Effect of environmental temperature on susceptibility of young chickens to Salmonella typhimurium.
Day-old chickens kept in a cold environment (18 degrees to 22 degrees C) were more susceptible to a low and moderate challenge of Salmonella typhimurium than chickens similarly challenged and kept in a warm environment (32 degrees to 36 degrees C). Cold stress at 10 degrees C for 24 h when applied to 12-day-old chickens effectively increased the number of birds shedding organisms. However a similar cold stress on 20-day-old chickens resulted in a less dramatic increase in the number of birds shedding organisms. Of the 60 birds previously challenged with S. typhimurium and then subjected to cold stress, 16 birds recommenced shedding and 7 birds with no previous history of shedding began to shed organisms.
D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000382:microbiology; D002645:Chickens; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D008297:Male; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000662:veterinary; D013696:Temperature