EFFECT OF PROBIOTICS AND PREBIOTICS ON SALMONELLA COLONIZATION AND IMMUNITY IN LOCAL BROILERS’ PUREBREDS AND CROSSBREDS

To study the effect of Probiotics and lactose on the Salmonella colonization and immunity in Inshas and Matrouh local broilers purebreds and crossbreds, ten groups of broilers chicks were categorized and offered different treatments of probiotics including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faeceium alone or accompanied by 2.5% Lactose in drinking water. Different parameters were evaluated including body weight, feed conversion, feed intake, daily gain,  livability, caecal Salmonella count, caecal pH and antibody titer against Salmonella. Results showed that, Enterococcus faeceium had significant effects on body weight and daily gain while none of the used treatments had significant effects on livability of the examined chicks. Enterococcus faeceium and Bacillus subtilis had significant effects on feed intake only at 7 days of age while Bacillus subtilis showed a significant difference on feed conversion only at 28 days age. Inshas x Matrouh crossbred proved to be the most effective in reducing Salmonella count at 28 days. All treatments caused reduction of caecal pH and Lactobacillus acidophilus with lactose 2.5% had the highest effect. Matrouh x Inshas crossbred showed the strongest immunity reaction against Salmonella if compared with the other breeds. Enterococcus faeceium together with lactose gave also the strongest immune reaction against Salmonella if compared with the other breeds.