Enumeration of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. from poultry carcasses at the end of the slaughter-line (original) (raw)
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Canadian Journal of …, 2008
Campylobacter is recognized as one of the leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide, and is frequently isolated from the small intestines and ceca microflora of chickens. Twenty-one out of 81 Campylobacter-positive poultry flocks were selected to evaluate the genetic diversity of Campylobacter isolates and to study the distribution of genotypes among flocks. Campylobacter isolates recovered from chicken carcasses and ceca were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Little diversity was found among Campylobacter strains isolated from a given carcass, with a maximum of 2 different genotypes being present. However, at flock level, as many as 4 different profiles were observed. Typing of strains showed that most strains isolated from ceca were similar to those isolated from corresponding broiler carcasses. A total of 39 different macrorestriction profiles were observed, with evidence of Campylobacter cross-contamination among broiler flocks in Quebec slaughterhouses. Surprisingly, some flocks shared related genotypes both with and without sharing similar rearing practices. Existence of such cross-contamination must be considered to in developing strategies to control Campylobacter in chickens, and to avoid bacteria contamination of noncolonized flocks. Further typing studies of Campylobacter found in hatcheries, farm environment, and crates or trucks in Quebec might be helpful in elucidating the kinetics of broiler chicken Campylobacter contamination.
International Journal of Food Microbiology, 2010
Relatively little is known about the Campylobacter genotypes colonizing extensively reared broiler flocks and their survival through the slaughter process, despite the increasing demand for free-range and organic products by the consumer. Campylobacter isolates from a free-range boiler flock, sampled before and after slaughter, were genotyped by MLST (multilocus sequence typing) and sequence analysis of the flaA short variable region (SVR). The Campylobacter genotypes isolated before and after slaughter were diverse, with up to five sequence types (STs) (seven-locus allelic profiles resulting from MLST) identified per live bird, up to eight STs identified per carcass and 31 STs identified in all. The majority (72.0%) of isolates sampled from carcasses post-slaughter were indistinguishable from those isolated from the live flock before slaughter by ST and flaA SVR type, however, sampling 'on-farm' failed to capture all of the diversity seen post-slaughter. There were statistically significant increases in the genetic diversity of Campylobacter (p = 0.005) and the proportion of C. coli (p = 0.002), with some evidence for differential survival of genotypes contaminating the end product. C. coli genotypes isolated after slaughter were more similar to those from free-range and organic meat products sampled nationally, than from the live flock sampled previously. This study demonstrated the utility of MLST in detecting genetic diversity before and after the slaughter process.
Food Microbiology, 2010
A study was conducted in 2008 to estimate the prevalence and identify the risk factors for Campylobacter spp. contamination of broiler carcasses during the slaughtering process. A pool of 10 caeca and one carcass were collected from 425 batches of broiler chickens slaughtered in 58 French slaughterhouses over a 12-month period. Potential risk factors were identified according to the Campylobacter contamination status of carcasses and processing variables identified from questionnaires. The statistical analysis took into account confounding factors that have already been associated with the presence of Campylobacter on carcasses such as the slaughter age of the chicken or seasonal variations. Campylobacter spp. were isolated from 77.2% of caeca (95% CI 73.2 to 81.2) and from 87.5% of carcasses (95% CI 84.4 to 90.7). A multiple logistic regression showed 4 parameters as significant risk factors (p < 0.05) for contamination: (I) batches were not the first to be slaughtered in the logistic schedule (OR ¼ 3.5), (II) temperature in the evisceration room was higher than 15 C (OR ¼ 3.1), (III) dirty marks on carcasses after evisceration were visible (OR ¼ 2.6) and (IV) previous thinning of the flocks, from which slaughtered batches came, had occurred at the farm (OR ¼ 3.3). This last result highlighted the need for sanitary precautions to be taken when catching birds for transport. At the slaughterhouse, evisceration seemed to be the operation contributing most to the spread of contamination. Effective risk management solutions could include the systematic external rinsing of carcasses after evisceration and the implementation of slaughtering schedules according to the Campylobacter contamination status of flocks.
Study of Thermophilic Campylobacter Contamination of a Broiler Batch at Slaughter
Acta Scientiae …, 2012
Background: Broilers are a reservoir of Campylobacter (C.), an important causal agent of gastroenteritis mostly associated to handling and consumption of broiler meat. The majority of broiler fl ocks are colonized by thermophilic Campylobacter at the slaughter age, and carcasses might be contaminated throughout the processing line. Since surveillance is crucial to evaluate and improve approaches to reduce Campylobacter spread during broiler processing, a cross-sectional study was carried out to detect the level of Campylobacter contamination in a broiler at slaughter. Materials, Methods & Results: Cloacal swabs, caeca and whole carcasses were taken from a broiler fl ock slaughtered in Southern Brazil. Samples were individually inoculated in Bolton Broth (BB) and incubated at 41.5°C in a microaerobic atmosphere for 44 h, when the enriched culture was inoculated onto modifi ed Charcoal Cefoperazone Deoxycholate Agar (mCCDA) and Campy-Cefex Agar (CCA) plates. All plates were incubated at 41.5°C in the microaerobic atmosphere for 44 h. Aliquots of each enriched BB were collected and submitted to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), while the genetic relatedness of isolates was analyzed by pulsed-fi eld gel electrophoresis (PFGE). A total of 3 (9.4%) cloacal swabs were positive for C. jejuni. No Campylobacter was isolated from any of the caecal contents or broiler carcasses analyzed. In addition, negative mCCDA and CCA plates showed an abundant growth of contaminant cells. The PCR assay detected all thermophilic Campylobacter reference strains tested and also the Arcobacter species. No amplifi ed product was obtained from the non-related bacterial species analyzed. It was possible to identify 29 (90.6%) cloacal swabs, 32 (97.0%) caecal contents and 31 (100%) broiler carcasses Campylobacter-positive by PCR analysis. PFGE typing of the C. jejuni isolated resulted in two clearly distinguished genotypes which were grouped into different clusters. Discussion: The detection of C. jejuni in only few cloacal swabs sampled contrasts with higher frequencies of Campylobacter previously described in broilers. However, the enrichment culture of fecal samples might be compromised by the many competing non-target bacteria present, which may have prevented the detection of Campylobacter-positive samples. In addition, the BB and selective media containing cefoperazone might have allowed the growth of cefoperazone-resistant contaminant cells from fecal and carcasses samples, which masked Campylobacter cells onto mCCDA and CCA. To improve the detection of Campylobacter in broiler samples, alternative antimicrobial supplements or reduction of the time of enrichment has already been suggested. PCR showed a higher number of positive samples, which might refl ect the increased ability of the PCR assay to detect either injured cells in conventional enrichment culture or Campylobacter that were masked by the proliferation of competing cells onto selective media used. The PCR assay was able to detect all the reference strains of thermophilic Campylobacter, but also the related Arcobacter species. However, the temperature of incubation of the enriched cultures associated to the selective pressure of the antimicrobials present in the BB restricts the growth of Arcobacter and the false-positive results observed using PCR. The subtypes of the C. jejuni strains isolated showed that the target broiler fl ock was simultaneously colonized by more than one C. jejuni strain which might be the result of introduction of Campylobacter from different sources at farm. PCR analysis showed high Campylobacter contamination level of the target fl ock at slaughter, pointing to the need for additional studies to investigate Campylobacter sources at broiler processing.
Epidemiology and Infection, 2003
From April 1998 to March 2000, 18 broiler flocks were followed from the hatchery to the slaughterhouse. Campylobacter was not found in the hatchery, 1-day-old chicks or in the rearing house before the arrival of the chicks. The infection of broiler flocks increased continuously during the rearing time, with a total of seven positive flocks at the end of rearing. Farms with Campylobacter-positive broilers were characterized by the circulation of Campylobacter in the environment (puddles, dung hill) and on the footwear of the farmer. The administration of antibiotics did not significantly reduce Campylobacter shedding. With the exception of one flock during rearing and a few flocks in the slaughterhouse with a mixed Campylobacter coli–Campylobacter jejuni infection, C. jejuni exclusively was found both during rearing and on the carcasses. A significant correlation exits between the contamination of the broilers during rearing and the carcasses after processing. No slaughterhouse was a...
Campylobacter contamination during poultry slaughter in Belgium
Journal of Food …, 2006
The relation between internal carriage and surface contamination with thermophilic Campylobacter species in broilers was examined by molecular typing methods. Samples from 39 flocks were collected from three Belgian poultry slaughterhouses. From each flock, crop swabs before slaughter, and intestines and neck skins during slaughter were collected. A total of 308 isolates were identified at species level and further characterized by flagellinA PCR/Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism and Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis. Isolates were identified as Campylobacter jejuni (88.9%), Campylobacter coli (8.8%) and Campylobacter lari (2.3%) and 27 genotypes could be distinguished. In only six flocks, genotypes isolated from the neck skins were also found in the alimentary tract from previously slaughtered flocks. Four of these flocks were initially Campylobacter free.
Food Microbiology, 2011
In order to estimate the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. on broiler chicken carcasses and the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in caeca, 58 French slaughterhouses were investigated in 2008. Enumeration of Campylobacter spp. was also performed in order to study the relation between caeca and carcass contamination. A pool of 10 caeca and one carcass were collected from 425 different batches over a 12-month period in 2008. Salmonella was isolated on 32 carcasses leading to a prevalence of 7.5% ([5.0e10.0] 95%CI ). The prevalence of Campylobacter was 77.2% ([73.2e81.2] 95%CI ) in caeca and 87.5% ([84.4e90.7] 95%CI ) on carcasses. No significant correlation was found between Campylobacter and Salmonella. Positive values of Campylobacter were normally distributed and the average level was 8.05 log 10 cfu/g ([7.94e8.16] 95%CI ) in caeca and 2.39 cfu/g ([2.30e2.48] 95%CI ) on carcasses. A positive correlation (r ¼ 0.59) was found between the mean of Campylobacter in caeca and on carcasses (p < 0.001). Thus, carcasses from batches with Campylobacter-positive caeca had significantly (p < 0.001) higher numbers of Campylobacter per gram than batches with negative caeca. These results show that Campylobacter can be present in both matrices and reduction in caeca could be a possible way to reduce the amount of bacteria on carcasses. Of the 2504 identifications performed, 3 species of Campylobacter (Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter lari) were identified. The main species recovered were C. jejuni and C. coli, which were isolated in 55.3% and 44.5% of positive samples, respectively. These two species were equally represented in caeca but C. jejuni was the most frequently isolated on carcasses with 57.1% and 42.5% of positive carcasses for C. jejuni and C. coli, respectively. This study underlines that target a reduction of Campylobacter on final products requires a decrease of contamination in caeca.
Correlations between Campylobacter spp. prevalence in the environment and broiler flocks
Journal of applied microbiology, 2007
To investigate (i) possible correlations between the presence of Campylobacter spp. in the surroundings of broiler farms and their incidence in flocks, and (ii) possible associations between weather conditions and the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. Farms were selected according to previous results from the Swedish Campylobacter programme. Samples were collected in and around broiler houses during the rearing period from 131 flocks on 31 farms, including sock samples from the ground outside, from the floor in the broiler houses and anterooms, and samples from insects, water, feed and ventilation shafts. As expected, there was a difference in Campylobacter isolation rates for different categories of farms regarding samples taken in the houses. However, there were no differences regarding the presence of Campylobacter spp. in the environment between producers that often deliver Campylobacter-positive slaughter batches and those that rarely deliver positive batches. Campylobacter spp....
Food Microbiology, 2021
This study examined the impact of key processing stages and flock variables on the prevalence of Campylobacter on broiler carcasses. Overall, the prevalence of Campylobacter was 62% in caeca, and 68%, 65% and 62% in neck skin samples collected after evisceration, final wash and carcass chilling, respectively. Campylobacter were found in 32% of caeca, and 52%, 40% and 32% of neck skin samples collected after evisceration, final wash and carcass chilling, respectively from first thin broiler batches. Final thin broiler batches were more frequently contaminated with prevalences of 83% found in caeca, 80% in neck skin samples collected after evisceration and 83% found in neck skin samples collected after both final wash and carcass chilling stages (p < 0.05). Thinning status had a significant effect on Campylobacter counts with significantly higher counts observed in samples from final thin batches (p < 0.05). Highest Campylobacter concentrations in neck skin samples were observed at the evisceration stage in both first and final thin samples, with counts ranging from 2.0 to 3.8 log 10 CFU/g and 2.3 to 4.8 log 10 CFU/g in first and final thin batches, respectively. All first thin samples had counts below the European Union (EU) Process Hygiene Criterion threshold level of 3 log 10 CFU/g after chilling while 52% of final thin batches had counts above this limit.
2007
Abstract Frequency and numbers of Campylobacter spp. were assessed per freshly processed, contaminated broiler carcass. Campylobacter-positive flocks were identified by cecal sample analysis at slaughter. These flocks had been tested as Campylobacter negative at 4.1±0.9 d prior to slaughter. Levels of contamination were estimated using 2 sampling approaches per carcass:(1) free weep fluids and (2) whole-carcass, 100 mL of distilled water rinses.