Effects of rearing conditions on the colonization of Salmonella enteritidis in the cecum of chicks

Salmonella enteritidis is the cause of human salmonellosis associated with contaminated eggs. In this study, we artificially challenged S. enteritidis to chicks just after hatching, and the effects of breeding conditions on t he: intestinal carriage of S. enteritidis were examined. S. enteritidis was not directly detected from spleen, liver and blood, but were constantly is olated from the cecal contents throughout the experiment. When chicks were reared in the unsanitary conditions and in the high housing density, the nu mbers of S. enteritidis increased. The subsequent experiment was undertaken to examine whether the antibacterial additive in a feed would have any imp act on S. enteritidis colonization in chicks. Some antibiotic effective on the growth promotion had an influence on S. enteritidis colonization.