSV-Ak) im Blutserum der Schlachtschweine, und den bei den Schlachttierkörpern gefundenen pathologisch-anatomischen Lungenbefunden. Material und Methoden: Zwischen 01.12.2011 und 16.04.2012 wurden an einem österreichischen Schlachthof von 1056 Schlachtschweinen aus 66 schweinehaltenden Betrieben Blutproben entnommen und mittels ELISA auf PRRSV-Ak getestet. In keinem Betrieb fanden Impfungen gegen PRRSV statt. Parallel zur serologischen Untersuchung erfassten amtlich beauftragte Tierärzte am Geschlinge- und Tierkörperband die pathologisch-anatomischen Lungenbefunde aller Schlacht schweine aus diesen Betrieben zwischen 01.09.2011 und 11.12.2012. Die Prävalenz von Lungenentzündungen und Pleuritiden in PRRSV-Ak-positiven und unverdächtigen Beständen wurde verglichen und statistisch ausgewertet. Ergebnisse: Die Prävalenz hochgradiger Lungenentzündungen sowie Pleuritis visceralis und parietalis lag bei Schweinen aus PRRSV-Ak-positiven Betrieben signifikant höher als bei Schweinen aus unverdächtigen Beständen. Dabei ergab sich bei kombinierten Betrieben (Ferkelaufzucht und Mast an einem Standort) eine tendenziell höhere Prävalenz von mittel- und hochgradigen Lungenentzündungen als in reinen Mastbetrieben. Schlussfolgerungen und klinische Relevanz: Der PRRSV-Status von Schweinebetrieben hatte Auswirkungen auf das Auftreten von pathologisch-anatomischen Lungenveränderungen der geschlachteten Schweine. Auch nicht PRRS-typische Befunde wie Pleuritiden traten vermehrt auf. Dies spricht für eine Beteiligung anderer Primär- oder Sekundärerreger, die durch den immunsupprimierenden Effekt des PRRSV begünstigt werden und selbst auch Atemwegserkrankungen auslösen können. In der Tendenz waren dabei die kombinierten Betriebe stärker betroffen als die reinen Mastbetriebe.

Electronic drug application records from farmers from 75 conventional pig farms were revised and checked for their plausibility. The registered drug amounts were verified by comparing the farmers' records with veterinarians' dispensary records. The antimicrobial consumption was evaluated from 2008 to 2011 and expressed in weight of active substance(s), number of used daily doses (nUDD), number of animal daily doses (nADD) and number of productrelated daily doses (nPrDD). All results were referred to one year and animal bodyweight (kg biomass). The data plausibility proof revealed about 14 per cent of unrealistic drug amount entries in the farmers' records. The annual antimicrobial consumption was 33.9 mg/kg/year, 4.9 UDDkg/kg/year, 1.9 ADD(kg)/kg/year and 2.5 PrDDkg/kg/year (average). Most of the antimicrobials were applied orally (86 per cent) and at group-level. Main therapy indications were metaphylactic/prophylactic measures (farrow-to-finish and fattening farms) or digestive tract diseases (breeding farms). The proportion of the ` highest priority critically important antimicrobials' was low (12 per cent). After determination of a threshold value, farms with a high antimicrobial use could be detected. Statistical tests showed that the veterinarian had an influence on the dosage, the therapy indication and the active substance. Orally administered antimicrobials were mostly underdosed, parenterally administered antimicrobials rather correctly or overdosed.

According to legal regulations, all slaughtered pigs in the European Union are subject to routine meat inspection at the slaughterhouses. The resulting post-mortem findings are valuable indicators that help improve slaughterhouse and farm management and can be used to establish a feedback system regarding animal health. A sufficiently high quality of meat inspection is therefore imperative, which implies that the results of the inspection must not depend on the person carrying out the examination. The objective of the study at hand is the estimation of the amount of variation in these post-mortem findings that can be attributed to the official meat inspectors. In order to reduce the influence of the heterogeneity in the health state of the pigs, the variation due to the farms of origin was considered in the statistical model as well. The analyzed meat inspection data were recorded by 12 official meat inspectors under real working conditions at an Austrian slaughterhouse. Logistic Multilevel Models with cross-classified random effects were applied to 20 post-mortem findings. On the basis of these models, variance partitioning coefficients (VPCs) were used to estimate the amount of variation in the probabilities of these findings due to meat inspector and farm levels. The estimated VPCs suggest that especially meat inspection of blood aspiration, scalding water lungs, skin lesions and hepatitis can be deemed as not sufficiently standardized. Hardly any variation in meat inspection could be identified for other post-mortem findings, such as pericarditis, peritonitis, arthritis and milkspots.

A novel quality assurance approach was tested for its applicability to assess data validity and meat inspection performance by means of modeling and training of official meat inspectors (OMIs).General linear mixed models (GLMM) were used to estimate the variance in 20 selected lesions assessed by 12 official meat inspectors for 247.507.pigs.The pigs originated from 72 conventional farms and were slaughtered at one abattoir in Austria in the period January 2008 to June 2011.The heterogeneity in the health state of the pigs, variation due to the farms of origin, piglet producer, quarter and medication was considered in the statistical model.Based on the model meat inspection showed hardly any variation for post-mortem findings such as pericarditis, arthritis and milkspots, whereas meat inspection of blood aspiration, scalding water lungs, skin lesions and hepatitis can be deemed as not sufficiently standardized.Training of OMIs resulted in better detection rates of blood aspiration and pleurisy, but not in the detection of skin lesions related to slaughter technology and animal welfare.Grading of pneumonia has to be further improved in future training sessions.An improved data record system was established based on the outcome of the model and training of OMIs.In future research the benefit of the new code system and training effect to standardize meat inspection will be assessed in form of statistical re-evaluations.

Broilers excreting Campylobacter spp. at high levels (>7 log CFU/g of feces) were described in the Dutch Campylobacter Risk Management and Assessment project as an important source of carcass contamination. The researchers concluded that the risk of infection to humans could be economically and efficiently minimized by eliminating these flocks from fresh poultry meat chains. In the present study, we evaluated a simple and rapid gold-labeled immunosorbent assay (GLISA) for the identification of Campylobacter spp. in flocks shedding high levels of the pathogen. Results were obtained within 2 h. Pooled samples from 102 of the 114 Campylobacter-positive flocks produced positive results, resulting in a test sensitivity of 89.5% (95% confidence interval, 82.6 to 94.2%) and a test specificity of 94.5% (86.7 to 98.2%). Given a GLISA detection limit of 7.3 log CFU/g of feces, nearly all Campylobacter-positive flocks were identified as "high shedders." Therefore, reduction of the incidence of Campylobacter infections by elimination of high-shedding flocks from fresh meat production is an unrealistic approach. Under the constraints given, a reduction in the incidence of Campylobacter spp. in Austria will require either improved hygiene or an intensive carcass decontamination strategy in fresh meat production facilities.

Human campylobacteriosis is the leading cause of acute bacterial gastroenteritis in developed countries. One important source of infection is poultry. Results from the Dutch Campylobacter Risk Management and Assessment project indicate that meat from broiler flocks shedding $7 log CFU Campylobacter per g of feces poses the greatest risk of transmitting campylobacteriosis. The objective of this study was to develop a simple and rapid test that would identify chicken flocks shedding high numbers of Campylobacter. We used lateral flow technology as the alternative test method, and selected the culture method according to International Organization for Standardization guidelines. To evaluate the test under field conditions, we sampled either chicken droppings at farms or cecal contents at the slaughterhouse. PCR was used to confirm presumptive Campylobacter spp. colonies. Under laboratory conditions, chicken feces containing $6.7 log CFU/g Campylobacter jejuni or $7.1 log CFU/g Campylobacter coli were identified by the lateral flow test. Overall, 3 (33%) of 10, and 29 (85%) of 34 C. jejuni–or C. coli–positive chicken flocks were identified at farms and slaughterhouses, respectively, by using the lateral flow test. Fecal samples containing $7.3 log of C. jejuni or C. coli CFU/g as determined by plating were always positive when using the lateral flow test. A single person testing seven flocks at a time could obtain test results within 2 h of sampling. This simple and rapid lateral flow test may contribute significantly to the identification of chicken flocks shedding high numbers of Campylobacter.

IntroductionIn the future, official meat inspection authorities will be required by law to register their findings in a database as well as to report to the slaughterhouse management, the farm of origin and the state authority.Material and methodsThe study carried out at one Austrian slaughterhouse over a period of 22 months examined the reliability of meat inspection by 13 official veterinarians. It is based on an exemplary 4 of 10 findings obtained from 3,395 batches (152,520 slaughter pigs), delivered from 223 farms. Parameters, seen as relevant from a veterinarian's point of view, like mild, moderate and severe pneumonia, bursitis, and mange were examined for comparability and repeatability of all veterinarians involved.ResultsOf all parameters evaluated only mange proved suitable. Comparability of remaining data appeared unsuitable for all 13 official veterinarians due to significant deviations in their evaluation. Mild pneumonia was assessed consistently by 7 veterinarians (53.9%), 6 veterinarians (46.1%) showed significantly different findings, 4 of which showed a steady downward, 2 a steady upward trend. Moderate and severe pneumonia was not diagnosed steadily by anyone. Mange was diagnosed comparably by 9 official veterinarians (69.2%), 4 veterinarians (30.8%) showed significantly different findings over time. Bursitis was diagnosed steadily by 5 official veterinarians (38.5%), 8 veterinarians (61.5%) varied significantly.ConclusionSince critical variations in findings obscure the factual state of the physical condition of slaughter pigs, these results can only serve in a very limited sense as indicators for health state without preceding evaluation of meat inspection authorities. The significance of well-founded and continued education will grow further with the introduction of compulsory documentation.

The Styrian Salmonella Monitoring Programme for pork production is based on a representative analysis of the current status, serological meat juice monitoring and bacteriological tests of carcass halves and parts and has been in operation since 1999. A total of 34 170 meat juice samples from 3417 finisher herds were tested using the meat juice SALMOTYPE-ELISA (Labor Diagnostik, Leipzig, Germany) in the period from 1999 to 2003. More than 95% of the samples investigated were below the negative cut-off of <20% based on the 5-year average. The mean extinction values for meat juice samples showed regional differences, which were visualized for epidemiological purposes using the VETGIS geographical information system (Department of Veterinary Administration, Graz, Austria). Salmonella spp. were detected in only 15 cases (0.13%) of a total of 11 330 bacteriologically tested wipe samples from meat-processing plants. The Salmonella isolates detected included four S. Typhimurium, two S. Enteritidis PT 4, five S. Infantis, one S. Bredeny, one S. Saintpaul, one S. Brenderup and one S. Livingstone isolates. The proportion of Salmonella-contaminated pork in the total population estimated from the annual sample showed a falling tendency. It decreased from 0.48% (CI: 0.23 < or = P < or = 0.85) in 1999 to 0.14% (CI: 0.07 < or = P < or = 0.24) in 2003. The contamination of Styrian pork with Salmonella is extremely low and thus poses a negligible risk of infection to consumers.