BROILER CHICKENS’ OPPORTUNISTIC PATHOGENIC MICROFLORA AS POSSIBLE SOURCE OF INFECTIOUS CONTAMINATION FOR BATTERY FARM PERSONNEL

Aim. To study the composition of opportunistic pathogenic intestinal and inner organs microflora in broiler chickens kept in industrial conditions. Materials and methods. One hundred and sixty one broiler chickens aged 1 to 42 days with the symptoms of different diseases and 30 chick embryos with developmental defects were investigated. Intestinal, hepatic tissue, heart and spleen content received while “sanitary slaughtering” of chickens and embryos was studied. Microbiological analysis of 16 forage and forage ingredients samples, 6 drinking water samples was carried out. Microbial cultures were secreted and identified using generally accepted methods. Results. Microbiological analysis of microflora secreted from debilitated chickens permitted to detect the prevailing bacterial genera such as E. coli, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Proteus spp. Among broiler chickens, there is a rather high degree of organs contamination with opportunistic pathogenic flora including pathogenic one. In the course of life, chickens’ contamination increased that is connected with weakening of their protective properties and additional infection at the expense of alimentary factor and water. In these conditions there occurs a danger of cross-infection for personnel looking after sick chickens. Conclusion. Opportunistic pathogenic microflora in the form of E. coli, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Proteus spp. associations was secreted from the intestine and inner organ tissues of sick broiler chickens. The critical age is the third week of their life which is characterized by the greatest bacterial damage of the inner organs. Hepatic and heart tissues are severely impaired with opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms (OPM). The essential role in contamination of industrial poultry is played by alimentary factor and quality of drinking water. The revealed microbial OPM associations prevailing among chickens can be the source of infectious agent for battery farm personnel.

Opportunistic pathogenic microflora, inner organs contamination, battery farm personnel infectious contamination