The tissue distribution of Salmonella enteritidis in intratracheally inoculated chickens and the effect of deprivation of food and water on tissue distributions of the bacteria have been investigated. Seven-week-old specific-pathogen-free chickens were inoculated intratracheally with 10(2), 10(5), or 10(8) cells and orally with 10(5) cells. The intratracheally inoculated organisms entered the blood stream immediately after inoculation and produced generalized infection. Infection by the intratracheal route resulted in colonization of S. enteritidis in the cecum that was similar to infection by the oral route. The tissue distribution of S. enteritidis was markedly affected when chickens were deprived of food and water for a short time, demonstrating an increased susceptibility of chickens to S. enteritidis infection. This suggests that stresses such as food and water deprivation are one of of the causes of the rapid dissemination of S. enteritidis among chickens in poultry houses.