Pilot study on Salmonella prevalence in laying hens-experiences in Germany

German. To ensure comparable results for all countries within the European Union, and to provide the basis for setting a target for control, a one-year pilot study on Salmonella prevalence in laying hens was performed on the basis of Decision 2004/665/EC. The overall aim of the study was to estimate the Salmonella prevalence in herds of laying hens for table egg production. In this paper some preliminary results and the experiences gained in Germany is presented. Furthermore, the future benefits by using the knowledge and material collected is described.The study could successfully be conducted in Germany. Nearly 30% of the flocks tested were positive for Salmonella spp. with S. Enteritidis being the predominating serovar. Detailed information on the production type, the size and location of the holding is available for further analysis and 570 isolates are available for further characterization. A very close collaboration involving the local vets responsible for sampling, the regional laboratories responsible for testing the primary samples, the regional authorities ensuring compliance with the protocol at regional level and the central level, collating the results, analyzing the data and ensuring the quality of the testing was established during the study. Based on these experiences, communication and cooperation between the groups involved in the conduct of the study and other interested groups like the public health authorities and the industry can be established or improved.The study provides a useful set of isolates for further typing work, i.e. further research on the spread of certain clones of salmonella in laying hens and the possible distribution of these clones in other sources.In addition, this study provides a useful data set of high quality for training and application of epidemiological methods in the field and ensures more advanced epidemiological analysis. It can be used to identify the crucial elements for a further harmonized monitoring scheme in egg production. Furthermore, it will provide an excellent tool to validate / calibrate existing activities in relation to these harmonized schemes. In the future, control programmes are to be implemented including a surveillance element which provides comparable data. This will allow to get a better insight into the effect of any intervention strategy. The effectiveness of preventive measures against hazards in food can only be checked in the country as well as on EU level if the detection methods for pathogens and monitoring systems are comparable. Overall, this will help to implement rules to improve the quality and safety of food and feed as well as to contribute to a healthy animal population.