Investigating Salmonella Serotypes Colonizing Laying Hen Housing Across Southern Greece: Implications to Public Health

Abstract

In this research of Salmonella serotypes colonizing laying hen houses in Southern Greece, the facilities of 92 flocks were investigated by examination of feces and dust Collected samples, 414 and 178 fecal and dust samples, respectively were cultured according to ISO 6579. The findings indicated that 64.1% of farm houses were found infected with one or more Salmonella serotypes. Of the samples examined, 36.5 and 51.1% fecal and dust samples respectively were found positive. Twenty different Salmonella serotypes were identified, amongst, which most prevalent were serotypes Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella cerro. The proportion of facilities colonized indicated that salmonellosis of laying hens should be expected to be rather high in. this area of Greece. Thus, mandating a wide and in. depth investigation of food products' contamination and its relation to human recorded infections in Greece.