Description
Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is a gram-negative bacterium that can colonize the gut of humans and several species of food producing farm animals to cause enteric or septicaemic salmonellosis. Besides compromising public health and food safety, sub-clinical salmonellosis is also believed to be a major problem affecting the profitability of the pig industry. Distinct responses to Salmonella infection have been observed in pigs, some recovering faster and shedding lower levels of Salmonella in faeces than others (low shedders, LS versus persistent shedders, PS). This trait variation could indicate the existence of a genetic component to Salmonella shedding and resistance that may be exploited in animal breeding and disease diagnostics. The study aimed to identify porcine genes and gene co-expression networks that differentiate distinct responses to Salmonella infection with respect to faecal Salmonella shedding.