Veterinary Research Forum

Abstract Non-typhoidal Salmonella is a predominant etiological agent of foodborne infections globally. Salmonella serovars are present throughout the chicken's digestive tract, particularly in the ceca. This study, conducted from October 2024 to April 2025, employed cultural methods to isolate and identify Salmonella from samples collected at the broiler chicken wet market in Sulaymaniyah province, Iraq. The research additionally examined the prevalence of S. enterica serovar Typhimurium in these samples by PCR. Two-hundred and ten samples were obtained from the cecum, cutting boards, knives, body swabs, workers' hands, and water. Salmonella was isolated from the samples and identified by culturing and molecular techniques. Consequently, 103 individuals (49.04%) tested positive for Salmonella via culture. The PCR results revealed that the contamination rate for S. enterica was 74 (71.84%); 47 (63.51%) were S. Typhimurium, and 33 (70.21%) of S. Typhimurium possessed the hilA gene. The highest prevalence was observed in chopping boards, with 91.67% for S. enterica, whereas the maximum rate for S. Typhimurium was recorded in water, at 100%. The phylogenetic tree indicates that the Iraqi isolate with accession number of PV250092 belongs to the principal group of isolates, exhibiting a bootstrap support value of 100%, signifying a robust genetic association with them. To conclude, this research demonstrated a notable prevalence of Salmonella in the broiler chicken processing environment, particularly a high incidence of S. Typhimurium isolates. The placement of the Iraqi isolate within the global isolate clade suggests a recent common ancestor with other isolates, indicating global transmission pathways.

Abstract Avian Salmonellosis impacts the economy and public health, with chicken products being a major cause of gastroenteritis. Hygiene, immunization and medicines are all used as control techniques. Bacteriophages provide a safe, targeted alternative. In the present study in vitro evaluation of bacteriophages were done against Salmonella typhimurium. Lytic effect of bacteriophages isolated from poultry sludge was checked on culture of S. typhimurium. Stability study was checked at range of temperature and pH. The phages were stable at temperature (30.00 - 50.00 ˚C) and pH (5.00 - 9.00) where best activity was seen at 37.00 ˚C and pH 7.00. In vitro lytic activity was done at (optical density 600 nm) after exposure to bacterial host at different intervals. Multiplicity of Infection of 1.00 was used to check lytic activity of phages which indicated phages were potent enough to infect bacterial cells within their growth cycle. The percentage of unadsorbed phages was determined by bar chart analysis. The genome of three phages was treated with DNase I where they all were sensitive. Later the nucleic acid of phages was digested by restriction endonucleases (EcoRI and HindIII) both of the enzymes produced various restriction sites with different band. The present study proved that the application of bacteriophages in vitro into bacterial system i.e., S. typhimurium was an attractive method in diminishing infection in commercial poultry thus providing exceptional results that could be used on a large scale.

Abstract Salmonellosis is one of the most important bacterial diseases in human and animals. Rapid diagnosis and sub sequence accurate treatment of Salmonella carriers help reduce the salmonellosis in human and livestock animals. In this study, 420 fecal samples were taken during year 2019 from buffalo in the Urmia, Khoy and Piranshahr regions in west Azerbaijan province, Iran. Samplings were carried out in different seasons. Presence of Salmonella invasion genes (FimA, Stn and InvA) were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction. The bacterial culture and biochemical tests were performed on feces samples for isolation of bacterium Salmonella; however, all samples were negative in culture method. PCR findings showed that, 50 (11.90%) fecal samples were positive to the genes. The analysis of results showed that frequency of salmonellosis outbreak in different parts of west Azerbaijan province followed a similar pattern and the incidence of salmonellosis according to forecast in the warm seasons (spring and summer) was more than in cold seasons (autumn and winter). The prevalence of Salmonella in buffalo’s feces based on warm and cold seasons were 32 (64.00%) and 18 (36.00%), respectively. The results showed significant difference between cold and warm season in the prevalence of salmonellosis. Therefore, the application of molecular technics is essential for the prevention and treatment of salmonellosis. The results also showed that specificity of PCR method was better than culture method for detection of Salmonella in feces sample.