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Evaluation of a Lactobacillus-Based Probiotic Culture for the Reduction of Salmonella Enteritidis in Neonatal Broiler Chicks

S. E. Higgins^*, J. P. Higgins^*, A. D. Wolfenden^*, S. N. Henderson^*, A. Torres-Rodriguez, G. Tellez^* and B. Hargis^*,1

^* Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701; and Cobb Vantress Inc., Siloam Springs, AR 72761

¹ Corresponding author: bhargis{at}uark.edu

We evaluated the effect of a Lactobacillus-based probiotic culture (FM-B11) for reduction of Salmonella Enteritidis in neonatal broiler chicks. In all experiments, chicks were challenged with approximately 10⁴ cfu of Salmonella Enteritidis upon arrival at our laboratory, and the treatments were administered 1 h postchallenge. Cecal tonsil samples were obtained 24 h posttreatment and enriched for Salmonella Enteritidis recovery. The first experiment compared the effects of oral administration of doses of 10⁴, 10⁶, and 10⁸ cfu/chick. In this experiment, doses of 10⁶ and 10⁸ both significantly reduced Salmonella Enteritidis recovery compared with controls (15 vs. 85% Salmonella Enteritidis positive), but 10⁴ cfu did not significantly reduce Salmonella Enteritidis recovery. The second experiment compared the efficacy of oral administration of the live probiotic culture, with or without supernatant removed, to inactivated cultures or supernatant alone. Live probiotic organisms, with or without supernatant, significantly reduced Salmonella Enteritidis in this experiment, but inactivated or cell-free treatments did not reduce Salmonella Enteritidis. In the final 2 experiments, differing doses of probiotic culture were administered on the vent lips, where the treatment was taken into the lower gastrointestinal tract via cloacal drinking. Concentrations of probiotic culture from 10² to 10⁷ cfu/chick significantly reduced Salmonella Enteritidis, and there was no difference in Salmonella Enteritidis recovery between treatment concentrations. These data suggest that this Lactobacillus-based probiotic culture may be efficacious for reduction of Salmonella Enteritidis in neonatal chicks.

Key Words: probiotic • Salmonella • Lactobacillus • cloacal drinking • chick