Market characteristics, <em>Salmonella</em> prevalence and associated risk practices in poultry processing environments in wet markets in Sri Lanka

Poultry selling is beyond the ambit of industrial processing and marketing trade at Live Bird Market (LBM) operations. Contaminated meat from such LBM being increasingly recognized as a potential source food borne disease including salmonellosis. At present, limited information available on live birds in informal operations Sri Lanka. This cross-sectional study was carried out to describe characteristics determine Salmonella prevalence with special emphasis risk practices that could lead cross contamination. We analysed 123 Lanka using pretested structured questionnaire, visual observations by trained enumerators, culture isolation achieve above objectives. The observed were generally similar those operated other Asian countries even though there minor variations. Overcrowding birds, keeping ambient temperatures improper evisceration leading contamination some common seen majority Regarding prevalence, it moderate (47.97 %) while low both poultry sold (30.89%) contact surfaces (