Use of blends of organic acids and oregano extracts in feed and water of broiler chickens to control Salmonella Enteritidis persistence in the crop and ceca of experimentally infected birds

The aim of the present evaluation was to assess the efficacy of blends of organic acids and oregano extracts supplied from d 1 to 21 and from d 35 to 42 in feed, drinking water, or both, in controlling Salmonella Enteritidis persistence in the crop and ceca of broiler chicken. A total of 105 one-day-old male broiler breeder chicks were randomly distributed into 5 different treatments according to the supply of referred blends and Salmonella Enteritidis challenge. Salmonella Enteritidis was inoculated directly in the crop of birds at the 15 d of age. Treatments were unsupplemented unchallenged, unsupplemented challenged, supplemented through water and challenged, supplemented through feed and challenged, and supplemented through feed and water and challenged. Use of the additives in feed and water and in water alone efficiently controlled Salmonella shedding and reduced cecal persistence. Immune mechanisms involved are proposed.