Contamination of Carcasses with Salmonella during Poultry Slaughter

Abstract

Successively slaughtered poultry flocks were sampled for Salmonella to study the relationship between gastrointestinal colonization of the birds and contamination of the carcasses after slaughter. Samples from 56 broiler flocks and 16 spent layer and breeder flocks were collected in six slaughterhouses. Salmonella isolates were serotyped and further characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Although only 7 (13%) broiler flocks were colonized with Salmonella at slaughter, carcasses of 31 (55%) broiler flocks were contaminated after slaughter. Concerning the layer and breeder flocks, 11 (69%) flocks were colonized in the gastrointestinal tract, but after slaughter, carcasses of all flocks were contaminated. The Salmonella status determined at the farm did not always correlate to the status at slaughter. On the other hand, the slaughter of Salmonella-colonized flocks did not always result in the contamination of the carcasses with the same PFGE types isolated from the gastrointestinal tract. When only uncolonized flocks were slaughtered, the carcasses of flocks were on some occasions still contaminated with Salmonella. This indicates possible cross-contamination from the slaughter equipment or transport crates. These observations show that it is difficult to reach the benefits of logistic slaughter in commercial poultry slaughterhouses.

Analysis of the baseline survey on the prevalence of Campylobacter in broiler batches and of Campylobacter and Salmonella on broiler carcasses in the EU, 2008 ‐ Part A: Campylobacter and Salmonella prevalence estimates

“…The presence of Salmonella on broiler carcasses reflects both surface contamination from faeces and crosscontamination from the processing equipment and the processing environment at the slaughterhouse (Corry et al, 2002;Rasschaert et al, 2008). Following slaughter of a Salmonella-positive broiler batch, unless effective cleaning is undertaken, Salmonella can persist in the slaughterhouse environment and contaminate subsequent slaughter batches.…”

Prevalence of Salmonella spp. in broiler chicken meat

“…(23) wykazali, że mimo prowadzonych działań i zabiegów zapobiegających rozprzestrzenianiu się pałeczek Salmonella w stadzie, po przetransportowaniu ptaków do ubojni 13% stad zakażonych było przez pałeczki Salmonella, a badanie tuszek przeprowadzone po zakończeniu procesu uboju wykazało wzrost stopnia zanieczyszczenia do 55%.…”

Technical specifications on harmonised epidemiological indicators for biological hazards to be covered by meat inspection of poultry

“…Incoming birds infected with Salmonella are an important risk factor for Salmonella contamination of poultry carcases in the slaughterhouse (Rasschaert et al, 2008). The slaughter of Salmonella-positive poultry flocks/batches may result in the contamination not only of carcases but also of the slaughter line (Corry et al, 2002;Olsen et al, 2003).…”

“…The slaughter of Salmonella-positive poultry flocks/batches may result in the contamination not only of carcases but also of the slaughter line (Corry et al, 2002;Olsen et al, 2003). Salmonella can spread through faecal contamination and the slaughterhouse equipment can remain contaminated with Salmonella even after cleaning and disinfection (Heyndrickx et al, 2002;Rasschaert et al, 2007Rasschaert et al, , 2008. Slaughterhouse technology can influence greatly direct and indirect cross-contamination between slaughtered birds, and variability in slaughterhouse equipment contributes to differences in the final microbial load of the carcase (EFSA, 2012b).…”