Composition of indicator bacteria in industrial and garden keeping of chickens

Abstract

Introduction. The intestinal microbiocenosis is the most complex and important bio-tope of the body formed in the process of individual development. Material and methods. The study was conducted on groups of 20-25-day-old chicks. The first group was housed under standard vivarium conditions with artificially maintained optimal climatic parameters. The second group was raised in a rural homestead in the Kyiv region, on pasture with access to water, and fed twice daily with a blend of grains supplemented with kitchen wastes. Samples of chicken droppings (10 per group) were analyzed according to current international ISO standards using certified nutrient media and equipment. Results. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Enterococcus spp. were isolated from 100% of samples from chickens kept in simulated conditions of an industrial poultry house, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from 70% of samples. E. coli and Enterococcus spp. were isolated from free-range chickens in 100% of cases. The analysis revealed that in pasture-raised chickens, Klebsiella spp. and P. aeruginosa were absent from the litter, with significantly higher levels of normal microflora (Enterococcus spp.). Conclusions. Backyard-raised chickens showed no pathogenic zoonotic bacteria, in contrast to those raised under controlled conditions with optimal climate and standard diets.

Keywords

• microflora
• chicken
• zoonosis
• housing conditions