Poultry provide globally important sources of animal protein and are amongst the most intensively reared of all livestock species. Diseases of poultry are therefore of major concern, both locally and on an international scale. Poultry production have been brought to the edge, because of the large numbers of infectious diseases outbreaks; that strikes the poultry farms from time to time in the absence of good hygiene. It is also important to consider the concept of, and the need for, biosecurity or the range of management procedures designed to protect livestock from infection.
The low productivity in traditional systems is mainly due to high mortality, which is caused by mismanagement, diseases, lack of nutritional feeding and predators. In traditional systems the mortality has been estimated to be in the range of 80 - 90% within the first year after hatching, (Permin and Bisgaard, 1999). Diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of diseases are of major importance to any attempts at increasing productivity. Backyard poultry production systems (BPS) are an important and widespread form of poultry production. There is a common perception that biosecurity standards in BPS are generally poor and BPS are usually associated with poultry diseases and zoonoses, (Hamilton-West, et al, 2011)
The structure of the poultry meat and egg production industries provides both challenges and opportunities in the area of poultry health; one of these challenges is the existence of very high-density populations of commercial poultry. Such circumstances provide an ideal medium for multiplication and spread of all kinds of micro-organisms including pathogens, such as Salmonella spp that can strike all ages specially chicks and still considered one of the most important world wild food poisoning diseases, (Vugia, et al, 2006).
The importance of Salmonella bacterium has increased dramatically in recent years since it assumed a political role to complement its pathogenic one. Only a few serotypes out of some 3000 caused disease in poultry but most of Salmonella serotypes, given the right set of circumstances, can cause food poisoning such as Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis & Typhimurium which are the world leading cause of Salmonellosis and is often implicated in over 60.0% of human Salmonellosis, (Patrick, et al, 2004). [...]
Table of Contents
I. Epidemiological survey for the most frequent environmental pathogenic micro-organisms in the poultry farms
A. Epidemiological survey for the most frequent bacterial pathogens in the environment of broiler farms in Egypt
B. Epidemiological survey for Salmonella spp in broiler farms in Alabama State, USA
II. The influence of ambient environmental conditions (Temperature, Relative Humidity, air gases including ammonia and carbon dioxide) on broiler growth and performance
III. The survival of Salmonella typhimurium in poultry litter under the influence of different ambient environmental conditions
IV. Evaluation of the efficacy of some safe commercial chemical disinfectants in treating contaminated poultry litter
Research Objectives & Core Topics
This research aims to investigate the prevalence and survival of pathogenic microorganisms, particularly Salmonella serovars, within poultry farming environments and to assess how environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and atmospheric gases influence broiler growth, performance, and microbial persistence. Furthermore, the study evaluates the effectiveness of various safe commercial chemical disinfectants in decontaminating poultry litter.
- Epidemiological surveillance of environmental pathogens in commercial poultry farms.
- Assessment of the impact of climate and air quality (NH3, CO2) on broiler production metrics.
- Mechanisms of Salmonella typhimurium survival in diverse poultry litter conditions.
- Quantitative evaluation of disinfectant efficacy against Salmonella in contaminated litter.
- Analysis of management practices to mitigate foodborne pathogen risks in poultry.
Excerpt from the Book
Introduction
Poultry provide globally important sources of animal protein and are amongst the most intensively reared of all livestock species. Diseases of poultry are therefore of major concern, both locally and on an international scale. Poultry production have been brought to the edge, because of the large numbers of infectious diseases outbreaks; that strikes the poultry farms from time to time in the absence of good hygiene. It is also important to consider the concept of, and the need for, biosecurity or the range of management procedures designed to protect livestock from infection.
The low productivity in traditional systems is mainly due to high mortality, which is caused by mismanagement, diseases, lack of nutritional feeding and predators. In traditional systems the mortality has been estimated to be in the range of 80 - 90% within the first year after hatching, (Permin and Bisgaard, 1999). Diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of diseases are of major importance to any attempts at increasing productivity. Backyard poultry production systems (BPS) are an important and widespread form of poultry production. There is a common perception that biosecurity standards in BPS are generally poor and BPS are usually associated with poultry diseases and zoonoses, (Hamilton-West, et al, 2011)
The structure of the poultry meat and egg production industries provides both challenges and opportunities in the area of poultry health; one of these challenges is the existence of very high-density populations of commercial poultry. Such circumstances provide an ideal medium for multiplication and spread of all kinds of micro-organisms including pathogens, such as Salmonella spp that can strike all ages specially chicks and still considered one of the most important world wild food poisoning diseases, (Vugia, et al, 2006).
Summary of Chapters
I. Epidemiological survey for the most frequent environmental pathogenic micro-organisms in the poultry farms: This section provides a comprehensive review of existing literature regarding the prevalence of various bacterial pathogens in the poultry environment across different regions.
II. The influence of ambient environmental conditions (Temperature, Relative Humidity, air gases including ammonia and carbon dioxide) on broiler growth and performance: This chapter examines how environmental variables, including heat stress and air quality, affect the physiological health and growth performance of broiler chickens.
III. The survival of Salmonella typhimurium in poultry litter under the influence of different ambient environmental conditions: This part focuses on the persistence of Salmonella in poultry litter and how factors like moisture, pH, and temperature dictate its viability and potential for transmission.
IV. Evaluation of the efficacy of some safe commercial chemical disinfectants in treating contaminated poultry litter: This chapter details the experimental testing of several commercial disinfectants to determine their effectiveness in eliminating Salmonella from poultry litter, both with and without the presence of organic matter.
Keywords
Salmonella, Poultry, Broiler, Environment, Biosecurity, Pathogens, Salmonella typhimurium, Litter, Disinfection, Temperature, Relative Humidity, Ammonia, Carbon Dioxide, Epidemiology, Growth Performance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research primarily focuses on understanding the environmental factors that contribute to the persistence of pathogenic microorganisms like Salmonella in poultry farms and identifying effective management and disinfection strategies to improve poultry health and food safety.
Which pathogens are of the greatest concern in this study?
Salmonella serovars, particularly Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium, are identified as the most significant pathogens due to their high prevalence and their role in human foodborne illnesses.
What is the primary objective regarding poultry production?
The study aims to determine how environmental conditions—specifically temperature, relative humidity, and air quality—influence broiler growth rates, feed conversion ratios, and overall production efficiency.
How is the efficacy of disinfectants measured?
The study uses experimental laboratory trials, involving the inoculation of poultry litter with Salmonella typhimurium, to monitor the reduction in bacterial counts (CFU/gm) over time when treated with various commercial chemical disinfectants.
Does organic matter affect the efficacy of disinfectants?
Yes, the study demonstrates that the presence of organic matter in poultry litter acts as a physical barrier that can decrease the speed and effectiveness of several tested disinfectants.
What are the main environmental variables investigated?
The research investigates the impacts of ambient temperature, relative humidity, and the concentrations of ammonia and carbon dioxide within poultry houses on both bacterial survival and bird performance.
What were the findings regarding litter pH?
The research indicates that lower litter pH levels, often achieved through litter treatments, contribute to a significant decline in the survival of Salmonella, making it a critical factor in pathogen control.
What practical recommendations are offered for farmers?
The study recommends maintaining adequate ventilation to manage humidity and gas levels, implementing strict cleaning and disinfection protocols, and optimizing stocking densities to mitigate the impact of environmental stressors on bird performance.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Wael Elfeil (Autor:in), Essam Soliman (Autor:in), Mohammed Sobeih (Autor:in), 2011, Epidemiological Studies on Environmental Pollution in Poultry Farms, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/210229
