ABSTRACT
This investigation aimed to demonstrate the occurrence of serological reactions to Salmonella spp. in backyard domestic poultry for private consumption located next to parent flocks in the State of São Paulo. Three parent flocks officially recognised as free from S. Pullorum (SP), S. Gallinarum (SG), S. Enteritidis (SE), S. Typhimurium (ST) and 15 neighboring backyard flocks were selected. A sample of 406 chickens from the backyard flocks was bled, and the diagnostic was carried out by the agglutination tests in plate and in tubes. The frequency found was 73% of flocks with chickens reacting to the antigens of SP. The frequency of reacting chickens was 16.5% for the antigen of SP. The results show that the etiological agent studied is widespread among the backyard flocks, posing a constant risk for the commercial poultry flocks that need to adopt and keep good biosecurity practices to preserve their health status.
KEY WORDS
Pullorum disease; biosecurity; diseases; epidemiology; infections; animal health