Frequent human ‐poultry interactions and low prevalence of Salmonella in backyard chicken flocks in Massachusetts

The objective of this study was to characterize human ‐BYC interactions and assess the prevalence ofSalmonella among BYC flocks. We interviewed 50 BYC owners using a structured questionnaire to determine flock and household characteristics that facilitate contact with BYC and that may be associated withSalmonella in the BYC environment. Composite faecal material, cloacal swabs and dust samples from 53 flocks housed on 50 residential properties in the Greater Boston, Massachusetts area were tested forSalmonella using standard culture techniques and confirmed using Matrix ‐Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization‐Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer. Microbroth dilution and whole genome sequencing were used to determine phenotypic and genotypic resistance profiles, respectively, and sequence results were used to determine multilocus sequencing type. No owners self‐repo rted a diagnosis of salmonellosis in the household. Over 75% of a subset of owners reported that they and their children consider BYC pets. This perception is evident in how owners reported interacting with their birds.Salmonella enterica subspeciesenterica serotype Kentucky ST152 (serogroup C) —a strain not commonly associated with human infection—was confirmed in one flock, or 2% of tested flocks, and demonstrated resistance to tetracycline and streptomycin. We detectedSalmonella at low prevalence in BYC. Further study of the health effects of exposure to zoonotic gastrointestinal pathogens such asSalmonell...
Source: Zoonoses and Public Health - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research