EVALUATION OF A RAPID CULTURAL METHOD FOR IDENTIFICATION OF SALMONELLAS IN NATURALLY CONTAMINATED VETERINARY SAMPLES

Three thousand and forty-two samples of post-mortem tissues, environme ntal swabs, animal feed ingredients and eggs were examined by conventi onal methods and by a simple rapid culture method. The rapid method ga ve reliable presumptive identification of salmonella contamination wit hin 48 h of the start of culture. The rapid method also showed enhance d sensitivity for detection of salmonellas, in most types of sample, p articularly those taken in poultry houses and hatcheries where high le vels of competitive faecal bacteria are present.