Effect of sample selection from experimentally contaminated hatching eggs and freshly hatched chicks on Salmonella enteritidis detection rate.

The conventional culture methods of hatching eggs using shell and/or egg contents for detection of salmonella organisms give mostly unsatisfactory results. The aim of the present study is to evaluate selection of other samples and techniques of culturing hatching eggs and freshly hatched chicks. This current study provides the best evidence of Salmonella enteritidis in artificially contaminated eggs (Layer type) by using enrichment broth in empty egg shell samples in comparison to culturing samples from yolk, albumen or from shell above the air cell (with the outer shell membrane). The isolation rates could be enhanced if empty egg shell was initially filled with Buffered Pepton Water as pre-enrichment broth. Examination of organs from freshly hatched chicks revealed that crop samples give mostly higher reisolation rates.