The study was conducted aiming at the isolation and identification of pathogens from poultry feed
manufactured by four different brands namely A (broiler starter), B (broiler finisher), C (layer starter) and D
(layer finisher) sold in retail stores of Rangpur city of Bangladesh. All these samples were collected from four
randomly chosen outlets and analyzed by culturing in different culture media such as Nutrient broth (NB),
Nutrient agar (NA), Salmonella-Shigella (SS) agar, Eosin methylene blue (EMB) agar, MacConkey agar, Triple
sugar iron (TSI) agar slant, Motility, Indole, Urease (MIU) and Saboraud Dextrose agar (SDA) media. The
bacterial agents were isolated and examined under light microscope for their gross morphological and
conventional biochemical characteristics. The bacteriological analyses were done at the Microbiology
Laboratory of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur during the period of
January to June, 2014. Total bacterial colonies of all the samples were counted separately according to the
American Public Health Association, using nutrient agar medium for total viable count (TVC), Eosine
methylene blue (EMB) agar media for total E. coli count (TEC) and Salmonella-Shigella agar for TSC (total
salmonella count). Saboraud Dextrose agar (SDA) media was used for detection of fungus. The virulence effect
of the organism present in feed were observed by inoculating the organism in poultry. Recorded result showed
that average TVC of feed sample A, B, C and D were 5.45 x 106
, 3.28 x 105
, 5.14 x 106
and 4.53 x 105 CFU/gm
(colony forming unit per gram) respectively. TEC of feed sample A, B, C and D were recorded 6.25 x 105
, 8.26
x 103
, 5.52 x 105 and 5.65 x 104 CFU/gm respectively. TSC of feed sample A, B, C and D were recorded 3.15 x
104
, 2.68 x 103
, 4.46 x 103 and 1.19 x 104 CFU/gm respectively. The highest TVC, TEC and TSC were found in
broiler starter (feed sample A) and lowest TVC, TEC and TSC were found in broiler finisher (feed sample B).
Fungal count was 1.85 x 105 CFU/ gm in layer finisher (feed sample D) could be as a result of their high
pathogenecity as reported by researchers elsewhere. These organisms can cause several poultry and farm animal
infections specially mycotoxicosis having public health significance to both human and poultry. The presence of
high numbers of E. coli and Salmonella spp. in poultry feed were indicative of poor hygienic practices during
manufacture, post process contamination and unsatisfactory transportation and reservation. Therefore reinforce
the need for preventive control measures, hygienic handling and processing of feeds to reduce the risk of
potential human health hazards.