LINE DIFFERENCES IN RESISTANCE TO SALMONELLA-ENTERITIDIS PT4 INFECTION

1. Four groups of hens, each of a different line, were inoculated at p eak of lay, per os in the crop with 1 mi of a suspension containing 10 (9) cfu/ml Salmonella enteritidis PT4 (SE). The kinetics of SE contami nation in the environment, egg shell and yolk were studied during the first 28 d post inoculation. On the day of slaughter, intestines, caec a, spleen, liver, ovary, oviduct and content were investigated for SE contamination. 2. The commercial egg-type line L2 was found to be the most susceptible to SE. It laid many SE-positive yolks (13.8%) and int ernal and faecal organs were frequently infected. 3. Certain lines are found to exhibit a degree of resistance to SE; the cause of which is unknown and might be attributed to major genes.