No abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility of 62 Campylobacter spp. strains obtained from broiler flocks using the agar diffusion method. The Campylobacter spp strains were isolated from 22 flocks aged between 3 and 5 weeks of life, isolated from cloacae swabs, stools and cecal droppings in the farm and from the carcass rinsing in the slaughterhouse. Campylobacter spp strains were tested on Mueller-Hilton (MH) agar (27 samples) and MH plus TTC agar (35 samples). The antimicrobial susceptibility test revealed a 62.5% resistance to at least one drug, especially to enrofloxacin (71%), neomycin (50%), lincomycin (50%), tetracycline (43%), penicillin (42%), ceftiofur (33%) amoxicillin (27%), spiramycin (20%), ampicillin (18%) and norfloxacin (14%), whereas a lower percentage of strains was resistant to erythromycin (10%) and doxycycline (10%). All strains were sensitive to gentamicin and lincomycin-spectinomycin and 80% of them to colistin. These results indicate that it is necessary to reduce the use of antimicrobials in veterinary and human medicine.

Twenty-two commercial broiler flocks and their carcasses, totaling 546 samples (450 collected from a poultry farm and 96 from a slaughterhouse), were surveyed for the presence of Campylobacter. The positive results for Campylobacter among the analyzed samples were homogeneous, yielding 81.8% for cecal droppings, 80.9% for feces, and 80.4% for cloacal swabs. Pre-enrichment and direct plating showed that 77.85% and 81.8% of cloacal swabs, respectively, were positive for Campylobacter compared to 99.0% and 97.9% of carcasses testing positive with the pre-enrichment and direct plating methods. The Campylobacter count averaged 7.0 log10 colony-forming units (CFU)/g in cecal droppings, 5.15 log10 CFU/carcass after defeathering, and 4.24 log10 CFU/carcass after chilling. The samples were identified by the API Campy system as Campylobacter jejuni subsp. jejuni (68.8%), Campylobacter coli (8.3%), Campylobacter jejuni subsp. doylei (6.3%), Campylobacter upsaliensis (4.2%), and Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus (2.1%). The analyzed broiler flocks were positive for Campylobacter in 81.8% of the cases, thus characterizing the occurrence of this pathogen in a broiler-producing region in southern Brazil. These results highlight the importance of programs targeted at the reduction of Campylobacter in poultry products, in order to minimize the risks for consumers.

Campylobacter was investigated in cecal droppings, feces, and cloacal swabs of 22 flocks of 3 to 5 week-old broilers. Risk factors and the likelihood of the presence of this agent in these flocks were determined. Management practices, such as cleaning and disinfection, feeding, drinkers, and litter treatments, were assessed. Results were evaluated using Odds Ratio (OR) test, and their significance was tested by Fisher's test (p<0.05). A Campylobacter prevalence of 81.8% was found in the broiler flocks (18/22), and within positive flocks, it varied between 85 and 100%. Campylobacter incidence among sample types was homogenous, being 81.8% in cecal droppings, 80.9% in feces, and 80.4% in cloacal swabs (230). Flocks fed by automatic feeding systems presented higher incidence of Campylobacter as compared to those fed by tube feeders. Litter was reused in 63.6% of the farm, and, despite the lack of statistical significance, there was higher likelihood of Campylobacter incidence when litter was reused. Foot bath was not used in 45.5% of the flocks, whereas the use of foot bath associated to deficient lime management increased the number of positive flocks, although with no statiscal significance. The evaluated parameters were not significantly associated with Campylobacter colonization in the assessed broiler flocks

RESUMOCampylobacter são microorganismos patogênicos associados com aves ou alimentos de origem avícola e sua importância está relacionada à alta prevalência de Campylobacter nos frangos de corte e suas carcaças, correlacionados com gastroenterite em humanos. Neste estudo, monitorou-se 22 lotes de frango de corte com idades entre 3 a 5 semanas na granja e 35 dias no abate e avaliou-se os métodos de pré-enriquecimento (PE) e isolamento direto (ID) para identificação de Campylobacter em swabs cloacais e carcaças de frango. Realizaram-se 22 análises de swabs cloacais pelo PE e pelo ID, 96 análises de carcaças pelo ID e, destas, 95 pelo PE. Para o isolamento direto a partir de swabs utilizou-se o ágar mCCDA acrescido de suplemento seletivo, acondicionado em embalagem não permeável e microaerofilia com mistura de gases (5% O 2 , 10% CO 2 e 85% N 2 ). Para o PE, os swabs foram inoculados em pool no caldo Bolton suplementado com antibióticos e 200 mg/ L de TTC, seguido de inoculação em ágar mCCDA, também em microaerofilia. As carcaças também foram analisadas para ambos os métodos, utilizando-se caldo Bolton no pré-enriquecimento, seguido de inoculação em mCCDA ou isolamento direto em ágar Bolton com TTC, sempre em microaerofilia. Não houve diferença significativa (p=1,00) entre os métodos de pré-enriquecimento e isolamento direto nas amostras de swabs e carcaças. Identificou-se 81,8% lotes positivos por ID e 77,3% pelo PE na análise dos swabs e 99,0% das carcaças pelo PE e 97,9% pelo ID. Os métodos de pré-enriquecimento e isolamento direto foram homogêneos e sensíveis para detecção de Campylobacter em amostras de swabs cloacais e carcaças de frango. Entretanto, pela praticidade e antecipação dos resultados em 24 horas, recomenda-se a utilização do método de isolamento direto.Descritores: Campylobacter, pré-enriquecimento, isolamento direto, swabs cloacais, carcaças de frangos. ABSTRACTCampylobacter are pathogenic microorganisms associated with poultry or poultry products. Its importance is related to high prevalence of Campylobacter in broiler flocks and in carcasses, which frequency is correlated to gastroenteritis in human. This study was realized in 22 broiler chicken flocks with from 3 to 5 weeks and the slaughter age of 35 days. Were evaluated the pre-enrichment (PE) and direct plating (DP) in the identification of Campylobacter in cloacae swabs and broiler carcasses. Were analyzed 22 cloacae swabs by PE and DP, 96 carcasses by DP, and of these, 95 by PE. In the DP, the swabs were plated directly onto selective modified agar (mCCDA) and placed in waterproof bags, under microaerophilia, with a gas mixture (5% O 2 , 10% CO 2 and 85% N 2 ). In the PE, they were pooled onto Bolton broth supplemented with antibiotics, 15 g/ L of agar, 0.5g/L of iron sulfate and 200 mg/L of TTC, followed by plating onto mCCDA, also under microaerophilia. Carcasses were assessed in both methods using Bolton broth in PE, followed by plating onto mCCDA, and DP onto Bolton agar with TTC. No statistically significant difference (p=1.00) was ob...