Abstract of research

EFFECT OF LECTIN AS A PROPHYLACTIC ON BROILER'S CARCASS EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH E. COLI AND SALMONELLA

Seham N. Hamouda, Aml M. Ragab, Lobna S. Elgebaly

Abstract

This study was aimed to evaluate meat quality and carcass yield of broiler chicken treated by mannose-binding lectin (MBL) after experimental infection with Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurimm) and Escherichia coli. Eighty live birds were divided into four equal groups. G I: kept as negative control. GII: was given lectin 1 ml/L orally in drinking water at 18 day of age for 3 successive days. GIII: was infected with E. coli O78 (1×108 cfu/ml) intercrop at 21 days of age. G IV: was infected with S. typhimurimm (1×108 cfu/ml). GIII& GIV were treated with lectin 1 ml/L in drinking water at 18 days of age for 3 successive days. All groups were observed daily for 45 days. Birds were slaughtered (n=10 per each group) at 35 and at 45 days of age and breast and thigh samples were subjected to bacteriological examination (Aerobic plate count, isolation and identification of salmonella and E. coli) as well as determination of pH at the slaughtering time and 24 hours after chilling. Results revealed that there was a decrease in microbial load in all groups treated with lectin as compared with control one at day 35 of age. Bacterial count was lower at day 35 in all groups that that at 45 days of slaughtering. S. typhimurimm was not detectable in all groups at 35 days, but was recovered in G IV by 10% at 45 days. The incidence of isolated E. coli was lower at 35 days than that at 45 days (10% vs. 30%, respectively). Therefore, it is recommended to give a poster does of lectin at a day 35 to improve the sanitary status of poultry carcasses.