Spatial distribution of Salmonella enterica in poultry shed environments observed by intensive longitudinal environmental sampling

Abstract

During a series of epidemiological studies to investigate the transmission of salmonellae within poultry environments, intensive longitudinal sampling within caged sheds revealed that both the number and location of sample collection within this environment were important to ensure the best chance of detecting Salmonella spp. Multiple serovars of Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica were detected in each shed; 5% of all samples contained more than one serovar. Samples collected on the north side of the shed (OR = 1.77, 95% CI [1.17, 2.68]), on the sheltered side of the shed (OR = 1.90, 95% CI [1.26, 2.89]) and during winter (OR = 48.41, 95%CI [23.56, 104.19]) were more likely to be positive for salmonellae. The distribution of salmonellae within a shed was not homogenous, as differences were identified in the within-shed distribution of Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhimurium ({chi}2 (27, 1,538) = 54.4, P < 0.001), and Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Infantis ({chi}2 (27, 1,538) = 79.8, P < 0.0001). The difference in sample prevalence by serovar and spatial location within a shed indicates that there are important shed micro-environmental factors that influence survival and/or distribution of salmonellae. These factors should be taken into consideration when undertaking environmental surveillance for salmonellae in flocks housed in caged sheds. IMPORTANCERoutine epidemiological surveillance for salmonellae in poultry relies initially on environmental sampling. Our study confirmed that the sampling methodology conducted within a poultry environment is a non-trivial part of sampling design. The spatial locations of sample collection within a shed revealed differences in both the sample prevalence and serovar of salmonellae detected.