Questionnaire Survey on Salmonellosis and the Egg Industry in the English-Speaking Caribbean

Abstract

Background and Objective: The burden of foodborne illness in the Caribbean countries is unknown because reporting systems do not exist. The study was conducted to obtain information on foodborne and table egg-borne outbreaks and the causative agents during the period 2000-2010 in the Caribbean region. Materials and Methods: An electronic questionnaire was disseminated to each regional chief veterinary officer of the 27 countries. Results: Questionnaires were returned by 40.7% (11/27) of the Caribbean countries. Of the countries that responded 6 (54.5%) reported having experienced foodborne illnesses. None of the 11 countries reported having experienced foodborne illnesses associated with table eggs during the study. The prevalent pathogens associated with foodborne outbreaks were Rotavirus, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Typhimurium and Shigella spp. Four (36.4%) of the countries were able to access laboratory services to conduct bacteriological assay for Salmonella spp., however only two countries conduct routine screening. The products commonly imported by the 11 countries were table eggs (81.8%), hatching eggs (54.5%) and day-old chicks (45.5%) and 10 (90.9%) countries imported eggs and egg products from North America while 27.3% imported from the United Kingdom. Conclusion: There is a need to improve the diagnostic capacity in the region and surveillance programmes must be established. It is also important for the countries that import day-old chicks, hatching eggs and eggs products from countries outside the Caribbean to be aware of the risk of introduction of Salmonella spp. and other pathogens into the region.