Evaluation of sampling methods for the detection of Salmonella in broiler flocks

The present study compares four different sampling methods potentially appl icable to detection of Salmonella in broiler flocks, based on collection of faecal samples (i) by hand, 300 fresh faecal samples (ii) absorbed on five sheets of paper (iii) absorbed on five pairs of socks (elastic cotton tube s pulled over the boots and termed 'socks') and (iv) by using only one pair of socks. Twenty-three broiler flocks were included in the investigation a nd 18 of these were found to be positive by at least one method. Seven sero types of Salmonella with different patterns of transmission (mainly horizon tal or vertical) were found in the investigation. The results showed that t he sock method (five pairs of socks) had a sensitivity comparable with the hand collection method (60 pools of five faecal samples); the paper collect ion method was inferior, as was the use of only one pair of socks, Estimati on of the effective pool sizes for the different methods was also carried o ut.