Abstract

    A total of 100 fluff samples were collected from five hatcheries located in and around Faisalabad. After isolation of different bacteria in the hatcheries fluff their sensitivity to Norfloxacin, Gentamicin, Flumequine, Chloramphenicol, Neomycin, Ampicillin and Erythromycin was determined. Similarly, the susceptibility of the bacterial isolates for three disinfectants (EWABO ALDEKOL, TH₄ and BROMOSEPT) and three spray sanitizers (Sani squad. Sanitol and TH₄) was also observed. The results indicated that the occurrence of different bacterial species among 148 isolates was: Escherichia coli 62 (41.89%), Paratyphoid salmonellae 24 (16.22%), Salmonella pullorum 3 (2.03%), Proteus mirabelis 2(1.35%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 4(2.70%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 2(1.35%), Streptococcus faecalis 4 (2.70%), Staphylococcus aureus 22(14.8%),  Staphylococcus epidermidis 7 (4.73%) and Bacillus subtilis 18 (12.16%). The in vitro sensitivity of the isolates was highest for Norfloxacin (91.89%) and the lowest for Erythromycin (16.89 %). The bacterial isolates (Salmonella pullorum, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus faecalis) were 100 percent susceptible for all the three disinfectants. Efficacy of sprays Sani Squad and TH₄ was 100 percent for some of the bacterial isolates e.g. Salmonella pullorum,  Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The efficacy of spray sanitol was more than 60 percent for some of the bacterial isolates including E. coli, Salmonella pullorum and Staphylococcus aureus).

Keywords: Hatcheries fluff, bacteriology, antimicrobial susceptibility