Studies on the interaction between Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium and intestinal helminths in pigs

Vet Parasitol. 2006 Jun 30;139(1-3):158-67. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.03.001. Epub 2006 Apr 18.

Abstract

Concomitant infections with helminths and bacteria may affect the course and the resulting disease outcome of the individual infections. Salmonella, Oesophagostomum, Trichuris and Ascaris coexist naturally in pig herds in Denmark, and possible interactions were studied. Pigs in one experiment were trickle infected with low or moderate dose levels of Oesophagostomum spp. and challenge infected with S. Typhimurium. In another experiment, pigs were inoculated with S. Typhimurium followed by a challenge exposure to either Oesophagostomum, Trichuris or Ascaris. Enhancement of the Salmonella infection was not demonstrated in either experiment. The helminth effect on the pigs was modest and may explain the lack of influence on the Salmonella infection. A previous experiment with a larger Oesophagostomum infection level resulted in enhancement of the S. Typhimurium infection. A dose dependency of the interaction is therefore suggested. However, the relatively high worm burdens in the present study suggest that infection with these common pig helminths does generally not influence the course of concurrent S. Typhimurium infections under natural conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ascaris / growth & development
  • Ascaris / pathogenicity
  • Colony Count, Microbial / veterinary
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Helminthiasis, Animal / complications*
  • Helminthiasis, Animal / epidemiology
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / complications
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / epidemiology
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / veterinary*
  • Oesophagostomum / growth & development
  • Oesophagostomum / pathogenicity
  • Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
  • Population Dynamics
  • Random Allocation
  • Salmonella Infections, Animal / complications*
  • Salmonella Infections, Animal / epidemiology
  • Salmonella typhimurium / growth & development*
  • Salmonella typhimurium / pathogenicity
  • Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
  • Swine
  • Swine Diseases / microbiology*
  • Swine Diseases / parasitology*
  • Trichuris / growth & development
  • Trichuris / pathogenicity