ARS | Publication request: A MULTI-STATE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF SOURCES AND MOVEMENT OF SALMONELLA THROUGH INTEGRATED POULTRY OPERATIONS

Submitted to: United States Animal Health Association Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: October 1, 1999
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: This study was designed to characterize, on a multi-state basis, the prevalence of Salmonella, and Campylobacter from numerous sources in broiler operations. Previous poultry epidemiological studies have been limited in scope, offering only a snapshot of pathogen prevalence as seen on a small number of individual farms. This study looks at the primary sources of salmonellae from the hatchery through the end of processing in a high and low production flock from 4 integrated operations located in 4 states across 4 seasons. A total of 10,740 samples were analyzed for salmonellae. Overall, 973 of 10,740 (9.1%) total samples, including 49 of 798 (6.1%) carcass rinse samples were salmonellae positive. A total of 36 different serotypes were identified. The three most frequently identified serotypes were S. senftenberg, S. thompson and S. montevideo. These observations will serve to confirm the hypothesis that production influences the presence and levels of Salmonella and Campylobacter on the processed carcasses. By determining critical contaminating sources, practical interventions can be developed.