INVESTIGATION OF Salmonella SPP. AND THERMOPHILIC Campylobacter SPP. IN FEEDS FROM COMMERCIAL LAYER FARMS IN BANDIRMA

Salmonella and Campylobacter infections are the most important diseases worldwide, and poultry and its food products play an important role in the transmission of both infections to humans. Therefore, the surveillance studies on the sources of pathogenic micro-organisms contamination of poultry flocks are important. In this study, Salmonella spp. and thetntophilic Campylobacter spp. were surveyed in feeds from commercial layer fauns making their own feeds. For this purpose, 24 layer fauns were visited in Banditina and a total 72 feed samples were collected to be three feed samples from each feed mill's finished feed areas. In the result of the study, Salmonella spp. were isolated from 4 out of 24 (16.66%) finished feed areas and all of the other feed samples collected finished feed areas of 20 feed mills (83.33%) were found to be negative for Salmonella. Salmonella positive feed samples were serotyped as S. Typhimurium. Also, all feed samples were negative for the presence of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. This results show that the evidence that feed may be a risk factor for the contamination of Salmonella to flocks making their own feeds. Moreover, detection of S. Typhimurium given top priority by EU due to their public health concern from feed samples was thought to be a candidate of contamination source of egg and egg by-products. To summarize, two food-borne pathogens should be thoroughly investigated in feed samples in Salmonella and Camplobacter surveillance programs at poultry. and contamination of feed samples should be minimized through strict control programs in order to provide healthy poultry units. poultry by-products for the maintenance of public health.