| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
ENVIRONMENT, WELL-BEING, AND BEHAVIOR |
* Poultry Microbiological Safety and Poultry Processing Research Units, Richard B. Russell Agricultural Research Center, USDA-ARS, PO Box 5677, Athens, GA 30604-5677; and Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens 30602
2 Corresponding author: Jeff.Buhr{at}saa.ars.usda.gov
Experiments were conducted to compare litter sampling methods for the detection of Salmonella. In experiment 1, chicks were challenged orally with a suspension of naladixic acid-resistant Salmonella and wing banded, and additional nonchallenged chicks were placed into each of 2 challenge pens. Nonchallenged chicks were placed into each nonchallenge pen located adjacent to the challenge pens. At 7, 8, 10, and 11 wk of age the litter was sampled using 4 methods: fecal droppings, litter grab, drag swab, and sock. For the challenge pens, Salmonella-positive samples were detected in 3 of 16 fecal samples, 6 of 16 litter grab samples, 7 of 16 drag swabs samples, and 7 of 16 sock samples. Samples from the nonchallenge pens were Salmonella positive in 2 of 16 litter grab samples, 9 of 16 drag swab samples, and 9 of 16 sock samples. In experiment 2, chicks were challenged with Salmonella, and the litter in the challenge and adjacent nonchallenge pens were sampled at 4, 6, and 8 wk of age with broilers remaining in all pens. For the challenge pens, Salmonella was detected in 10 of 36 fecal samples, 20 of 36 litter grab samples, 14 of 36 drag swab samples, and 26 of 36 sock samples. Samples from the adjacent nonchallenge pens were positive for Salmonella in 6 of 36 fecal droppings samples, 4 of 36 litter grab samples, 7 of 36 drag swab samples, and 19 of 36 sock samples. Sock samples had the highest rates of Salmonella detection. In experiment 3, the litter from a Salmonella-challenged flock was sampled at 7, 8, and 9 wk by socks and drag swabs. In addition, comparisons with drag swabs that were stepped on during sampling were made. Both socks (24 of 36, 67%) and drag swabs that were stepped on (25 of 36, 69%) showed significantly more Salmonella-positive samples than the traditional drag swab method (16 of 36, 44%). Drag swabs that were stepped on had comparable Salmonella detection level to that for socks. Litter sampling methods that incorporate stepping on the sample material while in contact with the litter appear to detect Salmonella in greater incidence than traditional sampling methods of dragging swabs over the litter surface.
Key Words: Salmonella detection • litter sampling • broiler • drag swab • cecum
1 The authors are grateful for the assistance provided by Dianna V. Bourassa, Jeromey S. Jackson, and L. Kathy Orr of the USDA-ARS Richard B. Russell Research Center and Arthur B. Karnuah of The University of Georgia, Athens, for sample collection. Authors acknowledge the contributions of Dianna V. Bourassa for summarizing and statistical analysis of the data and preparation of this manuscript.
Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  C. Marin and M. Lainez Salmonella detection in feces during broiler rearing and after live transport to the slaughterhouse Poult. Sci., September 1, 2009; 88(9): 1999 - 2005. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. J. Roche, N. A. Cox, L. J. Richardson, R. J. Buhr, J. A. Cason, B. D. Fairchild, and N. C. Hinkle Transmission of Salmonella to broilers by contaminated larval and adult lesser mealworms, Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Poult. Sci., January 1, 2009; 88(1): 44 - 48. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
