Food poisoning is a misnomer. One is not poisoned by the food, but rather by the microbes growing in or on the food. Hens lay eggs that can harbor microbes (microscopic organisms) called Salmonella enteritidis, which can lead to salmonellosis, a disease characterized by nausea, vomiting, and severe diarrhea, symptoms we would all rather avoid.

Salmonella infection is a major problem for the egg industry and consumers, since unbroken table eggs from infected flocks can be contaminated. "Reducing the prevalence of S. enteritidis in poultry would likely cause a reduction in human infection from poultry and egg consumption," says ARS immunologist Peter Holt.

Under Holt's direction, the group from the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory developed an oil emulsion vaccine of inactivated S. enteritidis that provided substantial protection to hens exposed to the bacteria.

Birds were given the vaccine subcutaneously in two doses 4 to 6 weeks apart. The hens were then exposed to S. enteritidis.

To ensure that no other pathogens are present in the hens before and during the vaccination and study phases, testing was conducted under very stringent conditions.

The experimental oil emulsion vaccine differs from the commercial preparations in that it was formulated to increase levels of specific antibodies that get into the intestinal tract, thereby reducing the amount of S. enteritidis present. This decreases the chance of the bacterium invading internal organs and being shed in feces.

"We found that the new vaccine reduced S. enteritidis shedding 10 to 40 percent more effectively than the three commercial vaccines used by the U.S. poultry industry," says Holt. A patent for the vaccine has been filed (March 21, 2002, SN 10/101,943), and it is available for licensing.

A vaccine that reduces Salmonella shedding would be helpful to the poultry industry, since this is the primary method by which Salmonella infection spreads through a flock. A vaccine that can eliminate shedding would be a boon for poultry exporters since poultry breeding stock sold to overseas markets is required to be Salmonella free.

Vaccinating poultry flocks is an important method to reduce S. enteritidis problems in flocks in today's marketplace. About 25 million doses of S. enteritidis vaccine are used annually in U.S. poultry, while 50 to 75 million doses are used worldwide.

"A Possible New Vaccine To KO Salmonella in Chicken Eggs" was published in the May 2003 issue of Agricultural Research magazine.

Source: USDA Agricultural Research Service - May 2003