Salmonella enteritidis eradication programme in poultry breeder flocks in The Netherlands

Results of a Salmonella enteritidis eradication programme in poultry breeder flocks in The Netherlands in 1989-1992 are presented. A top-down approach was performed, which means if infection is cleared out from the top end (breeding stock), and good hygiene standards are maintained throughout the industry, the infection will be progressively cleared from the whole of the national stock. Each year all poultry breeder flocks (approx. 2300) were screened for the presence of S. enteritidis by bacteriological examination of caecal droppings until 1 April 1992. After that date, screening was carried out with a 'double-antibody sandwich blocking' (DAS blocking) ELISA-method. Treatment of S. enteritidis-positive flocks, even in production, with Baytril (enrofloxacin) and competitive exclusion flora turned out to be a good alternative for slaughtering these flocks. The top-down approach seems to be successful also in relation to S. enteritidis infection in humans in The Netherlands, since no further increase of human infections has been observed during the last 3 years.