Salmonella enterica Prevalence in Hatchling Backyard Chicks in Vermont
Conference Year
January 2022
Abstract
Recently, the prevalence of backyard chickens and of live poultry-associated salmonellosis has increased across the US. The National Poultry Improvement Plan’s Salmonella monitoring program (NPIP-SMP) exists to reduce Salmonella enterica levels in hatcheries selling to hobby farmers. Our goal was to determine the prevalence of S. enterica in chicks in Vermont and determine whether the NPIP-SMP was effective. 82/203 (40.4%) chick samples contained S. enterica. NPIP-SMP chick samples were more frequently positive for S. enterica (50.9%) than samples from non-participating hatcheries (27.8%; Chi-squared test, p <0.01). Consequently, purchasing chicks from NPIP-SMP hatcheries does not reduce salmonellosis risk for poultry owners.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Andrea Etter
Student Collaborators
Alessandra Michaelides, Katherine Hood, Valorie Vanarsdall, and Calleigh Herren
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Program/Major
Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Primary Research Category
Food & Environment Studies
Secondary Research Category
Biological Sciences
Tertiary Research Category
Health Sciences
Salmonella enterica Prevalence in Hatchling Backyard Chicks in Vermont
Recently, the prevalence of backyard chickens and of live poultry-associated salmonellosis has increased across the US. The National Poultry Improvement Plan’s Salmonella monitoring program (NPIP-SMP) exists to reduce Salmonella enterica levels in hatcheries selling to hobby farmers. Our goal was to determine the prevalence of S. enterica in chicks in Vermont and determine whether the NPIP-SMP was effective. 82/203 (40.4%) chick samples contained S. enterica. NPIP-SMP chick samples were more frequently positive for S. enterica (50.9%) than samples from non-participating hatcheries (27.8%; Chi-squared test, p <0.01). Consequently, purchasing chicks from NPIP-SMP hatcheries does not reduce salmonellosis risk for poultry owners.