Libourne 10^th September 2019 - A new real-time diagnostic kit that will help pig producers fight salmonella infections on their farms has been launched at the SafePork scientific symposium in Berlin.

It has been developed and produced by Biotecon Diagnostics in co-operation with Ceva – the multinational veterinary biopharmaceutical company. The highly-sensitive test, using DNA, will detect and differentiate accurately between the vaccine strains and field strains of Salmonella Typhimurium (STM), the most important enzootic salmonella.  It will complement company’s Salmoporc vaccine, which is widely used in many European countries.

If salmonella is found on a farm by established methods, differentiation can be carried out on any substrate without the need for time-consuming cultural detection tests. Results can be achieved overnight or within 24 hours compared with five days for existing tests. The test is safe and reliable, without false-negatives.

“Vaccination is the only way to reduce Salmonella Typhimurium sustainably to reduce the spill-over to abattoirs and the food chain. If STM is found on a farm where vaccine is used then the pig farmer needs to know if it is the vaccine strain, which is of no concern, or the field strain, which is of considerable concern,” commented Dr Rike Schmelz, veterinarian and salmonella specialist, with Ceva.

To test for salmonella, samples will be taken by a unit’s vet from pigs and the environment at several locations. Salmonella can be found on 80-100 per cent of pig farms in most countries.

“The reduction of salmonella prevalence on a farm through vaccination will also lessen the impact of antibiotic use,” pointed out Dr Schmelz. “Ceva has an on-going commitment to protect the future of antibiotics by providing swine veterinarians with practical tools and services, which allow them to promote better preventative health. Vaccination will help prevent a further increase in multi-drug resistant salmonella.”

 Additional information on vaccination and the new diagnostic method can be found at www.stop-salmonella.com

1. Pictured at the launch of the salmonella diagnostic kit are (l to r) Heiko Rüdiger, senior director animal health at Ceva Santé Animale;Dr Rike Schmelz, corporate product manager at Ceva Santé Animal and Dr Christoph Kunas, product manager veterinary and food at Biotecon Diagnostics 
2. The new diagnostic kit developed Biotecon Diagnostics in co-operation with Ceva

>> PDF version available here: 2019-09-10_Ceva partners with Biotecon Diagnostics_EN.pdf