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Title: DETECTION OF SALMONELLA ENTERITIDIS IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED LAYING HENS BY AN ELECTROSTATIC AIR SAMPLING DEVICE

Author
item Gast, Richard
item Mitchell, Bailey
item Holt, Peter

Submitted to: American Veterinary Medical Association Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/16/2003
Publication Date: 7/16/2003
Citation: Gast, R.K., Mitchell, B.W., Holt, P.S. 2003. Detection Of Salmonella Enteritidis In The Environment Of Experimentally Infected Laying Hens By An Electrostatic Air Sampling Device. Proceedings of the Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, p.79, 2003.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Detecting infected laying flocks is a central component in most programs for reducing the production of eggs contaminated with Salmonella enteritidis. Bacteriological culturing of environmental samples taken from sources such as manure pits and egg belts has been the principal screening tool used in the United States to select houses for further scrutiny. Air sampling offers a potentially efficient and inexpensive alternative for detecting this pathogen in poultry house environments. In the present study, an electrostatic air sampling device (ESD) was applied to detect S. enteritidis in rooms containing experimentally infected, caged laying hens. After oral inoculation of hens with a phage type 13a S. enteritidis strain, air samples were collected onto agar plates with the ESD, an impaction air sampler, and by simple exposure to the settling of aerosols and particulates. Even though floors were cleaned once per week (removing most manure, dust, and feathers), air samples were positive for S. enteritidis for up to 4 weeks post-inoculation. A higher incidence of persistent fecal shedding was accompanied by a corresponding prolongation in the detection of S. enteritidis in air samples. Based on the number of S. enteritidis colonies observed on incubated agar plates, the efficiency of the ESD was significantly greater than that of the settling plates (especially at short collection intervals) and similar to that of the far more expensive impaction sampler.