11.02.2016

Clinical isolates of Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. are notifiable in Switzerland. Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. are the most frequently reported zoonotic infections in Switzerland. In 1995, Campylobacter replaced Salmonella as the most frequently reported food-borne pathogen. Between 1988 and 2013, notified campylobacteriosis cases doubled from 3,127 to 7,499, while Salmonella case notifications decreased, from 4,291 to 1,267. Case notifications for both pathogens peaked during summer months. Campylobacter infections showed a distinct winter peak, particularly in the 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14 winter seasons. The inverse trends observed in case notifications for the two pathogens indicate an increase in campylobacteriosis cases. The implementation of legal microbiological criteria for foodstuff was likely an effective means of controlling human salmonellosis. In 2013, only 1% of 3,636 samples of fresh poultry meat, poultry meat preparations and poultry meat products at different stages of processing tested positive for Salmonella (In 1990 study, 47.7% of broiler flocks were found to be Salmonella-positive). In 2013, 37.7% (169/448) of broiler flocks and 65% (226/348) of rectum-anal swab samples taken from pigs at slaughter tested positive for Campylobacter.