TABLE 4.

Effect of feed withdrawal (induced molt) on S. enteritidis colonization of the crops, spleens, livers, and ceca of leghorn hens^a

Group	No. of positive hens/total (%)			Log10 SE per g of cecum
	Crop	Spleen-liver	Cecum
Trial 1
Control	1/12 (8.3)	1/12 (8.3)	2/12 (16.7)	0.16 ± 0.38
Molted	6/12 (50.0)*	5/12 (41.7)†	11/12 (91.7)*	3.78 ± 2.29*
Trial 2
Control	1/12 (8.3)	1/12 (8.3)	2/12 (16.7)	0.46 ± 1.33
Molted	6/12 (50.0)*	6/12 (50.0)*	7/12 (58.3)*	2.99 ± 3.26*

^aHens were challenged by crop gavage with 10⁵ CFU of S. enteritidis on day 4 of molt and cultured for Salmonella on day 9 of molt. Data are presented as means ± standard deviations, n = 12. ∗, P < 0.05, and †, P < 0.10, compared with control values.