The effect of yeast supplementation in broiler chickens on Salmonella enteritidis and Campylobacter
jejuni contamination in faeces, cecum, breast, and neck skin was evaluated. Two groups (12
replicates/group, 20 Hubbard female chickens 1d old/replicate) were fed pre-starter (0-10d), starter
(11-20d) and growing (21-38d) diets, and administered (Y) or not (C) Levucell\uae SB20
(Saccharomyces cerevisiae type boulardii I-1079; 106 CFU/g feed through a 0.05% premix). Birds
were orally challenged at 10 days of life (S. enteritidis, 1x105 CFU/bird, and C. jejuni, 3x105
CFU/bird). On day 10 and 28 post-infection (PI), 10 animals/replicate were slaughtered and pooled
ceca content of 5 birds/replicate was analysed for Salmonella and Campylobacter detection and
enumeration together with total yeast count. Neck and breast skin were tested for Salmonella and
Campylobacter presence on 1 subject/replicate. Data were analysed by a GLM procedure of SAS
considering two experimental periods, from 0 to 20 days and from 20 to 38 days. Growth
performance and faecal coliforms content were not affected by treatment. Higher yeast and
lactobacilli (P=0.01) faecal count, and a significant decreased Salmonella enumeration and
frequency in neck (-41%, P=0.03) and tendency in faeces (-25%; P=0.06), cecum (-25%; P=0.06),
and breast skin (-33%; P=0.08) were found in Y group on day 38. No fecal Campylobacter was
detected at 10d (P<0.01) or 28d (P=0.06) PI in Y birds, while in neck skin absence of Campylobacter
was only recorded on day 10 PI (P=0.01). Campylobacter was significantly lower in Y birds in
cecum (-42%; P=0.01), and breast skin (-58%; P=0.04) on 10d PI, while on day 38 it was reduced in
breast skin (-42%; P=0.02), and tended to decrease in faeces (-25%; P=0.06). Saccharomyces
cerevisiae (CNCM I-1079) significantly controlled Campylobacter carriage in chickens with some
positive results also on Salmonella contamination, thus reducing the contamination of carcasses
with both food borne pathogens
