Prevalence of Salmonella in chicken and their products

Poultry feed were examined for salmonellae. The samples were from poultry farms retail feed shops and Department of Livestock Development. It was found that 8 percent, 7 percent and 5 percent of the samples from the above sources were positive for Salmonella. Seventeen serovars were confirmed of which Salmonella lexington, S. blockley, and S. amsterdam were the predominant organisms. Salmonellae were detected in thirteen broiler flocks, layer flocks and 7 parent breeder flocks in Thailand from October 1991 to August 1992. Salmonellae were isolated from samples of feed, drinking water, cloacal swabs, faeces and litter from all broiler and breeder flocks, and 87 percent of the layer flocks. From broiler flocks, litter samples were more frequently contaminated than other samples, while feed left over in the layer house and drinking water in the parent breeder house were the most commonly contaminated. The most common serovars associated with the broiler, layer and parent breeder flocks were Salmonella blockley, S. weltevreden and S. amsterdam respectively. Study was conducted to determine the presence of salmonellae in raw chicken meat, giblets (liver, heart, gizzard) and cooked chicken products (meatballs and sausages) in Bangkok. Salmonellae were isolated from 66 percent of chicken meat samples, 86 percent of giblets and 10 percent of cooked products. The five most common serotypes isolated from chicken meat were Salmonella blockley, S. virchow, S. enteritidis, S. hadar and S. pararyphi B. The major isolates from giblets were S. virchow, S. kentucky, S. enteritidis, S. agona and S. blockley Salmonella derby was the serotype most often isolated from the cooked poultry products. Two thousand four hundred and ninety eggs were collected from retail markets and from laying hen farms. Eggs were pooled for testing. Eggs from retail markets were contaminated with salmonellae on egg shell (13.2 percent) and in egg contents (3.9 percent). Samples from laying hen farms, salmonellae were found on egg shells and in egg contents, 3.5 percent and 1.2 percent respectively. From the 134 strains tested. Salmonella cerro. S. amsterdam and S. typhimurium were predominantly encountered.