Bacterial pathogens occurring in poultry litter

As demand for poultry meat continues to increase, commercial broiler production relies on increasingly large-scale facilities and higher stocking densities. In production environments, which prioritize maximum efficiency, environmental management is often overlooked and/or underprioritized. There is an increased risk of bacterial pathogen transmission, environmental contamination, and the accumulation of organic waste, allowing widespread pathogen proliferation. One of the primary sources of pathogen transmission is the improper management of bedding in these confined spaces. Once birds are introduced, bedding accumulates excreta, feed waste, feathers, broken eggs, and residual bedding as it transitions to litter. Potential pathogens include Clostridium, pathogenic Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus, Campylobacter, Enterococcus, and Salmonella. Pathogens in poultry litter can pass between generations and within flocks, as recontamination is a concurrent issue in these environments. The ability of bacterial pathogens to persist in litter, survive between production cycles, and serve as a continued source of flock reinfection will be described in this review. Poultry house and flock management strategies that may have an impact on pathogen survival and dissemination will also be discussed in this review.