Prevalence of chicken host and nonhost adapted salmonella in retail outlet of Chennai, India

Abstract

In India, most of the consumers procure the chicken as a raw meat in small retail outlets (slaughter house). But, there is no stringent regulations are available to monitor hygienic status of retail chicken outlets. Hence, the present study was planned to assess the existence of Salmonella in retail market in Chennai. To carry out the study, 422 samples were collected and analyzed by conventional and molecular techniques, then grouped based on O9, O4 and A-G serological reaction. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeted on ‘repeat sequence’ and invA gene was carried out for confirmation of Salmonella genus. To differentiate serotype multiplex PCR was carried out for phoP, hin and h-li genes. The study revealed that, highest recovery of Salmonella sp. were recorded in cloacal swabs. Totally, 11 (2.6%) samples were contaminated with Salmonella consist of 1.9% of Non-Chicken-Host-Adapted (Non-CHA) and 0.7% Chicken Host Adapted (CHA). The CHA Salmonella were further identified upto species level as S. Pullorum by rfbs gene polymorphism. It was observed that high percentage of Non-CHA Salmonella than CHA Salmonella in the retail market may possibly due to the carrier birds in the retail butcher outlet. Hence, strict regulation has to be implemented to control the Salmonella in retail outlets i.e., retailers should receive the birds after the Salmonella screening test. In addition controlling authority has to cancel the license of retail outlet/farm if they found positive for the carrier birds.