Presença de Salmonella spp. em pintos de um dia, comercializados para produção não industrial em Santa Catarina

Ano: 2011 | Volume: 39 | Número: 1

Autores: Gustavo Perdoncini, Daniela Tonini da Rocha, Cristiane da Rosa Moraes, Anderlise Borsoi, VERÔNICA SCHMIDT

Palavras-chave: salmonella, pintos de um dia, produção não industrial, saúde pública

Resumo Inglês:

Background: Samonella sp. is a microorganism that can infect a great range of animals, including human beings. In the
environment Salmonella spp. become an important source of transmission and, consequently, a risk to animal production and
public health. In Brazil, the control and certification of poultry establishment as free of Salmonella spp. was established in
2003. The Gallinarum, Pullorum, Enteritidis and Typhimurium serotypes are monitored by the Plano Nacional de Sanidade
Avícola (Brazilian National Poultry Health Program - PNSA). The Gallinarum and Pullorum serotypes are important in poultry
health, and their presence in layer farms may cause a great economic impact, while Enteritidis and Typhimurium are among the
most frequently isolated serovars in cases of food poisoning (DTA), where food of poultry origin stands as the main source of
salmonellosis such as eggs or salad prepared with homemade mayonnaise or even chicken. Salmonella spp. is one of the most
important contaminants of food products and an important cause of food borne disease in many countries. On the other hand,
broiler chick or laying hens are increasingly being produced in non-industrial conditions. Such productive units normally do
not adopt biosafety criteria or sanitary programs and, consequently, they may contribute to the dissemination of salmonelas.
Therefore, the objective of this study was to verify the presence of Salmonella spp. in day-old chicks commercialized for nonindustrial
production in the State of Santa Catarina.
Materials, Methods & Results: It was performed a cross-sectional survey and used a purposive selection sampling. The liver
and vitelline sac of 129 day-old chicks commercialized in four agricultural establishments in the State of Santa Catarina were
analyzed by means of conventional bacteriological techniques. Two suspect colonies were identified by biochemical test and
confirmed with anti-Salmonella O-polyvalent sera. Salmonella Typhimurium was identified in a pool (2.33%) constituted of 3
livers. The data was analyzed through descriptive epidemiology, which involves observation and recording of the disease and
possible causative factors.
Discussion: Although the processing of samples in pool does not identify the number of infected animals, the occurrence of
carrier animals becomes important as the presence of individuals with can serve as a source of contamination"to other animals
or humans. Modern aviculture determines the absence of any type of Salmonella spp., and producers associated with cooperatives
and agro industries receive support and technical supervision to avoid the introduction of microorganisms such as Salmonella
spp., which may impair the development of birds. The purchase of day-old chicks for non-industrial (i.e. backyard) production
can be a source of food poisoning for those breeding and, consequently, for those consuming them. The presence of Salmonella
Tiphymurium found by this study demonstrates the possibility of breeding infected birds, which could cause serious public
health problems. Hygienic and sanitary measures, as well as awareness of producers may prevent the dissemination of pathogens
that could affect breeders and consumers of poultry produced in a non-technified manner.