Prevalence and Pathological studies on salmonellosis in broiler breeders

Abstract

~he present project was designed to investigate the sources of Salmonella infection in broiler breeders, isolate and identity Salm. serotypes from broiler breeders, and to improve methods for Salmonella isolation and accurate "'i di,agnos is of salmonellosis. other studies included pathogenicity of Salmonella isolates and characterization of specific pathological lesions in infected birds. Among the control measures antibiography, feed supplementation, competitive exclusion, elimination of carriers and evaluation of the disinfectants. During the years 1988-1990, 150 chicken broiler breeder flocks (262454) around Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Abbottabad were screened for Salmonella by the rapid hemagglutination test. Most of the flocks were tested between the age of 21-40 weeks of age, a few at a later age. Rapid hemagglutination testing revealed 112 flocks (12159 birds) positive for Salmonella. The prevalence of Salmonella carriers varied in birds reared on various commerc ial feeds (69.2-82.2) in chi ckens of d i f ferent breeds (100-60.01) in different age group (88.23 77.7) those maintained on the varying standards of management (41.66-78.57) and in different sex. Possible source of Salmonella infections and necessary control measures against avian salmonellosis are discussed.