COMPARISON OF FOUR SAMPLING METHODS FOR THE DETECTION OF SALMONELLA IN BROILER LITTER

Authors: Buhr, Richard - Jeff; Richardson, Larry; Cason Jr, John; Cox Jr, Nelson

Submitted to: Southern Poultry Science Society Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/19/2005
Publication Date: 1/23/2006
Citation: Buhr, R.J., Richardson, L.J., Cason Jr, J.A., Cox Jr, N.A. 2006. Comparison of four sampling methods for the detection of salmonella in broiler litter [abstract]. Southern Poultry Science Society Meeting Abstracts. 85(1):209.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Day of hatch male broiler breeder chicks obtained from a commercial hatchery were brooded and reared in two sets of adjacent floor pens with clean wood shavings. Twenty-five chicks were challenged orally with a 105 suspension of naladixic acid resistant Salmonella and wing banded, and an additional 25 nonchallenged chicks were placed into each challenge pen. Fifty nonchallenged chicks were placed into each nonchallenge pen located adjacent to the challenged pens. Personnel movement between pens was minimal but not restricted. At 6 wk of age, 12 challenged and 12 nonchallenged birds from the challenged pens and 12 birds from the nonchallenged pens were euthanized by electrocution and the ceca collected for determination of Salmonella status. Broilers remained in the challenge pens throughout the litter-sampling period, but were removed from the adjacent pens at 6 wk of age. At 7, 8, 10, and 11 wk of age the litter was sampled using four methods (duplicate samples per pen per sample time): feces, litter, drag swab, and sock (10 cm section of tube bandage worn over disposable plastic boots). At 6 wk of age, ceca samples were Salmonella-positive from 4/12 challenged broilers and from 5/12 nonchallenged broilers raised commingled in the challenged pen, and from 6/24 nonchallenged broilers raised in the nonchallenged adjacent pens. At the four samplings times (from 7 to 11 wk) for the challenged pens, Salmonella-positive samples were detected in 5/16 fecal samples, 10/16 litter samples, 9/16 drag swabs samples, and 11/16 sock samples. Samples from the nonchallenged pens were Salmonella-positive in 2/16 litter samples, 6/16 drag swab samples, and 12/16 sock samples. Drag swabs, litter, and sock samples had relatively higher rates of Salmonella detection than feces samples in pens containing broilers. In pens where broilers had been removed, sock samples had higher recovery rates of Salmonella than litter or drag swab samples.