Decreased Fecal Shedding of Salmonella Newport through Vaccination

Abstract

Foodborne enteric pathogens, such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli, have met with increased scrutiny by consumers, the food industry and government regulatory agencies. One of the primary food safety initiatives today is to prevent the spread of bacterial enteric pathogens from the farm to the table. Controlling these pathogens at the farm level is one of many strategies being pursued to ensure the safety of our food supply. One such approach in reducing consumer health risks associated with Salmonella and E. coli has focused on preventing intestinal colonization and fecal shedding of these pathogens in meat producing animals. Unfortunately, other than for improving general hygiene and reducing oral-fecal transmission, the control of these pathogens has met with limited success, leaving the producer vulnerable and often bewildered as to "what to do". The following study evaluates the use of a novel vaccine composition to prevent intestinal colonization of Salmonella in a controlled Salmonella Newport challenge in calves.