Veterinaria

Review Article

Effect of Salmonella on hatchability and fertility in laying hen, an assessment

Umair Hameed*, Waseem Akram, Muhammad Safdar Anjum

Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Abstract

Salmonella infection is not only infecting poultry but also emerging as a pandemic in public health. Salmonella affecting poultry are S. pullorum, S. gallinarum, S. typhimurium, which are collectively categorized under S. enterica. It causes a systemic infection in poultry birds primarily gastroenteritis with colonization of bacteria in liver, spleen, intestines, ovary, oviduct and vagina. Poultry eggs are more importantly contaminated with salmonella infection that originate from transovarian route (vertical route) or from contaminated hen house (horizontal route). In severe cases Salmonella causes a decrease in egg production, reduction in fertility and low hatchability of infected eggs. Albumin, yolk and other shell contents get contaminated with bacteria. They serve as source of nutrition for micro- organisms. Hatcheries and egg storing places also present risk of Salmonella contamination. They possess bacterial micro flora that may contaminate eggs before they are processed or set in the incubator. More simply the decrease in hatchability of eggs occurs due to persistence of Salmonella infection in hen reproductive tract. In this review, some of such features are discussed that included in manifestation of Salmonella infection.

Keywords: Salmonella, Hatchability, Fertility, Eggs, Route of transmission.

Received: July 15, 2014; Revised: Aug 12, 2014; Accepted: Aug 26, 2014

*Corresponding author: Umair Hameed; Email: umairhameed10@gmail.com