| Etiology, Clinical Findings, and Lesions: |
| Paratyphoid infections can be caused by any one of the many nonhost-adapted salmonellae. These Salmonella may infect many types of birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects. Paratyphoid infections are of public health significance via contamination and mishandling of poultry products.
Salmonella
typhimurium
,
S
enteritidis
, and
S
heidelberg
are among the most common salmonella infections in poultry, although infections may be produced by 10-20 different serotypes in the USA. Some species or strains are more pathogenic than others. The prevalence of other species varies widely by geographic location and season. |
| Transmission usually occurs horizontally from infected birds, contaminated environments, or infected rodents. With the exception of
S
enteritidis
, transmission of most serotypes to progeny from infected breeders is mainly through fecal contamination of the eggshell. Infected birds remain carriers. |
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| Clinical Findings and Lesions: |
| Although not common, clinical signs are sometimes seen in young birds. Mortality is most often limited to the first few weeks of age. Depression, poor growth, weakness, diarrhea, and dehydration are hallmarks of the disease, although these clinical signs are not distinctive. |
| Lesions may include an enlarged liver with focal necrosis, unabsorbed yolk sac, enteritis with necrotic lesions in the mucosa, and cecal cores. Infections occasionally localize in the eye or synovial tissues. Conversely, there may be no lesions due to acute death caused by septicemia. Isolation, identification, and serotyping of the causal agent are essential for diagnosis. Serology is not highly reliable. |
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| Treatment and Control: |
| General control measures for the paratyphoid
Salmonella
include strict sanitation in the hatchery, fumigation of hatching eggs, pelleting of feed to destroy salmonellae, cleaning and disinfection of poultry houses, rodent control, and use of competitive exclusion products. Several antibacterial agents help prevent mortality but cannot eliminate flock infection. Maintenance of poultry in confinement and exclusion of all pets, wild birds, and rodents help prevent introduction of infection. |
|
Salmonella
enteritidis
(a paratyphoid
Salmonella
serotype) is a major food safety concern, primarily for the egg-laying industry. Possible sources in commercial layers include transmission from breeders, contaminated environments, infected rodents, and contaminated feed. Transmission to progeny from breeders is mainly through eggshell contamination, although, unlike other paratyphoid
Salmonella
, transovarial transmission may also occur. The NPIP now includes
S
enteritidis
control measures in breeders, including depopulation of infected flocks, cleaning and disinfection of pullet and layer houses, extensive and improved rodent control programs, use of competitive exclusion products, vaccination, and proper handling and refrigeration of eggs. |
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