Evaluation of avian-specific probiotic and Salmonella Enteritidis-, Salmonella Typhimurium-, and Salmonella Heidelberg-specific antibodies on cecal colonization and organ invasion of Salmonella Enteritidis in broilers

Salmonella Enteritidis colonizes the intestinal tract of poultry and causes foodborne illness in humans. Reduction of Salmonella Enteritidis colonizat ion in the intestinal tract of poultry reduces potential carcass contaminat ion during slaughter. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an avian-specific probiotic combined with Salmonella Enteritidis-, Salm onella Typhimurium-, and Salmonella Heidelberg-specific antibodies on the c ecal colonization and organ invasion of Salmonella Enteritidis in broiler a s well as on body weights. The treatment group was defined as chicks spray- vaccinated with Avian Pac Plus at the hatchery and given Avian Pac Plus for the first 3 days after placement. An intermediate treatment was given at 1 0 and 14 days, 2 days prior to vaccination and 2 days postvaccination. All birds were vaccinated with Newcastle disease vaccine, La Sota virus (one dr op/eye) at 12 days of age. A final treatment was given 3 days preslaughter. The control group was defined as chicks not given Avian Pac Plus at any ti me. Six hours after oral administration of the probiotic suspension (treatm ent group) or water (control group) at placement, the chicks were challenge d with Salmonella Enteritidis. All chickens were orally inoculated with 0.2 5 ml of Salmonella Enteritidis that contained 4 x 10(7) CFU/1.0 mi. Cecal c olonization and organ invasion were evaluated for Salmonella Enteritidis on days 0, 1, 3, 7, 10, 17, 24, 31, 38, and 41. The probiotic-treated group h ad a significantly lower concentration of Salmonella Enteritidis cecal colo nization at days 3, 7, 10, 17, 24, 31, 38, and 41 when compared to the nont reated, control group (P < 0.05). Similarly, there was a significant differ ence (P < 0.05) in the isolation of Salmonella Enteritidis from the interna l organs (liver and spleen) when probiotic-treated and nonprobiotic-treated groups were compared. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in th e mean body weight between the two experimental groups at each collection p eriod. These results indicated that a combination of Lactobacillus acidophi lus, Streptococcus faecium, and Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Typhimur ium, and Salmonella Heidelberg-Specific antibodies have a beneficial effect in reducing the colonization of Salmonella Enteritidis in market-aged broi lers.