Trials to in vitro evaluate organic and non-organic acids capacity in reducing microbial contamination of quail's drinking water and experimentally inhibit Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) culture growth as well as in vivo effect on microbial shedding and colonization in Japanese quail were conducted. For in vivo evaluation, a total of 200 one-day old Salmonella-free Japanese quails were assigned randomly into five groups (n= 40 in two replicates) as follow: Group I served as non-treated control

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... ived normal tap water, while groups II, III, IV and V received acetic acid (3 ml/L), acetic acid (0.5 ml/L), organic acids mixture (3 ml/L) and Hydrochloric acid (HCL) (0.5 ml/L), respectively in their drinking water till the end of experiment. Results revealed higher inhibitory capacity of organic acids as compared to HCL in vitro; whereas the best effect on reducing both drinking water bacterial count and inhibiting SE growth in culture medium was for group II followed by groups III and IV as compared to both groups I and V. In vivo, results revealed the same pattern on microbial colonization in both the gastrointestinal tract and internal organs (liver, spleen and reproductive organs). The lowest shedding count and colonization was observed in group II. Mortality and morbidity was highest in non-treated controls after experimental infection with SE followed by both groups III and IV. The highest protection was in group II. In conclusion, the study indicated higher in vitro antimicrobial capacity and in vivo protective role against microbial shedding and colonization of organic acids over in-organic acids. Higher level of drinking water acidification produced better results. Further studies are needed to evaluate tolerable levels of water acidification by birds and whether continues or interrupted acidifier's administration in drinking water has more beneficial effects.