Project Number: 3602-32000-007-02
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Apr 02, 2004
End Date: Aug 31, 2007

Objective:
The objective of this application is to develop a novel experimental paradigm to non-invasively monitor the progression of Salmonella within the physiological environment (digestive and lyphatic systems, etc.) of the living pig.

Approach:
Using biophotonics to address a difficult experimental challenge, we have formulated the following Specific Aims. Specific Aim 1: to refine our "real time" monitoring techniques and validate them completely for further adaptation to feeder/market weight pigs; Specific Aim 2: To adapt our techniques to the feeder and market weight pig for live animal imaging and/or post-mortem detection of resident bacterial colonies; Specific Aim 3: To apply our methods to market pigs and evaluate the interaction between Salmonella exposure and handling/mixing stress in swine. The rationale for this study is that until we gain an understanding of how salmonella infects swine, production practices cannot be implemented to better manage swine in such a way as to decrease the incidence and severity of Salmonella infections.