Integrated surveillance of Salmonella along the food chain using existing data and resources in British Columbia, Canada

Integrated surveillance of pathogens along the food chain and the multidisciplinary investigation of food hazards are considered international best practices. Integrated surveillance of Salmonella was initiated in British Columbia (BC), Canada in 2006. The objectives of this paper were 1) to describe the BC integrated surveillance experience, 2) to present findings from the integrated surveillance of Salmonella, and 3) to identify the components that enabled the program. Data about BC animal, food and human Salmonella isolates from 2006 to 2010 (n = 5003) were centrally collated and analysed. Among chickens, chicken meat and humans, the most common serotypes identified were S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium and S. Heidelberg. An increase in S. Enteritidis in all three sectors in 2007–9 led to a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral investigation. An evaluation of the integrated surveillance program helped identify four critical program elements: dedicated people, cross-sectoral sharing and integration of data, multi-disciplinary analysis and interpretation of findings, and collaborative multi-sectoral response. Ongoing challenges include lack of resources and infrastructure to sustain the program.

Research Highlights
► We describe the experience and findings from four years of integrated surveillance of Salmonella along the food chain in British Columbia, Canada.
► Using existing data and resources, we centrally collated and analysed data on 5003 Salmonella isolates from human, food and animal sources.
► An increase in S. Enteritidis in all three sectors in 2007-9 led to a multi-disciplinary investigation.
► The evaluation of the program identified four critical elements: dedicated people, cross-sectoral sharing and integration of data, multi-disciplinary analysis and interpretation of findings and collaborative multi-sectoral response.