COMPARISON OF THE SALMONELLA-TEK ELISA TO CULTURE METHODS FOR DETECTION OF SALMONELLA-ENTERITIDIS IN LITTER AND CLOACAL SWABS OF POULTRY

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using the Salmonella-Tek ELISA test system, was compared with bacteriological isolation for de tection of Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 in litter and cloacal s wabs of poultry. Before ELISA, samples were enriched in tetrarhionate broth for 18-24 h or in tetrathionate broth (18-24 h), followed by M-b roth/novobiocine (4-6 h). The bacteriological isolation procedure incl uded incubation in buffered peptone water and inoculation on modified semisolid Rappaport-Vassiliadis. For detection of S. enteritidis in li tter samples, ELISA was more sensitive than bacteriological examinatio n. For cloacal swabs, both techniques were equally sensitive. The two enrichment procedures gave no significant differences in ELISA results . It was concluded that the Salmonella-Tek ELISA rest might be a promi sing test for detection of Salmonella infected poultry flocks, providi ng that further studies are performed to determine the cut-off value f or litter and cloacal swabs of commercial flocks.