Efficacy of European starling control to reduce <it>Salmonella enterica </it>contamination in a concentrated animal feeding operation in the Texas panhandle

• Main Authors: Bodenchuk Michael J, Clark Larry, DeLiberto Thomas J, Gilliland Rickey L, Hyatt Doreene R, Engeman Richard M, Carlson James C, Linz George M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2011-02-01
• Series: BMC Veterinary Research
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/7/9

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>European starlings (<it>Sturnus vulgaris</it>) are an invasive bird species known to cause damage to plant and animal agriculture. New evidence suggests starlings may also contribute to the maintenance and spread of diseases within livestock facilities. Identifying and mitigating the risk pathways that contribute to disease in livestock is necessary to reduce production losses and contamination of human food products. To better understand the impact starlings have on disease transmission to cattle we assessed the efficacy of starling control as a tool to reduce <it>Salmonella enterica </it>within a concentrated animal feeding operation. We matched a large facility, slated for operational control using DRC-1339 (3-chloro-4-methylaniline hydrochloride, also 3-chloro p-toluidine hydrochloride, 3-chloro-4-methylaniline), with a comparable reference facility that was not controlling birds. In both facilities, we sampled cattle feed, cattle water and cattle feces for <it>S. enterica </it>before and after starling control operations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Within the starling-controlled CAFO, detections of <it>S. enterica </it>contamination disappeared from feed bunks and substantially declined within water troughs following starling control operations. Within the reference facility, detections of <it>S. enterica </it>contamination increased substantially within feed bunks and water troughs. Starling control was not observed to reduce prevalence of <it>S. enterica </it>in the cattle herd. Following starling control operations, herd prevalence of <it>S. enterica </it>increased on the reference facility but herd prevalence of <it>S. enterica </it>on the starling-controlled CAFO stayed at pretreatment levels.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Within the starling-controlled facility detections of <it>S. enterica </it>disappeared from feed bunks and substantially declined within water troughs following control operations. Since cattle feed and water are obvious routes for the ingestion of <it>S. enterica</it>, starling control shows promise as a tool to help livestock producers manage disease. Yet, we do not believe starling control should be used as a stand alone tool to reduce <it>S. enterica </it>infections. Rather starling control could be used as part of a comprehensive disease management plan for concentrated animal feeding operations.</p>