28.07.2011

Following a request from the European Commission, the Scientific Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) was asked to deliver a Scientific Opinion on a quantitative estimation of the public health impact of setting a new target for the reduction of Salmonella in broilers.
This assessment relates the percentage of broiler-associated human salmonellosis cases to different Salmonella prevalences in broiler flocks in the European Union. It considers the contribution and relevance of different Salmonella serovars found in broilers to human salmonellosis. The model developed to provide quantitative estimates, which is based on the microbial-subtyping approach, considers 22 Member States, four animal-food sources of Salmonella (broilers, laying hens, pigs and turkeys) and 23 Salmonella serovars. It is estimated that around 2.4%, 65%, 28% and 4.5% of the human salmonellosis cases are attributable to broilers, laying hens (eggs), pigs and turkeys respectively. The results of the model indicate that the majority of the Salmonella Enteritidis infections are related to the laying hen reservoir (i.e. consumption of eggs), whereas Salmonella Typhimurium infections originate primarily from the pig reservoir.Of the broiler-associated human salmonellosis cases, around 42% and 23% are estimated to be due to the serovars Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Infantis respectively, while other serovars individually contributed less than 5%.