Contamination of Salmonella blockley in the environment of a poultry farm

Cecal and environmental samples were collected and examined for the presenc e of Salmonella on a farm where a high prevalence of Salmonella blockley in chickens was observed. Of 895 cecal and 525 environmental samples examined , 242 (27.0%) and 202 (38.5%) samples, respectively, yielded S. blockley Fr om the analysis of plasmid profile patterns, 11 different plasmid profile p atterns were found among 444 isolates, with plasmid patterns c and d the mo st frequent among the isolates from ceca and the environment. Salmonella bl ockley was isolated From environmental samples such as floor litter, walls, drinking water, waste water, dust, and soil collected when barns were occu pied and was positive in drinking water, waste water, and soil when samples were collected from empty barns with occupied neighboring barns, but it wa s negative in all environmental samples with the exception of soil when the environmental samples were collected from empty barns with empty neighbori ng barns.