Phenotypic characterization of Salmonella serovars isolated in farm and backyard chicken samples

Poultry sector in India has undergone a paradigm shift in structure and operation from a mere backyard activity into a major commercial Agri-based industry over a period of four decades. The genus Salmonella represents the most common zoonotic pathogens isolated from food-producing animals including chicken that pose a serious concern to public health, animals and food industry worldwide. A total of 480 samples comprised of cloacal swabs and caecal contents were collected aseptically from commercial farms and backyard chicken flocks located in and around Jaipur region. The samples were pre enriched in Rappaport Vassiliadis, Fluid Selenite Cystine and Tetrathionate Brilliant Green broths and selective plating was done on Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate and Hektoen Enteric agar. The typical black centred colonies were selected for isolation and identification by using biochemical test kit of Salmonella identification.