Salmonella infections

Salmonella infections in poultry flocks can cause acute and chronic clinical diseases but have received greater international attention because of their role in foodborne outbreaks of human illness. This chapter offers detailed coverage of the history, etiology, pathobiology, epizootiology, diagnosis, and intervention strategies of Salmonella infections. As a consequence of both public health and flock health concerns, Salmonella infections cause economically significant losses for poultry producers in many nations and absorb large investments of government and private resources for testing and control efforts. The chapter focuses on these food-transmissible “paratyphoid” salmonellae. Clinical signs and gross lesions associated with Salmonella are not completely distinctive from other bacterial infections, so diagnosis generally requires the isolation or identification of causative organisms. Effective strategies for controlling these zoonotic pathogens require the sustained implementation of comprehensive risk reduction practices throughout the production continuum.