R. E. Breitmeyer

Salmonella enteritidis, phage type 4 infection in a commercial layer flock in southern California: bacteriologic and epidemiologic findings.

Salmonella enteritidis, phage type 4 (SE PT4), was isolated from five of six 27-wk-old layer chickens submitted for necropsy from a flock of 43,000. Bacteriologic and epidemiologic investigations on the ranch revealed that five of the eight flocks (n = 176,000) were infected. The prevalence of SE PT4 in randomly selected healthy birds ranged from 1.7% (in caged birds) to 50% (in free-range birds) and prevalence in culled birds (kept on dirt floor houses) ranged from 14% to 42%. The estimated overall prevalence of group D Salmonella in eggs contaminated with group D Salmonella was 2.28 per 10,000. The estimated prevalence of group D Salmonella in eggs from caged birds in three infected houses ranged from 1.5 to 4.1 per 10,000, whereas in two houses of free-range birds, prevalence was 14.9 to 19.1 per 10,000. Three of the eight flocks on the ranch remained negative for Salmonella between May 1994 and December 1995 or until removed from the ranch. Salmonella enteritidis PT4 was also isolated from 12.5% (6 of 48) of mice; 57% (four of seven) of cats; and two of two skunks tested. Environmental drag swabs and well water samples yielded multiple serotypes of Salmonella (23/180 and 5/14, respectively) but not S. enteritidis.

Longitudinal Monitoring of Two Commercial Layer Flocks and Their Environments for Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis and Other Salmonellae

Abstract Between August 20, 2001, and September 17, 2002, 1429 samples including drag swabs, egg belt or egg rollout swabs, fan-blade swabs, rodent organ and intestinal pools, beetle (Alphitobius diaperinus) pools, housefly (Musca domestica) pools, chicken organ and intestinal pools, and egg pools were obtained for Salmonella culture from two flocks from two different commercial layer ranches. The two ranches were purposefully selected for the study based on their previous status of Salmonella Enteritidis isolation using environmental drag swabs in cooperation with practicing veterinarians. Salmonella sp. was isolated from 337 out of 979 (34.42%) non-egg samples. No Salmonella was isolated from 450 egg pools collected from either ranch. S. enteritidis was isolated from samples obtained from ranch 1 from manure drag swabs, 4/284 (1.4%); rodent organs, 1/24 (4.2%); and housefly pool cultures 1/21 (4.8%). Salmonella Enteritidis was isolated from ranch 2 from mouse organ and intestinal pool samples, 1/24 (4.2%). Salmonella group B was isolated from all sample types except the insects. There was a statistically significant difference in isolation rates among seven serogroups of Salmonella: groups B, C1, C2, D, E, K, and untypeable (Pearson chi-square 18.96, P = 0.002). Overall, statistically significant differences were observed with respect to Salmonella isolation among the types of samples taken (Pearson chi-square 118.54, P < 0.0001). Intensive monitoring for Salmonella Enteritidis can be used to optimize a Salmonella reduction program for an individual poultry biosecurity unit.

SEWAGE EFFLUENT : LIKELY SOURCE OF SALMONELLA ENTERITIDIS, PHAGE TYPE 4 INFECTION IN A COMMERCIAL CHICKEN LAYER FLOCK IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Following the diagnosis of Salmonella enteritidis, phage type 4, infection in a commercial layer flock in southern California, effluent from a nearby sewer treatment plant was investigated as a potential source of infection. Between July 1994 and March 1995, 68 Salmonella isolations, comprising 27 serotypes, were made from the inflow (raw sewage) and effluent (treated sewage). Thirty-nine of 68 (57%) isolations yielded six serotypes, which consisted of S. enteritidis 12% (8/68), S. cerro 10% (7/68), S. typhimurium 7.4% (5/68), S. tennessee 7.4% (5/68), S. give 7.4% (5/68), S. mbandaka 7.4% (5/68), and S. panama 6% (4/68). The remaining 43% (29/68) isolations were represented by 21 serotypes. Seventeen S. enteritidis isolates originating from the effluent (creek water), resident feral animals (rodents, stray cats, skunks), and chickens (organs, eggs) of the affected flock were subjected to plasmid profile and restriction endonuclease analysis. Twelve of the 17 isolates had identical plasmid profile and restriction digestion patterns. Two of 17 isolates showed similar patterns but both differed from the rest; and 1 of 17 did not yield plasmids. Two other isolates were found to be different from each other and from the rest of the group.

A Survey for Salmonella by Drag Swabbing Manure Piles in California Egg Ranches

A cross-sectional study was conducted between August 1995 and November 1996. Sixty California egg-producing ranches were chosen at random; 39 ranches agreed to participate in the study. The surface of the manure pile in one house on each ranch was sampled by drag swabbing. The drag swabs were tested for Salmonella using a most probable number procedure that had a detection level of one to five Salmonella per drag swab. In 12 ranches (32.4%), the drag swabs were negative for Salmonella; the remaining had Salmonella counts in the range of 1 to over 1700 per swab. Twenty-two different serotypes were found. Salmonella heidelberg and Salmonella cerro represented the majority of the typed isolates. Salmonella enteritidis (SE) was found on only one ranch. This study found SE to be rare in California egg ranches, which implies that these ranches are not a major source of S. enteritidis.

Pathologic and bacteriologic findings in 27-week-old commercial laying hens experimentally infected with Salmonella enteritidis, phage type 4.

Two strains of 27-wk-old commercial laying chickens (strain A, brown-egg-laying type and strain B, white-egg-laying type) were inoculated either orally (PO) or intravenously (IV) with a field isolate of Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4. Chickens were sequentially necropsied at regular intervals throughout the 17-wk observation period. Gross and microscopic lesions were most evident between 1 and 14 days postinoculation (DPI). Gross lesions consisted of enlarged livers with white foci, enlarged and mottled white spleens, fibrinous exudate in the peritoneum, and atretic, misshapen ovarian follicles. Microscopic lesions included multifocal coagulative necrosis of hepatocytes and inflammation, fibrinous exudation in vascular sinuses of the spleen, and fibrinosuppurative inflammation of the peritoneum and ovarian follicles. The proportion of reproductive organ infections (ovary and oviduct) in the IV group, 83% (20/24, P = 0.007; 50% and 33% for strains A and strain B birds, respectively), was higher than that of the PO group, 46% (11/24; 29% and 17% for strains A and B, respectively), for the first 16 days of observation postinoculation. The proportion of fecal shedding for the IV group of birds was significantly (P = 0.009) lower, 29% (7/24; 33% and 25% respectively for strain A and strain B birds, respectively), than the PO group, 67% (16/24; 75% and 58% for strain A and strain B birds, respectively). Three (2.6%) of 234 egg pools were culture-positive for group D Salmonella from strain A chickens (1 of 119 pools from the IV group and 2 of 115 pools from the PO group of birds). Chickens infected with the field strain of S. enteritidis phage type 4 harbored the organism in tissues only for a brief time, most clearing within 8 DPI and nearly all within 16 DPI. Overall the percentage of culture-positive birds did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between birds with and without lesions, but isolation of S. enteritidis tended to be more frequent when lesions were evident. This experiment also demonstrated that brown-egg-laying-type chickens were more susceptible than white-egg-laying-type chickens to S. enteritidis phage type 4 isolated from California based on gross and microscopic lesions and bacteriologic findings.

Prevalence of Salmonella in Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant Effluents in Southern California

Effluents from 12 sewage treatment plants in southern California were examined for Salmonella using a Moore swab technique. Eight of the 12 plants were positive for Salmonella when sampled at the chlorination/dechlorination site (inside the plant). Effluents from 11 of 12 sewage treatment plants were positive for Salmonella when samples were analyzed downstream of the chlorination/dechlorination site, before effluents merge with the receiving stream (outside the plant). Two of the three control sites, an urban runoff, a raw potable water reservoir, and two other sites were also positive for Salmonella. A total of 683 Salmonella isolations were represented by 11 serogroups and 54 serotypes from 26 of 32 sampling sites. Effluents from three treatment plants and one control site (raw potable water resevior) yielded Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4, in addition to other serotypes.

Descriptive Study of California Egg Layer Premises and Analysis of Risk Factors for Salmonella enterica serotype enteritidis as Characterized by Manure Drag Swabs

Abstract This cross-sectional, double-blind study reports the prevalence of Salmonella enterica serotype enteritidis (SE) on California egg layer premises using single vs. pooled manure drag swabs and presents a description of egg production and management systems in the state and an initial analysis of risk factors for SE. The study included 91% of all known eligible egg premises in California, representing the majority of eggs produced in the state. The overall prevalence of SE on California egg layer premises was 10.5%, while 1.1% of all rows sampled were positive for SE. The percentage of positive rows for SE on any premises never exceeded 25% of the 16 swabs collected per premises. A description of egg production and management on California egg layer premises is presented. Statistically significant associations for SE were not evident and were limited because of sample size and the low prevalence of SE on California egg layer premises. Several biological and management factors, such as flock health, stage of production, manure management, ventilation, and watering systems, show trend associations with premises positive for SE and require further investigation. Manure drag swabs serve as a useful tool to validate the core components of an egg quality assurance program for SE based on process control principles.

The Occurrence and Distribution of Salmonella enteritidis and Other Serovars on California Egg Laying Premises: A Comparison of Two Sampling Methods and Two Culturing Techniques

Abstract Between the summer of 1998 and the winter of 2000, Salmonella analysis was performed on 2128 single and 532 pooled manure drag swabs obtained from 133 California commercial egg laying farms. The isolation of Salmonella from all rows and from all flocks using single or pooled swabs was 80% and 92%, respectively. Hence, there was no statistical difference between single vs. pooled swabs in terms of identifying Salmonella on a row or flock basis. A total of 14 serogroups comprising 44 serotypes were isolated from 123 of 133 farms. When the top 10 serotypes were considered, there was no significant difference in the range of serotypes isolated by the two culturing methods. The overall S. enteritidis prevalence for California flocks was 10.5% (14/133). The overall row prevalence for S. enteritidis for all the farms was 1.1% (24/2128), and the overall pool prevalence was 2.4% (13/532). Sixty percent (12/20) of the S. enteritidis isolates from the positive farms were phage type 4, and 40% (8/20) represented five other phage types (1, 6B, 7, 8, and 28).

The Isolation of Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) Virus from Nonpoultry Avian Species Associated with the Epidemic of END in Chickens in Southern California: 2002-2003

Abstract During the first 11 months of the 2002–2003 exotic Newcastle disease (END) epidemic in chickens in southern California, a total of 27,688 cloacal and tracheal (oropharyngeal) swab pools and/or tissue pools from 86 different avian species other than chickens and turkeys were submitted for Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolation and characterization. Fifty-seven specimens (0.23%), representing 12 species of birds and 13 unspecified species, from a total of 24,409 accessions or submissions were positive for NDV. The NDV isolate was characterized as ENDV by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Of the 11,486 premises with other avian species, 1599 also had chickens. There were 1900 positive chicken samples from 164 premises, and 56 positive other avian species from 51 premises. Twelve premises had both positive chickens and positive other avian species. All positive other avian species were located on premises either on or within a 1 km radius of known infected premises. In this epidemic, premises with positive other avian species were significantly more likely to have chickens, and were significantly more likely to have positive chickens (OR = 3.7, P < 0.0001).