Salmonella isolation from litter as an indicator of flock infection and carcass contamination

Avian Dis. 1979 Oct-Dec;23(4):838-47.

Abstract

The Salmonella status of 15 different farm flocks was assessed at the farm level and at processing plants. Bacteriological examination for Salmonella was made of litter, dust, feed, 5-day-old culled chicks, and chicken carcasses. Fresh straw litter was found contaminated with Salmonella and may be a source of flock infection. Culture of floor litter can be a practical method for detecting flock infection, and culture of 6-weeks litter in particular would be a good indicator of carcass contamination at processing plants. Properly pelleted feed did not contain Salmonella. Processing did not render carcasses free of Salmonella.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Air Microbiology
  • Animal Feed
  • Animals
  • Chickens / microbiology*
  • Dust
  • Food Microbiology
  • Housing, Animal
  • Liver / microbiology
  • Manure
  • Meat
  • Poultry Diseases / microbiology*
  • Salmonella / isolation & purification*
  • Salmonella Infections, Animal / microbiology*

Substances

  • Dust
  • Manure