THE USE OF PROPOLIS AND BEE POLLEN IN CHICKENS FEEDING - A NATURAL WAY TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF CONSUMERS

Uvod: Propolis i pčelinji pelud pripadaju skupini prirodnih tvari životinjskog i biljnog podrijetla, s osobito izraženim antimikrobnim i antioksidativnim svojstvima. Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi utjecaj dodatka propolisa i pčelinjeg peluda u hranidbi tovnih pilića na prisustvo odabranih bakterijskih uzročnika u obriscima kloake pilića. Ispitanici i metode: U obriscima kloake tovnih pilića Ross 308 provenijencije, hranjenih s (pokusne skupine pilića) ili bez (kontrolna skupina pilića) dodatka propolisa i pčelinjeg peluda, uzorkovanih 21. i 42. dana tova, određivana je prisutnost bakterijskih vrsta iz rodova Campylobacter i Salmonella, te bakterijske vrste Escherichia coli. Pri izolaciji istraživanih mikrobnih kultura postupalo se u skladu s Hrvatskim normama koje se temelje na propisanim ISO standardima i to za Campylobacter sp. (HRN EN ISO 10272-1, 2008), Salmonella sp. (HRN EN ISO 6579, 2003) i E. coli (HRN ISO 16649-2, 2001). Rezultati: Obrisci kloake svih skupina tovnih pilića uzorkovanih 21. i 42. dana tova bili su negativni na prisutnost Campylobacter sp. Istraživanjem je utvrđen smanjeni broj obrisaka kloake pozitivnih na prisutnost E. coli u pokusnim skupinama pilića 42. dana tova u odnosu na 21. dan tova te potpuni izostanak prisutnosti Salmonella sp. u pokusnim skupinama pilića 42. dana tova u odnosu na 21. dan tova. Zaključak: Propolis i pčelinji pelud imaju snažan baktericidni učinak u kloaki tovnih pilića pri čemu je u javnozdravstvenom smislu posebno značajan utjecaj spomenutih dodataka na Salmonella sp.Introduction: Propolis and bee pollen belong to a group of natural substances of animal and vegetable origin, with a particularly expressed antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of propolis and bee pollen in chickens feeding to the presence of selected bacterial pathogens in chicken’s cloacal swabs. Materials and Methods: In cloacal swabs of Ross 308 broiler chickens, fed with (the experimental groups of chickens) or without (control group of chickens) the addition of propolis and bee pollen, sampled on days 21 and 42 of the study, the presence of Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., and E. coli was established. Detection of previously mentioned bacterial strains was done following the ISO detection methods for Campylobacter spp. (ISO 10272-1, 2008), Salmonella spp. (ISO 6579, 2003) and E. coli (ISO 16649-2, 2001). Results: Cloacal swabs of all groups of chickens that were sampled on days 21 and 42 of the study were negative for the presence of Campylobacter spp. The study revealed the reduced number of cloacal swabs positive for the presence of E. coli in the experimental groups of chickens on day 42 of fattening comparing to the 21st day of fattening and the complete absence of the Salmonella spp. in experimental groups of chickens on day 42 of fattening comparing to the 21st day of fattening. Conclusion: Propolis and bee pollen have a strong bactericidal effect in chicken’s cloaca while from the public health aspect the influence of these additives on Salmonella spp. is particularly significant