SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM VACCINE TO CONTROL A BRAZILIAN SALMONELLA HEIDELBERG STRAIN IN BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

Foodborne Salmonella infections in humans, which results from the consumption of contaminated poultry meat and eggs, are a major public health concern. Vaccination of animals against Salmonella is one strategy to prevent these infections and reduce the risks to public health. Live attenuated Salmonella enterica vaccines can confer protection against salmonellosis by inducing both cell-mediated and mucosal immune responses. This study assessed a live, attenuated Salmonella enterica Typhimurium (ST) vaccine in broiler chickens against a heterologous challenge with Salmonella Heidelberg (SH) by evaluating bacterial quantification, immune cells infiltration, and cytokine gene expression in the cecum. The treatments were: T1, non-vaccinated, non-challenged; T2, non-vaccinated, SH-challenged; T3, ST-vaccinated and SH-challenged. At 28 days of age, the ST-vaccinated group had significantly recovered reduction of SH in the crop (P