Protective Properties of Probiotics on Commercial Broilers Experimentally Infected With Salmonella Enteritidis

Abstract

Performance and productivity in the poultry industry lately is predicated on the use of antimicrobials, which has led to various negative impacts; among which include the emergence of a variety of pathogens and bacterial resistance including salmonella sp. This study was designed to investigate periodic evaluation of the protective properties of probiotic on commercial broilers experimentally infected with salmonella Enteritidis; specifically on bacterial shedding and mortality pattern of birds throughout the rearing period. One hundred and eighty day old commercial broilers were allotted into four treatment groups, G1 (antibiotics, probiotic & S. Enteritidis infected), G2 (antibiotics & S. Enteritidis infected), G3 (probiotic & S. Enteritidis infected) and G4 (antibiotics) each replicated thrice, with 15 birds per replicate. Antibiotic and probiotics were administered day 1-5 and 6-56 days respectively; thereafter, cultured salmonella Enteritidis was inoculated at the dose rate of 107cfu orally. This study lasted for eight (8) weeks, during which freshly voided faecal samples were collected from the respective replicates for isolation, biochemical test and salmonellae counts; for pre-infection (0), 7, 10, 15, 18 and 21 day post infection (dpi). Data generated were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis and significant differences (p<0.05) between mean values determined with student t-test. The numbers of dead birds over a period of 8weeks were calculated and expressed as percentage of allotted birds in each treatment group.