Salmonella enteritidis in commercial layer farms in New York state; environmental survey results and significance of available monitoring tests.

Seven hundred fifty-one environmental samples were collected from 76 chicken layer houses in a voluntary Salmonella enteritidis (SE) survey study carried out in New York state between January 15 and April 8, 1991. SE was recovered from both houses on 1 farm. Sampling of manure pits and mice in hen houses was useful for SE screening. Phage types of SE from the environment, birds, and mice were identical. The rapid whole-blood test was unreliable, and culture of cloacal swabs was inadequate for detection of SE carriers. Culture of organs from chickens did not correlate well with results of environmental samples.