The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in commensal Escherichia coli isolated from organically raised broiler flocks was compared to the prevalence in isolates from conventional flocks. From 2010 to 2014, and in 2016, resistance trends and multidrug resistance in isolates from the caecal contents of flocks from both broiler production forms were analyzed. Samples were taken in four abattoirs accounting for at least 90% of the national slaughtered broiler population. In total, 962 commensal E. coli were obtained from organically raised broiler flocks (n = 142) and from conventionally raised broiler flocks (n = 820). The mean prevalence of commensal E. coli isolates, which were fully susceptible to the antimicrobials tested, was 43.3% in organically raised broiler flocks and thus significantly higher (P < 0.001) compared to 16.7% in conventionally operated flocks. During the study period, the proportion of fully susceptible isolates increased significantly in both broiler populations. Antimicrobial resistance rates were significantly lower in commensal E. coli isolated from organic compared to conventional production regarding ciprofloxacin (33.3% versus 69.1%), nalidbdc acid (33.7% versus 67.4%), sulfamethoxazole (26.7% versus 39.9%), ampicillin (19.0% versus 33.8%) and trimethoprim (12.8% versus 24.9%). Regarding tetracycline, tigecycline and ceftazidime resistance rates were slightly but not significantly higher in isolates from organic flocks (27.6% versus 25.9%; 4.0% versus 1.4%; 2.0% versus 1.9%). This fact is surprising for tetracycline, as none of the investigated organic flocks had been treated with this antimicrobial during their lifetime. No resistances were found in isolates from both production forms against colistin and meropenem, and from organic flocks against azithromycin. The annual prevalence of resistance against ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid decreased significantly in isolates from both broiler production forms. In isolates from organic flocks, it also decreased regarding ampicillin and sulfamethoxazole. Significant increasing trends were observed in the resistance prevalence against trimethoprim and borderline significantly for ampicillin in commensal E. coli from conventional flocks. Multidrug resistance was detected at a significantly higher prevalence in isolates from conventionally raised flocks (35.1%) compared to organic flocks (22.7%). Findings from this study clearly indicate the influences of organic compared to conventional broiler production practices on the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in commensal E. coli from broiler flocks.

The Member States of the European Union are following a common strategy on the control of Salmonella and other foodborne pathogens (Anonym, 2003). Within that framework baseline studies on the most relevant animal populations have been carried out. This paper describes the implementation and the results of the baseline studies on Salmonella spp. in slaughter and breeding pigs in Austria. A total of 647 slaughter pigs were sampled in 28 slaughterhouses between October 2006 and September 2007. Samples were taken from the ileocaecal lymphnodes to detect infection in pigs and from the surface of the carcasses to detect contamination. Out of the 617 datasets included in the final analysis, Salmonella prevalences of 2% in lymphnodes and 1.1% on the carcass surface were observed. S. Derby, S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium were the three most frequently identified serovars. In an additional study, a total of 252 holdings with breeding pigs has been sampled between January and December combined multiplier herds. Respectively prevalences of 5, 8, 5, 3 and 9.1% were obtained, with S. Typhimurium being the most frequently isolated serovar. Overall, compared to neighbouring Member States a rather low prevalence of Salmonella spp. in pigs was documented for Austria, in particular in slaughter pigs.The serovar distribution seemed to be similar throughout the pig populations, some also being represented in Austrian human isolates. Contamination of feed seems to play a minor role considering the overall low prevalence, but nevertheless has to be taken into account in any future control or monitoring strategy for Salmonella spp. in pigs.

The member states of the European Union (EU) are following a common strategy on the control of Salmonella and other foodborne zoonotic pathogens (Anonym, 2003). In order to establish the prevalence of Salmonella (S.) spp. in turkeys, a baseline survey was organised in between October 2006 and September 2007. In Austria a total of 202 turkey flocks in 104 holdings was included. By doing so, all holdings with fattening turkeys were covered by the sampling scheme, whereas breeding turkey flocks did not exist in the survey period. A prevalence of Salmonella spp. of 17.3% in flocks or 25% of holdings was obtained. A total of nine different serovars were identified, S. Hadar being the most frequently isolated with eleven flocks infected representing 31.4% of all. S. Montevideo and S. Saintpaul were both found in eight flocks, and S. Senftenberg in six flocks. Two flocks were colonized with S. Newport, while one flock each had S. Typhimurium, S. Derby, S. Blockley and a monophasic strain of Salmonella group B. Of the two serovars of highest relevance for human health, S. Typhimurium was detected in only 0.5% of flocks or 1% of holdings tested and S. Enteritidis was not detected at all. Taking into account the high prevalence of the various Salmonella serovars however control measures to prohibit horizontal transmission and entry of Salmonella spp. from the turkey reservoir into the food chain in Austria seem justified.

In Austria an EU-wide baseline survey on the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in broilers organized by the EU commission was conducted from October 2005 to September 2006. The aim of this study was to produce comparable data on the prevalence of Salmonella in broiler flocks and holdings for all member states and for the EU-Commission to set EU-wide targets for the control of Salmonella in the broiler populations. A randomised sampling plan was designed according to EU-commission parameters (p = 50%; CI = 95%, a = 5%). Sampling was carried out regularly throughout the whole year. On every farm one flock was sampled with five pairs of boot swabs and analysed in the lab according to appendix D of ISO 6579 (2002). In Austria, 363 flocks on farms consisting of at least 5000 broilers each were tested. 28 flocks (7.7%) showed infections with Salmonella spp., eight flocks (2.2%) had either S. Enteritidis (six flocks) or S. Typhimurium (two flocks). In detail, S. Enteritidis (1.7%), S. Typhimurium (0.6%), S. Montevideo (4.1%), S. Infantis 0.6%, S. Senftenberg, S. Tennessee and S. Virchow (0.3% each) have been found. Data indicated that the risk of vertical transmission of Salmonella spp. to broiler flocks has almost been kept at bay; however, the risk of horizontal transmission still needs attention. Contamination of feeding stuff, possible persistence, spreading between barns of a farm as well as introduction of Salmonella spp. through individuals or materials are important factors for future control strategies.

To assess antimicrobial resistance in bacteria isolated from food-producing animals monitoring and surveillance programs have been set in place. We present new data on antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic and commensal bacteria from animals in Austria based on monitoring programs in accordance with national and EU legislation, focussing in particular on multidrug-resistance (resistance to antimicrobial classes). Bacteria from healthy production animals at slaughter included Cam pylobacter jejuni, C. coil and Escherichia coli that were isolated from broiler slaughter batches, cattle, and pigs (no Campylobacter spp.); Salmonella spp. were obtained from flocks of broilers, laying hens and turkeys. About 170 isolates each of C. jejuni/coli and of E. coli per animal species and one Salmonella isolate per poultry flock were tested for their antimicrobial susceptibility using a microbroth dilution method (Sensititre (R)). Problems of data comparability with European data are discussed. In Austria, the highest prevalence of multidrug-resistance was found in E. coli isolated from broilers and pigs (35.8% and 27.2%), with the lowest rates in cattle (5.8%). Two out of 86 isolates of Salmonella spp. from laying hens showed multidrug resistance (2.3%), in contrast to 50.0% of Salmonella spp. from broilers (n=90) and 36.4% from turkeys (n=22). By checking our records regarding multidrug resistance against data from Denmark, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway, only little information was able to be matched. Thus, there is a crucial need for standardized surveillance systems. EFSA's attempt to publish,Technical Specifications' for the analysis and reporting of antimicrobial resistance will represent a valuable

We report an outbreak of listeriosis in Austria and Germany due to the consumption of Quargel cheese produced by an Austrian manufacturer. At the time of writing this report, the outbreak was known to account for 14 outbreak cases in 2009, including four cases with lethal outcome. On 23 January 2010, the cheese product was voluntarily withdrawn from the market.

We previously reported an outbreak of listeriosis in Austria and Germany due to consumption of 'Quargel' cheese. It comprised 14 cases (including five fatalities) infected by a serotype 1/2a Listeria monocytogenes (clone 1), with onset of illness from June 2009 to January 2010. A second strain of L. monocytogenes serotype 1/2a (clone 2) spread by this product could be linked to further 13 cases in Austria (two fatal), six in Germany (one fatal) and one case in the Czech Republic, with onset of disease from December 2009 to end of February 2010.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of infection in hospitals and the community. One third of the general population is colonized by the bacterium, constituting a risk factor for acquisition of infection with this pathogen. Worldwide, the increasing antibiotic resistance of S. aureus complicates treatment of infection and control measures. Soon after the introduction of methicillin, the first isolates resistant to this antibiotic were reported and named methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). During the past decade a major change in MRSA epidemiology has been observed: whereas in the past MRSA was almost exclusively regarded a hospital pathogen, the advent of community-acquired MRSA has led to infections in people without hospital-related risk factors. Recent evidence has also identified a link between colonization of livestock and MRSA carriage and infections in people who work with animals. Screening of pigs and pig farmers in the Netherlands revealed high prevalence of MRSA sequence type (ST) 398 and it has become clear that the emergence of ST398 is not just a Dutch problem, as reports on livestock colonization and human infections are appearing worldwide. In Austria, the ST398 lineage has been detected in dust samples from pig breeding facilities and in food samples. Since the first Austrian detection of this emerging lineage in 2006, 21 human isolates, partially associated with infections, have been observed. MRSA has to be regarded as a new emerging zoonotic agent and livestock may constitute a growing reservoir of the ST398 lineage. More information is needed so that control measures to reduce the impact of the emerging MRSA ST398 lineage on public health can be developed and implemented.

Clostridium difficile is mainly considered a nosocomial pathogen associated with diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis in hospitalized patients. Austrian hospitals reported 2761 cases of C. difficile infection (including 277 lethal outcomes) in 2007, compared with 777 cases (including 54 lethal outcomes) in 2003. The occurrence of community-acquired C. difficile infection is also increasingly reported. Recent studies have shown the occurrence of C. difficile in food and animals. The aim of the present study was to determine the occurrence of C. difficile in food and animals in Austria. Between March and July 2008, gut or fecal samples from 67 cows, 61 pigs and 59 broiler chickens were collected at Austrian abattoirs. Between February and April 2008 meat samples (51 beef [25 ground], 27 pork [17 ground] and 6 samples of chicken meat) were purchased at retail outlets. Of the 187 samples tested, eight yielded C. difficile: in cows 3/67 samples (4.5%) were positive, in pigs 2/61 (3.3%), in broiler chickens 3/59 (5%). Six of the eight isolates yielded toxigenic C. difficile (toxins A and B): 2/67 (3%) cow samples, 2/61 (3.3%) pig samples, 2/59 (3.4%) chicken samples. Genes for the binary toxin were detected in one of the two pig isolates, a PCR ribotype 126 strain. None of the 84 meat samples yielded C. difficile. The results of this Austrian study suggest that animal reservoirs are possible sources, via food, of human C. difficile infection.

In September 2008, the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) learned of an outbreak of diarrheal illness that included a 71-year-old patient hospitalized for gastroenteritis with a blood culture positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Three stool specimens provided by seven of 19 persons attending a day trip to a foreign city, including a final break at an Austrian tavern, yielded L. monocytogenes. All isolates were of serovar 4b and had fingerprints indistinguishable from each other. A cohort study revealed that the outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred among 16 persons who had eaten dinner at the wine tavern on September 6. Of the 15 persons who ate from platters of mixed cold-cuts, 12 (80%) developed symptoms of febrile gastroenteritis within 24-48 h. The median age of those who became ill was 62 years. A 72-year-old patient recovered from gastroenteritis but was hospitalized with bacterial meningitis on day 19 after the dinner. The epidemiological investigation identified the consumption of mixed cold-cuts (including jellied pork) at the wine tavern as the most likely vehicle of the foodborne outbreak (P = 0.0015). This hypothesis was confirmed by microbiological investigation of jellied pork produced by the tavern owner on September 3. L. monocytogenes was isolated from leftover food in numbers of 3 x 10(3)-3 x 10(4) colony forming units/g and was indistinguishable from the clinical outbreak isolates. Symptoms reported by the 12 patients included unspecified fever (12x), diarrhea (9x), headache (5x), vomiting (4x), body aches (2x) and sore throat (1x). Active case finding identified one case of rhombencephalitis (female, age 48) among another group of four guests, among whom only the patient and her asymptomatic husband had eaten jellied pork on September 6. This is the first outbreak of L. monocytogenes-associated gastroenteritis reported in Austria. The occurrence of a secondary case of meningitis (diagnosed on day 19 after consumption of jellied pork) indicates a significant risk of systemic listeriosis among elderly patients with febrile gastroenteritis caused by L. monocytogenes; antibiotic therapy should therefore be considered in such cases of documented listerial gastroenteritis.

In 2007 Austria reported a total of 438 foodborne outbreaks affecting 1715 people, including 286 hospitalized patients and one death. Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. accounted for 95% of all reported outbreaks. Forty-eight (11%) of the 438 Austrian outbreaks were acquired abroad. Of the 390 domestically acquired foodborne outbreaks, bacterial infection caused 376, viruses (norovirus and 1-time hepatitis A virus) caused 11, and intoxications (Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins, alkaloid toxins) caused two. In one outbreak the causative agent was unknown. Salmonella spp. caused 264 (70%) of the bacterial outbreaks, Campylobacter spp. caused 104 (28%), enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC O145:H-, O157:H-, O157:H7, O182: H49, O91:H7, ONT:H4) caused six, Shigella flexneri and Shigella sonnei each caused two. The hospitalization rates were 22% for domestically acquired infections with Salmonella spp. and 14% for Campylobacter spp. Among outbreaks where the source was known, eggs were implicated in 49%, meat products (especially poultry) in 44% and fish in 2%. The ratio of household outbreaks to general outbreaks was 82.3% to 17.7%. In 54 of the 62 general domestic outbreaks the following locations of exposure were documented: commercial food suppliers (e.g. restaurants, cafeterias) 24 times, family celebrations, nursery schools, take-aways and barbecues 22 times, nursing homes and hospitals eight times. It is likely that the relatively high number of household outbreaks reflects an insufficient level of epidemiological investigation of outbreaks in Austria. More resources may be needed for identification of individual clusters that belong to larger foodborne outbreaks exceeding district or provincial borders.

In April 2008, a general foodborne outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 6 affected nine persons (two households in Salzburg and one household in Tyrol; eight microbiologically confirmed cases and one possible case). Epidemiological investigation revealed that all cases had eaten lunch together at a farm. Homemade bread dumpling loaf, prepared with eggs from the farm, was the most likely vehicle for the pathogen. Six eggs were bacteriologically tested and yielded the outbreak strain on the egg shells. The farm's egg laying flock consisted of 12 hens, which were identified as the source of infection by isolating the outbreak strain from samples of hen fecal material and dust. Molecular subtyping using multiple loci variable number of tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) revealed a pattern unique to isolates from the outbreak, different from nine epidemiologically unrelated isolates tested for comparison. The laying hens were culled and no further cases of salmonellosis were associated with the farm. This example demonstrates the considerable potential of outbreak investigation to elucidate the transmission of infection along the food chain and to provide information essential for implementation of targeted measures for prevention of foodborne illness.

Im Jahr 2005 wurden in Österreich 606 lebensmittelbedingte Krankheitsausbrüche, mit 1.910 Erkrankten (davon 368 Hospitalisierte und 1 Todesfall) berichtet. Für 99% aller Ausbrüche waren Salmonella spp. oder Campylobacter spp. verantwortlich. Von den 606 berichteten Ausbrüchen wurden 46 (8%) im Ausland erworben. Von 560 im Inland akquirierten lebensmittelbedingten Krankheitsausbrüchen wurden mit einer Ausnahme (Norovirus: Ausbruch mit 22 Betroffenen) alle durch Bakterien verursacht: 427 (76%) durch Salmonella spp., 128 (23%) durch Campylobacter spp. und je zwei Ausbrüche durch enterohämorrhagische Escherichia coli und Yersinia enterocolitica. 20% bzw. 16% der im Inland an einem Ausbruch durch Salmonella spp.- bzw. Campylobacter spp. erkrankten Personen wurden hospitalisiert. Das Lebensmittel Ei zeichnete alleine für 57% aller Ausbrüche mit berichteter Infektionsquelle verantwortlich. Fleisch (besonders Geflügelfleisch) war für 30% dieser Ausbrüche und Milch/Milchprodukte (besonders Rohmilch) für 4% verantwortlich. Das Verhältnis Familien-/Haushaltsausbrüche zu allgemeinen Ausbrüchen beträgt derzeit 89% zu 11%. Bei allgemeinen Ausbrüchen wurden folgende Orte der Exposition benannt: öffentliche Verköstigungen (inkl. Restaurant, Kantine) 34 x, Familienfeiern 14 x, Kindergärten 4 x, Feste (z.B. Dorffest, Hubertusfeier) 3 x, Altersheime 2 x und öffentliche Verköstigungen plus Haushalte (österreichweiter S. Enteritidis PT19 Ausbruch) 1 x. Der hohe Anteil an Familienausbrüchen reflektiert unseres Erachtens vor allem die noch mangelnde epidemiologische Qualität der Ausbruchsabklärungen, i.e. fehlende Zusammenführung einzelner Ausbrüche zu bezirks- und bundesländerüberschreitenden lebensmittelbedingten Ausbrüchen.

Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003 on the control of Salmonella and other specified zoonotic agents lays down provisions for the control of Salmonella and other specified food-borne agents. The provisions require the setting of reduction targets for Salmonella in live pigs within a fixed time schedule. Pursuant to the provisions, a Community target should be established for the reduction of the prevalence of Salmonella in breeding herds of pigs at primary production. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was asked by the European Commission to prepare a proposal for the technical specifications of a baseline survey of the prevalence of Salmonella in breeding pigs in the European Union.The proposal presented focuses on the estimation of the Salmonella prevalence in holdings having breeding pigs infected with Salmonella. The prevalence is measured separately in breeding holdings and production holdings in the European Union and in the Member States. The data from the breeding holdings will give information on the infection level of Salmonella in breeding pigs that are sold for breeding purposes to production holdings, while the survey undertaken in production holdings will provide information on the exposure to Salmonella of fattening pigs by breeding pigs.A study of within-holding prevalence of Salmonella provides further information, which can be used to adjust the Member State specific prevalence figures. Standardised EN/ISO methods are proposed to be employed in the laboratory analyses of samples for detection of Salmonella.

A European Union-wide baseline survey was carried out to determine the prevalence of Salmonella in commercial flocks of broilers with at least 5,000 birds in order to provide the scientific basis for setting a Community reduction target for Salmonella in broiler flocks of Gallus gallus. The sampling of the flocks took place between October 2005 and September 2006. Five faeces samples were taken from the flocks within 3 weeks before leaving for slaughter. A total of 6,325 holdings corresponding to 7,440 flocks with validated results were included in the survey analysis. The analysis of the Salmonella prevalence was carried out earlier and was published by the European Food Safety Authority on 30 March 2007 in part A report.In a further analysis published in this part B report only few factors were found to be associated with Salmonella flock prevalence at the Community-level. The Community Salmonella flock prevalence varied significantly and importantly between months of sampling. The months found to be associated with higher flock prevalence were not consistently the same for different Salmonella serovars.Flocks with younger broilers were associated with a higher risk of being S. Enteritidis positive, whereas broiler houses with a higher number of cycles of flocks per year were associated with higher flock prevalence for serovars other than S. Enteritidis and S. Infantis. The flock production type and the medication status were found to be associated with S. Infantis flock prevalence but since the Community S. Infantis prevalence was mostly driven by one Member State, these findings should be interpreted with caution.S. Enteritidis was clearly the most frequently reported serovar in broiler flocks in the EU. S. Infantis, S. Mbandaka, S. Typhimurium, S. Hadar, S. Agona, S. Livingstone, S. Senftenberg, S. Montevideo, S. Tennessee and S. Virchow were also reported in between 8 to 12 MSs and should be regarded as important serovars of the broiler flock population.The diversity of observed serovars differed greatly between MSs from a single serovar reported to more than 20 different serovars reported. Also the distribution of the serovars varied strongly amongst the MSs. Though 17 MSs reported S. Enteritidis, a formal spatial analysis identified two MSs as the most likely clusters for this serovar, whereas the most likely clusters for S. Typhimurium included three MSs.The serovar distribution in broiler flocks and those reported in holdings with flocks of laying hen appeared to be similar in the EU. Similarities in Salmonella prevalence and serovar distributions were also found between broiler flocks and breeding flocks for broilers within the MSs, indicating that breeding flocks are likely to form an important source of Salmonella infections for the broiler flocks. Moreover, there was often a good agreement between the serovar and phage type distribution in human salmonellosis cases and in broiler flocks. These findings suggest that in the EU broiler meat is an important source of Salmonella infections in humans, although this importance is likely to differ between the MSs due to the varying Salmonella prevalence in broiler flocks.The antimicrobial susceptibility testing information reported was not representative of the whole of the EU. The proportion of resistant isolates to third generation cephalosporins in the reporting MSs was very low, although three MSs reported the presence of S. Paratyphi B var. Java isolates resistant to ceftiofur and to cefotaxime. S. Enteritidis isolates were relatively susceptible to the tested antimicrobials, while resistance in S. Typhimurium was generally higher.Since few risk factors were found to be associated with Salmonella flock prevalence at the Community-level, MSs are invited to carry out studies to identify the factors that put broiler flocks at risk of becoming infected with Salmonella at the national level. MSs are also encouraged to guarantee effective Salmonella control in breeding flocks for broilers in order to reduce and prevent the subsequent contamination of the broiler flocks. It is also further recommended that MSs serotype all Salmonella isolates originating from broiler flocks to enable evaluation of the public health importance of the findings.Making the reporting on antimicrobial resistance and phage typing obligatory in future baseline studies would provide for more representative information.