Salmonella serotypes isolated from chicken meat in Albania

A total of 31 salmonellae, belonging to four different serogroups and nine serotypes, were isolated from 30 out of 461 (6.5%) chicken meat samples, taken during a 3-year period, from 1996 to 1998. There were no significant differences among years in Salmonella positive samples, ranging from 5.1% to 8%. The most frequently encountered serotype was Salmonella enteritidis, isolated in 16 out of 30 Salmonella positive samples (53,3%), but its predomination was clearly evident only in 1996. The other isolated serotypes were S. senftenberg (three isolates), S. newport (two isolates), and S. abony, S. agona, S. banana, S. brancaster, S. infantis and S. oslo with only one isolate each. Four other Salmonella strains were not fully serotyped.