Review of the Food-borne Zoonoses Research ... - ARCHIVE: Defra

There is a need to objectively assess all practical interventions which might obviate the
need for heat treatment of eggs as, for many producers, this will not be economically
feasible.
It was also thought useful to develop a cost-effective screening test to distinguish
between flocks which are highly, moderately and minimally contaminated.
If the on-going research on avian immunological response during the point-of-lay period
proves successful there will be a need to understand how the information can be utilised
in the field to improve salmonella control. It was also suggested that it might be useful to
investigate changes at the end-of-lay when Salmonella breakdowns are also known to
occur.
Porcine Research
Control of Salmonella in pigs is highly complex and UK pig industry is significantly
different from that in other member states, with a higher percentage of outdoor units and
a broad breeder base in the UK. Research from other EU member states or third
countries is therefore not always directly applicable. Salmonella control in UK for this
sector remains problematic. There appear to be regional differences that need to be
understood better.
The lack of a satisfactory vaccine for use in pigs is an issue, however there may well be
sufficient information at this point for pharmaceutical companies to make a satisfactory
vaccine. It is more a case of companies being persuaded that there is a sufficient market
for a vaccine.
Bovine Research
With regards to cattle it is probably reasonable to believe that a new epidemic of
Salmonella in cattle will occur at some time in the future as there have been a series of
epidemics in the past. Should such an epidemic occur, research will need to be put in
place at an early stage to establish the epidemiology of the disease in order to attempt to
reduce the size of the epidemic. Research is underway to try to assist with the prediction
of a new epidemic.
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