Histomorphometrical Evaluation of Gastrointestinal Tract and Performance of Ross Broilers Hatched from Eggs Inoculated with Salmonella Enteritidis Phage Type 4

An experiment was carried out with 128 Ross chicks to evaluate the effects of Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 4 inoculated in eggs (contamination site vs inoculum), observing the site of inoculation by injection in allantoidal cavity or by shell direct contact and the combination with presence or absence of Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 4. Chicks were distributed in a completely randomised 2x2 factorial design (contamination site and inoculum). We evaluated the frequency of infected chicks, the morphology of the small intestinal mucosa from day 1 to 21 of age, and its performance. Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 4 inoculated in allantoidal cavity showed high frequency of intestinal colonisation at hatch, but reduced with age. The histomorphometrical evaluation indicated reduction in villus height (P