Air-borne bacterial contaminations in two broiler hatcheries in the North-East of Algeria

The presence of microorganisms in the hatchery is directly related to deficiencies in hygiene which can result in elevated first-week chick mortality and depressed growth rate. Bacteriological analyses of the air in two broiler hatcheries in the province of Constantine (North-East of Algeria) showed that their hygienic levels remain insufficient with high contamination rates and the presence of a large number of highly pathogenic bacteria including Salmonella spp, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. [Vet. World 2009; 2(2.000): 49-50]