Aspectos fundamentais para prevenção e

controle de Salmonella em granjas avícolas

Angelo Berchieri Junior
FCAV-Unesp
berchier@fcav.unesp.br

Medellin, Setembro - 2013

Since the detection of fowl typhoid in the end of 19th century, the
control of avian salmonellosis was necessary to the development of
the poultry industry.
Artificial incubation was possible only after the understanding and
elimination of Salmonella Pullorum from breeder flocks in the
twenties of the last century.
Later, emerged other “concerns”, related to avian paratyphoid
infections. Although paratyphoid Salmonella serotypes not always
cause clinical disease, they may be the agent of human foodborne
salmonellosis.

Therefore, attention to all of them needs to be paid at the industrial

poultry production.
The main sources of infection are: vertical transmission (VT), feed
and feed ingredients.
VT: Salmonella spp. reach the birds when they are very susceptible
120

% birds excreting in faeces

100
80
one day old
60
6 weeks old
40
20
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

weeks

Feed ingredients of animal origin and vegetal origin

Vegetal origin – contaminated by feces of rodents, wild animals, wild
birds, even before reaching the farm
Favorable factors
Rodents, wild animals and wild birds (Probably they are not the
primary source. But once infected they keep Salmonella spp.
on the farm)
Human being
Transport vehicles – birds, litter, feces.
Transport boxes – take birds to abattoir and return contaminated
Re-used litter
Measures taken to prevent the infection of the birds

Cleaning and disinfection programs at farms (breeder and

commercial), abattoir and hatchery, including sewage areas
Treatment or control programs of feed and feed ingredients.
Monitoring programs - farms, hatchery, abattoir, feed mill, rodents,
flies, water
Monitoring – bacteriology and serology
Wild animals and rodents – keep them far away from the poultry
houses impeding them to get access to feed and feed ingredients and
water. Avoid spilled feed outside of the poultry house (under feed
silo), and leak water
Beetles and flies – keep dry litter and feces.
The measures adopted against avian Salmonella infection are the same
recommended in the middle of the last century and were well
described in several text books many years ago (Diseases of Poultry,
Hofstad et al, 1978; Tratado de doenças das Aves, Reis & Nóbrega,
1956).

So, why are we keep talking about it?

Why the measures taken are not totally effective?

Poultry industry has been growing a lot every year since 1970s.
Birds are quite homogeneous concerning to body performance,
but not to resistance to pathogenic microorganisms. Also, birds spend
most of their energy to growth, leaving little energy to their own self
defense.
Broiler chickens practically double in weight daily. And they are still
very young at the time of slaughter.
Layers lay eggs each 25hs.
Poultry houses are overcrowded.

It is hard to clean and disinfect poultry places.

Production of large amount of feces/litter

The treatment of the feces and the litter can be properly done?
Composting is effective?
Monitoring programs are effective?
Are the measures taken appropriate if Salmonella spp. is found?
Serology can detect infected birds?
Can bacteriological inspection detect SP, SG and Paratyphoid
serotypes, regarding to practical and economical aspects?
X

X
We know what to do.

Effective monitoring program (serotype identification)

Effective control/prevention program

Effective actions (practical and economical aspects)

Avoid introduction of Salmonella on the farm (specially by VT).

Investing on training human resources*

OBRIGADO PELA ATENÇÃO