Comparison of Campylobacter coli strains isolated from pigs and humans - porcine strains a possible source of human infection?

Discussion: The veterinary Salmonella control program for swine have reduced the pork related number of human salmonellosis cases from 1,144 cases registered in 1993 to 77 cases in 2002. The annual expenses to the program were 6.9 million Euro in 2002. In total, the expenses to the veterinary program have been close to 90 million Euro since its initiation in 1995. Assuming that the number of human cases had remained at the pre-control level if the salmonella-program have not been implemented, the program have reduced the occurrence of human salmonellosis in Denmark by approximately 1,000 registered cases in 2002. The majority of human salmonellosis cases are not registered, as only the more severely affected patients are examined by culture, so the “real” number of salmonellosis cases avoided in 2002 was probably 5,000-20,000, equivalent to a saved society cost of at least 3.5-8.2 million Euro. Between 70—90% of the society cost to human salmonellosis and yersiniosis is due to lost working days. From a society point of view, the salmonella-program and the improved hygiene on slaughterhouses have significantly reduced the Salmonella and Yersinia related expenses to hospitalisation, consultation to physicians and lost days of work.