Efficacy of a Salmonella live vaccine for turkeys in different age groups and antibody response of vaccinated and non-vaccinated turkeys

Objective Human Salmonellosis continues to be one of the most important foodborne zoonoses worldwide, although a decrease in case numbers has been noted in recent years. It is a foodborne zoonotic infection most commonly associated with the consumption of raw egg products but also with meat consumption including the consumption of poultry products. Turkey flocks in Europe have been reported to be affected by Salmonella infection, too. The present study examines the efficacy of a newly licensed Salmonella life vaccine in reducing infections with the Salmonella serovars Typhimurium and Enteritidis in turkeys. Turkeys were vaccinated the first day of life and at the age of 6 and 16 weeks. Groups of birds which had received different numbers of vaccinations were then submitted to challenge trials with either SE or ST.