Abstract
Aim:The aim of this study was to provide information on the prevalence of Salmonella serotypes and to identify risk factors for Salmonella spp. contamination in broiler chicken farms and slaughterhouses in the northeast of Algeria.Materials and Methods:This study was conducted on 32 poultry farms and five slaughterhouses in the province of Skikda (northeastern Algeria). A questionnaire was answered by the poultry farmers and slaughterhouses’ managers. Biological samples (cloacal swabs, droppings, caeca, livers, and neck skins) and environmental ones (water, feed, surface wipes, rinsing water, and sticking knife swabbing) were taken to assess the Salmonella contamination status.Results:Nearly 34.37% of the poultry farms and all the slaughterhouses were contaminated with Salmonella. The isolated Salmonella strains belonged to two major serotypes: Kentucky and Heidelberg followed by Enteritidis, Virginia, and Newport. There was an evident heterogeneous distribution of serotypes in poultry farms and slaughterhouses. Only one factor (earth floor) was significantly associated with Salmonella contamination in poultry houses (p<0.05).Conclusion:A high prevalence rate of Salmonella contamination was found in poultry farms and slaughterhouses in Skikda region. These results showed the foremost hazardous role of poultry production in the spread and persistence of Salmonella contamination in the studied region.
Highlights
Salmonella spp. is important foodborne pathogens distributed worldwide that frequently infect poultry flocks
The isolated Salmonella strains belonged to two major serotypes: Kentucky and Heidelberg followed by Enteritidis, Virginia, and Newport
A high prevalence rate of Salmonella contamination was found in poultry farms and slaughterhouses in Skikda region
Summary
Salmonella spp. is important foodborne pathogens distributed worldwide that frequently infect poultry flocks. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated several routes through which Salmonella spp. can be disseminated within poultry flocks [1]. Wild birds, and personnel can transmit Salmonella spp. to broiler chicken throughout the rearing period. If contamination of meat is possible at all levels of the production chain, the rearing periods represent the main critical steps for the Copyright: Djeffal, et al Open Access. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/ publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated
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