Authors : A.M. Saad , D.M. Almujali , S.H. Babiker , M.A.M. Shuaib K.A. Abdelgadir and Y.A. Alfadul
Abstract: A total of 5028 samples comprising broiler chickens carcasses, cloacal swabs, poultry feed, drinking water and environmental swabs were collected and examined for detection of Salmonella. The samples were collected from retail stores and 26 poultry farms located in the central region of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Prevalence of Salmonellae in broiler chickens carcasses collected from local markets was 17.53 and 7.29% in broiler carcasses collected directly from poultry farms slaughterhouses. Chilled carcasses showed a contamination rate of 13.83% compared to 8.23% in frozen carcasses. Prevalence of Salmonellae in cloacal swabs from live broiler flocks was 4.87%, whereas cloacal swabs from parent flocks showed a prevalence of 2.19%. The percentage Salmonella positive swabs collected from slaughterhouses environment was 10%, swabs collected from hatcheries environment showed a contamination rate of 1.65%. A total of 267 Salmonella isolates were recovered from 5028 samples examined. Out of the 267 isolates 179 isolates were serotyped and were found to belong to 24 different Salmonella serovars. The most prevalent serovar was S.munchen (16.2%) followed by S. livingstone (15.64%), S. entertidis (14.52%), S. infantis (11.73%), S. emek (10.05%), S. virchow (8.93%) and S. java (7.26%). Other Salmonella serovars were detected in smaller percentages and seven new serovars were reported for the first time in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
A.M. Saad , D.M. Almujali , S.H. Babiker , M.A.M. Shuaib K.A. Abdelgadir and Y.A. Alfadul , 2007. Prevalence of Salmonellae in Broiler Chicken Carcasses and Poultry Farms in the Central Region, K.S.A.. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 164-167.