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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #222670
Title: THE TYPE OF VENTILATION IN TURKEY HOUSES INFLUENCES THE PREVALENCE OF SALMONELLA IN BIRDS

Author
item Wesley, Irene
item HONG, LI
item HONGWEI, XIN

Submitted to: American Society for Microbiology Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/30/2008
Publication Date: 5/30/2008
Citation: Wesley, I.V., Hong, L., Hongwei, X. 2008. The type of ventilation in turkey houses influences the prevalence of salmonella in birds [abstract]. American Society for Microbiology Meeting. Paper No. 089.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Improved ventilation in poultry houses may lower the levels of generic E. coli and Salmonella in litter. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of Campylobacter and Salmonella in two commercial turkey flocks reared in the same house but with differing ventilation systems in each separate half of the house. Flock One was raised with natural ventilation (NV); Flock Two was raised with mechanical ventilation (MV). Weekly sampling of air filters determined the presence of Salmonella in both flocks. One week prior to slaughter, cloacal swabs (n=50 per flock) were taken to determine the prevalence of Campylobacter. Drag swabs (n=8 per flock) were also collected to estimate the Salmonella status. At slaughter, the prevalence of Campylobacter and Salmonella was determined in ceca (n=75 per flock). For cloacal swabs, Campylobacter was isolated from the NV (86%) and MV (94%) birds. Salmonella was detected by real-time PCR in drag swabs of the NV (75%) and MV (12%) flocks. At slaughter, the Salmonella prevalence in the NV flock (5%) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than in the MV (0%) flock. No differences were seen in the prevalence of Campylobacter in ceca of the NV (96%) and MV (99%) birds. These data indicate that mechanical ventilation may reduce Salmonella but not Campylobacter prevalence in commercially reared turkeys.