The occurrence of Salmonella spp. in paper pads of chick boxes and organs of one-day-old chicks was studied by conventional bacteriological technique. Eighteen broilers flocks belonged to three integrated broiler organizations in the state of Goiás were evaluated. The occurrence of Salmonella spp. was registered in 55.6 % (10/18) of the flocks, 10 flocks by analysis of paper pads of chick boxes and one flock by analysis of chick organs. The paper pads of chick boxes revealed 11.1% of Salmonella recovery, while the one-day-old chick organs, 3%. This result suggested Salmonella spp. transmission by vertical way. Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Heidelberg were the isolated serovars and the first one was the most frequent (92.3%).
broiler; one-day-old chicks; organs; paper pads of chick boxes; Salmonella Enteritidis
