ABSTRACT The control of Salmonella in the poultry production chain combined with biosecurity measures is an important tool to maintain and guarantee the sanitary status of Brazilian flocks. The aim of this work was to compare official laboratory data on molecular typification of Salmonella isolates from poultry breeding flocks in different Brazilian states between 2016 and 2018 and identify the production category with the most positive flocks, in light of current legislation. Surveillance data of positive samples from the official Brazilian Salmonella Control Programme sent to Federal Agricultural Defence Laboratory of São Paulo (LFDA-SP) after molecular characterization were analysed. These data were subject to an exploratory study, undergoing a descriptive statistical analysis followed by the use of frequency and non-parametric hypothesis tests. Overall, 49 serovars were detected in poultry broiler-breeder and layer-breeder flocks. Salmonella ser. Heidelberg, Salmonella ser. Anatum, Salmonella ser. Newport, Salmonella ser. Schwarzengrund and Salmonella ser. Mbandaka were the five most common isolated serovars. The data shows that there is an opportunity to improve biosecurity measures in parent breeder flocks. A total of 16 serovars were identified in turkey-breeders. Salmonella ser. Anatum, Salmonella ser. Newport, Salmonella ser. Brandenburg, Salmonella ser. Litchfield, and Salmonella ser. Livingstone were the most common ones. The four official controlled serovars represented a small part of the isolated strains. These data demonstrate the importance of an official program in Brazil for Salmonella surveillance in breeder flocks combined with biosecurity measures.

Bactérias do gênero Salmonella fazem parte da flora normal das aves e sua ocorrência em produtos avícolas varia com o manejo na criação e tecnologia de abate, representando riscos para o consumidor final e dificuldades nas exportações. A S. Heidelberg parece ser mais invasiva e causar doenças com maior gravidade que outros sorovares paratíficos. Este trabalho teve por objetivos pesquisar Salmonella em diferentes pontos da tecnologia de abate de frangos e relatar o isolamento de S. Heidelberg em um abatedouro sob inspeção federal. S. Heidelberg foi isolada em frangos logo após a depenagem e na água do chiller indicando que, embora não tenha sido realizado o isolamento em outros pontos amostrados, a bactéria estava presente no ambiente e poderia contaminar carcaças prontas para consumo, com reflexos na saúde pública. O isolamento de S. Heidelberg reforça esta preocupação uma vez que este sorovar tem se destacado como causador de doenças transmitidas por alimentos.

Bacteria of the genus Salmonella are part of the normal flora of poultry, and its occurrence in poultry products varies with the production management methods and slaughter technology, representing risks to the consumer and difficulties in exports. S. Heidelberg appears to be more invasive and to cause more severe disease than other non-typhoidal serovars. The objective of the present study was to search for Salmonella at different points of the slaughterhouse and to report on the isolation of S. Heidelberg in a slaughterhouse under federal inspection. S. Heidelberg was isolated in poultry soon after feathering-out and in the chiller water, indicating that, although it was not isolated at another sampled points, the bacteria was present in the environment and could contaminate carcasses ready for consumption, with an impact on public health. This concern is underscored by the fact that S. Heidelberg is a proven causative agent of foodborne infections.

Salmonellosis is an important disease with economic impact as it may affect animal performance and may result in foodborne disease in humans through the eggs and carcass contamination. Regarding the Salmonella control, it is possible to decrease its fecal excretion and the contamination of chicken carcasses by adding organic acids to the feed or drinking water at appropriate times. The aim of this study was to test a blend of organic acids and essential oils in broilers challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis (SE), and to verify the fecal excretion of Salmonella. Sixty broilers were placed in four groups. One group was the negative control. Another group was orally inoculated at 1 day-old with 10(5) CFU/mL of SE as a positive SE control. Two groups (T3 and T4) were orally inoculated at 1 day-old with 10(5) CFU/mL of SE and their feed was separately treated with 0.5 and 1% of organic acids and essential oils, respectively. To assess the fecal excretion of SE, cloacal swabs were collected from all birds at 2, 6, 13 and 20 days after inoculation. The T3 and T4 groups showed a reduction in fecal excretion of SE at 6 and 20 days after inoculation.

The threat to public health represented by Salmonella is at least partially a consequence of its ecology in poultry hosts. Good manufacturing practices in the processing plant can reduce the contamination of poultry products, and critical control point principles are essential throughout the chain production. One procedure adopted in critical points control to prevent and to reduce Salmonella in farms and poultry products is the use of disinfectants. This study aimed at evaluating disinfectant efficiency against Salmonella enteritidis samples isolated from broiler carcasses in Rio Grande do Sul State between 1995 and 1996. The tested disinfectants were: phenol 1:256, quaternary ammonium 1:2500, glutaraldehyde 1:200, and iodine 1:500, with contact times of 5, 10, 15, and 20 in an in vitro test. .Phenolic compounds showed better results, iodine and glutaraldehyde showed intermediary results, and quaternary ammonium presented efficiency at all contact times evaluated in the in vitro test.

Campylobacter was investigated in cecal droppings, feces, and cloacal swabs of 22 flocks of 3 to 5 week-old broilers. Risk factors and the likelihood of the presence of this agent in these flocks were determined. Management practices, such as cleaning and disinfection, feeding, drinkers, and litter treatments, were assessed. Results were evaluated using Odds Ratio (OR) test, and their significance was tested by Fisher's test (p<0.05). A Campylobacter prevalence of 81.8% was found in the broiler flocks (18/22), and within positive flocks, it varied between 85 and 100%. Campylobacter incidence among sample types was homogenous, being 81.8% in cecal droppings, 80.9% in feces, and 80.4% in cloacal swabs (230). Flocks fed by automatic feeding systems presented higher incidence of Campylobacter as compared to those fed by tube feeders. Litter was reused in 63.6% of the farm, and, despite the lack of statistical significance, there was higher likelihood of Campylobacter incidence when litter was reused. Foot bath was not used in 45.5% of the flocks, whereas the use of foot bath associated to deficient lime management increased the number of positive flocks, although with no statiscal significance. The evaluated parameters were not significantly associated with Campylobacter colonization in the assessed broiler flocks.