The Styrian Salmonella prevention programme in poultry - 1st report: measures taken in parent flocks and hatcheries

The Salmonella prevention programme of the Styrian poultry health service t akes measures at all stages of the poultry production chain. At the stage o f breeding and reproduction, it is based on extensive Salmonella monitoring in parent flocks and hatcheries through regular bacteriological examinatio ns of drag- and wipe swabsamples and serological control of imported hatche ry eggs. During the period under investigation (January 1995 June 1998) the number o f Salmonella-positive flocks decreased from 16 in 1995 to 4 in 1997 and 2 i n the first half of 1998. Since vaccination for S. enteritidis became oblig atory for all parent flocks in 1997, this pathogen has not been detected in any of the flocks monitored. The number of other Salmonella isolates was a lso reduced considerably. In the hatcheries the percentage of positive Salm onella tests decreased from 9.9 % in 1995 to 6.5 % in 1997. About one third of 91 consignments of imported hatchery eggs contained antibodies against S. enteritidis. The decrease in Salmonella-positive cases detected in paren t flocks and hatcheries can be attributed to the hygiene, the vaccination p rogramme, and regular inspections.