Longitudinal study reveals persistent environmental Salmonella Heidelberg in Brazilian broiler farms

Publication date: Available online 6 April 2019Source: Veterinary MicrobiologyAuthor(s): Daiane Voss-Rech, Beatris Kramer, Virgínia Santiago Silva, Raquel Rebelatto, Paulo Giovani Abreu, Arlei Coldebella, Clarissa Silveira Luiz VazAbstractThe vast capacity for maintenance and dissemination in the environment are major challenges for the control of Salmonella spp. in poultry farms. The aim of this study was to assess environmental contamination by non-typhoidal Salmonella in successive broiler flocks in nine commercial broiler farms integrated with three companies in the south of Brazil, for a twelve-month production period. Recycled broiler litter, feed and swabs from the evaporative cooling system pads were analyzed, and the total enterobacteria count in the litter samples was also ascertained. Positive broiler houses were identified in two of the three broiler companies studied, in which non-typhoidal Salmonella were detected for the first time in the first or second flock, and recurred in the recycled litter of subsequent flocks. Feed and evaporative cooling pad swab samples were also positive in at least one of the assessed flocks. The majority of the isolates (87.5%) originating from different flocks, broiler houses and companies that were sampled were identified as S. Heidelberg, with the prevalence of one single genotype. The total enterobacteria levels in the litter diminished as the flocks progressed, but the presence of Salmonella spp. was constant over the course ...
Source: Veterinary Microbiology - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research