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. 2011 Jan;42(1):266-73.
doi: 10.1590/S1517-83822011000100034.

Behavior of salmonella heidelberg and salmonella enteritidis strains following broiler chick inoculation: evaluation of cecal morphometry, liver and cecum bacterial counts and fecal excretion patterns

Anderlise Borsoi  1 , Luciana Ruschel do Santos, Laura Beatriz Rodrigues, Hamilton Luiz de Souza Moraes, Carlos Tadeu Pippi Salle, Vladimir Pinheiro do Nascimento
Affiliations

Behavior of salmonella heidelberg and salmonella enteritidis strains following broiler chick inoculation: evaluation of cecal morphometry, liver and cecum bacterial counts and fecal excretion patterns

Anderlise Borsoi et al. Braz J Microbiol. 2011 Jan.

Abstract

Over the years, Salmonella Heidelberg (SH) has gained prominence in North America poultry production and in the poultry production of other countries. Salmonella Heidelberg has been isolated and reported from poultry and poultry products in Brazil since 1962, whereas Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) has only emerged as a serious problem in poultry and public health since 1993. These strains of Salmonella can cause intestinal problems in newly hatched chicks, and infection may persist until adulthood. Upon slaughter of chickens, Salmonella can contaminate carcasses, a condition that poses a threat to human health. The aim of this study was to compare the fecal excretion of Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Heidelberg in newly hatched chicks (orally inoculated with 10(5)ufc/mL each) until 20 days of age. In addition, the ratio of cecal villus height:crypt depth (morphometry) and liver and cecum cell counts was analyzed in chicks ranging from 0 to 3 days of age and infected with these two Salmonella strains. One hundred seventeen chicks were separated into one of three experimental groups: a control group, an SE-infected group and an SH-infected group. Eight chicks per group were euthanized at 6, 12 and 72 hours post-inoculation (pi) to allow for Salmonella isolation from the liver and cecum and for the collection of the cecum for villi and crypt analysis. Other birds were allowed to mature to 20 days of age and cloacal swabs were taken at 2, 6, 13 and 20 days pi to compare the fecal excretion of inoculated strains. The Salmonella Enteritidis group had a higher number of cells excreted during the trial. Both strains were isolated from the liver and cecum by 6h pi. At 12h pi the Salmonella Heidelberg group had high cell counts in the cecum. No difference was found in liver cell counts. Both strains showed lower villus height:crypt depth ratio than the control group post-infection.

Keywords: Broiler; Fecal Excretion; Salmonella Enteritidis; Salmonella Heidelberg; villus: crypt ratio.

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Figures

Figure 4.
Figure 4.
SalmonellaEnteritidis and SalmonellaHeidelberg fecal excretion from 2 to 20 days post-inoculation. T1: saline inoculation, T2: Salmonella Heidelberg and T3: Salmonella Enteritidis ATCC.
Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Electron microphotograph of the cecum of chicks from the Control group, 3 days post-inoculation with a saline solution (X100). In the circles, the apical region of some villi with injured areas.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Electron microphotograph of the cecum of a chick at 3 days post-inoculation with 105 CFU/mL of S. Heidelberg (X100). Villi have an aspect of edema and surfaces with rough aspect or mucosal erosion. Space between the villi shows structures similar to bacilli and cellular debris.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Electron microphotograph of the cecum of chicks at 3 days post-inoculation with 105 CFU/mL of S. Heidelberg (X350). Attached bacteria (arrows) in epithelial cells and between the villi can be detected. Structures similar to bacilli and compatible with cellular debris or groats of bacteria present.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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