Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 94% of chicken carcase rinses collected in a Queensland poultry abattoir. Direct plating resulted in the isolation of the organism from 84% of the rinses. A further 10% were found to contain C. jejuni by a procedure of selective enrichment and membrane filtration. Counts of C. jejuni on the carcases ranged from 0 to 1.1 x 10(5) organisms per carcase.

Counts of salmonellae were done by the most probable number technique on samples collected from the hands of abattoir workers as well as on samples from hand-rails and posts regularly touched by the workers. Salmonellae were isolated from the hands of 52% of the workers who handled the hide. They had the highest average counts with counts ranging from 0 to greater than 3663 salmonellae. The remaining workers on the slaughter floor and those in the boning room had generally lower counts with contamination rates of 28% and 45% respectively. Only 3 of the 100 samples collected from the hand-rails and posts contained salmonellae. The average count was 0.11 per 100 cm2.

A method similar to that used by Board and Board (1967) was used to determine the numbers of eggs penetrated by bacteria on 3 poultry farms in south-east Queensland. Significant differences in the percentages of penetrated eggs between the eggs of layer birds (9.7%) and the eggs of meat birds (16.1%) and between nest eggs (10.5%) and floor eggs (15.3%) were detected. The distribution of the numbers of penetration points was similar for nest and floor eggs for both types of bird and was independent of shell surface area or thickness.

A selective motility medium was used as a secondary selective enrichment medium to examine specimens naturally contaminated with salmonellae. The medium, incubated at 37°C, was inoculated from either selenite brilliant green sulfa enrichment broth or Muller-Kauffman tetrathionate broth, both of which had been incubated at 42°C. The use of the selective motility medium resulted in an increase in the number of positive specimens from 65 and 74% to 80 and 82%, when inoculated at 24 and 48 h, respectively, from tetrathionate broth. Tetrathionate broth, when used singly, was significantly better than selenite brilliant green sulfa broth, which detected 55% of positive specimens at both 24 and 48 h. The use of the selective motility medium of Harper and Shortridge (J. Hyg. 67: 181-186, 1969) for the further examination of specimens culturally negative on primary selective enrichment is advocated.

Counts of salmonellae were performed by the most probable number technique on steels, aprons, scabbards and on structures within the abattoir with which carcases made accidental contact. Counts on steels ranged from 0-153 salmonellae per steel; aprons from 0-14 per 100 cm2; scabbards from 0-greater than 3667 per scabbard; and carcase bump points from 0-40 per 100 cm2. Contamination rates were highest for the equipment of workers whose job functions brought them in contact with the hide.