ARS | Publication request: Impact of Feeding Systems and Vaccination Programs on Salmonella Enteritidis Colonization and Clearance of E. Coli In Broiler Broiler Breeders Pullets

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 7, 2012
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Broiler breeder pullets from a single grandparent flock were in ovo-vaccinated with Marek's vaccines herpesvirus of turkey (HVT) + chicken herpesvirus (SB1) or a vector HVT + Infectious bursal disease (IBD) vaccine+SB1. The chicks were placed in an experimental broiler breeder facility at the University of Georgia and fed ad libitum. At 2 weeks of age, the pullets vaccinated with the HVT+IBD vector were started on a skip-a-day feeding program. The remaining 600 pullets were divided into 3 groups (200 pullets each) and fed one of the following programs: 1) Skip-a-day; 2) Every day in the feeder; or 3) every day on the litter. All pullets were fed daily after light stimulation. Innate immune responses were measured by determining the colonization rate in various tissues after oral challenge with S. Enteritidis at 22,35 and 65 weeks of age in Salmonella-vaccinated and unvaccinated hens and also by the time of clearance of E. coli after intravenous inoculation at 19, 22, 29 and 39 weeks of age. The pullets fed every day on the litter cleared E. coli faster at 19 weeks of age and had less S. Enteritidis colonization after oral challenge at 22 and 65 weeks of age. Salmonella Enteritidis colonization was lower in the spleen samples from hens that received the vector HVT+IBD vaccine in the hatchery as compared with the HVT+SB1-vaccinated group. The effect of Salmonella vaccination to reduce colonization of hens was variable among the various feeding groups.