Fowl Typhoid: Present Scenario, Diagnosis, Prevention and Control Measures

Abstract

Poultry farming is facing complicated diseases including salmonellosis throughout the world. Avian salmonellosis renders heavy economic losses not only by causing high mortality (maybe up to 80%) but also by a reduction in meat and egg production. Salmonella has zoonotic importance. There are more than 2500 species of Salmonella, among these species important for poultry are Salmonella Gallinarum, S. pullorum, S. Typhimurium, S. enteritidis, etc. Among these Salmonella Gallinarum causes fowl typhoid (FT). FT affects mostly adult chickens resulting in greenish diarrhea and enteritis and high mortality. In the past, only antimicrobial drugs were used to control Salmonella in poultry which was causing also a threat to human beings as residues of the drugs were coming in meat and eggs. Day by day, antimicrobial resistance is developing against Salmonella in poultry, thus new ways and means are being searched for its control. Both live and inactivated vaccines have been in application against S. Gallinarum. Previously, Salmonella species were diagnosed by traditional ways of isolation, biochemical reactions, and microscopy. With the passage of time, there are new advancements in its diagnosis. Many techniques have been adopted for the detection of the causative agent. The PCR is useful for the rapid and correct diagnosis of Salmonella serotypes in poultry. Multiplex-PCR, Real-time PCR, PCR-RFLP assay, capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE), PFGE, indirect ELISA, and RAPD DNA are being used for diagnosis. Various strategies have been applied to curtail or control Salmonella infection in poultry. As Salmonella antibiotic resistance is developing, alternative treatment/prevention strategies are being opted for. Organic compounds such as prebiotics, probiotics, and phytobiotics are in use to limit salmonella growth. Organic compounds have several benefits to the chicken, and eggs and meats are free from residues and have public health safety. Omic technologies and bacteriophages as an alternative solution to control Salmonellosis have also been suggested.