Impact of dietary components on chicken immune system and Salmonella infection.

Salmonella enterica serovars are facultative intracellular pathogens that may cause serious illness in poultry and humans. Human infection by two common serovars, Salmonella enteritidis (SE) and Salmonella typhimurium (ST) usually occurs via food-borne transmission. Consumption of raw or undercooked contaminated eggs usually causes SE infection, while ST is transmitted by contaminated chicken meat. There are several reports on dietary interventions, including fatty acid modifications, probiotic or prebiotic treatment on the immune system and/or Salmonella clearance in chickens. The aim of this review is to compile the information on the role of major dietary components on chicken immune system and Salmonella clearance. This may help design better poultry nutrition to lower Salmonella infection in chickens and, therefore, reduce human salmonellosis.