Epidemiological Investigations of Salmonella Contamination in Table Egg Production

The objective of this research is to study survival of Salmonellas, particularly S.Enteritidis phage type 4, on commercial table egg-laying farms. This work will be aimed at preventing persistence of S.Enteritidis infection on farms and therefore avoiding consequentive flock infection and production of infected eggs. <P>
The results of the work will lead to identification of Salmonella persistence sites and effective decontamination regimes which will break the cycle of horizontal Salmonella infection on egg-laying farms. The work will also generate data which can be used to formulate improved Codes of Practice for the layer industry. <P>
Any reduction in egg-borne salmonella which results from this work will reduce the risk of human infection and thereby reduce the suffering and economic losses associated with Salmonellosis. <P>

This proposal now includes some elements of work originally proposed in ZF0503, Investigation of Salmonella Contamination in Egg Packing Plants, resulting in an amalgamated project.