Comparison of Different Sample Types for Salmonella Detection From Chicken Layer Breeder Flocks

The object of this study was to detect Salmonella from different chicken samples in same flocks to compare sample types for Salmonella detection by both International Organization for Standardization Method 6579:2002/Amd 1:2007 (ISO) and as molecular by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Salmonellosis is a zoonotic infection and apart from this, infection can be transmitted via vertically to embryo, and this is very important for breeding flocks. A total of 115 samples, comprised of 451 individual samples each pooled into 3, 4, 5 and 6 including 14 drag swabs, 28 pooled wet faeces, 11 pooled embryonated chicken eggs, 62 pooled cloacal swabs, were collected from 14 chicken layer breeding flocks, and tested by culture method (ISO 6579) and conventional PCR. Overall Salmonella infection rate in chicken layer breeder flocks by PCR and culture was 18.2% (21/115). According to sample type, Salmonella rate in culture positive samples were: 0% (0/14) in drag swabs, 90.9% (10/11) in embryonated chicken eggs, 21.4% (6/28) in wet faeces, 8% (5/62) in cloacal swabs. PCR results were in 100% agreement (100% sensitivity and specificity) with culture results. We determined Salmonella rate in 14 chicken layer breeder flocks by using culture and PCR methods, and the use of embryonated chicken eggs and wet faeces samples, respectively in Salmonella detection would yield reliable results. These results indicate that Salmonella screening can be done together with different types of sample. And the most reliable and high results were taken from embryonated chicken egg samples for layer breeding poultry. As a conclusion, Salmonella infection seems to be the major problem in poultry flocks in Turkey, and both conventional culture method and PCR methods were found sensitive for the detection of Salmonella from poultry with different types of sample.