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Abstract
Salmonella is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness worldwide. The first objective of this research was to identify Salmonella harborage sites in tissues present in ground poultry. Experimental infection of turkeys revealed Salmonella Heidelberg primarily located on epidermal keratin, indicating that skin may significantly contribute to contamination of ground turkey. The second objective was to investigate the effect of intestinal inflammation caused by Eimeria on cecal colonization and systemic spread of S. Typhimurium wild-type and mutant strains. Coinfection with low dose of Eimeria did not increase intestinal inflammation and total Salmonella prevalence in ceca, liver, and drumstick compared to single infection with S. Typhimurium strains. Independently of Eimeria coinfection, deficiency in tetrathionate reductase did not impair cecal colonization and systemic spread of S. Typhimurium. Salmonella Pathogenicity Island-2 mutation had a detrimental effect on cecal colonization whereas deficiency in Salmonella Pathogenicity Island-1 impaired dissemination of S. Typhimurium to liver.