An Approach to Identifying and Maintaining Salmonella-Free Chickens

A method of determining the salmonella status of chicken flocks, based on periodic culturing of litter samples, is described. Detection of infection by this indirect method has several inherent disadvantages, but in total appears superior to the more direct methods available for detecting flock infection. Eliminating salmonellae from contaminated buildings and from infected stock in successive generations appears to be the most challenging part of a control effort. Progress can be expected to be closely related to the characteristics of individual management systems.