Enumeration of Campylobacter spp. in Broiler Feces and in Corresponding Processed Carcasses

Abstract

Twenty north Georgia commercial flocks of broiler chickens sampled in 1995 and 11 flocks sampled in 2001 were tested for Campylobacter spp. Direct plating on Campy-Cefex agar was carried out to determine levels of Campylobacter colonization within each flock through the enumeration of the organism in 50 fresh fecal samples 1 day prior to slaughter. The next morning, these flocks were the first to be processed, and levels of the organism per carcass before the chilling operation (50 carcasses per flock) in 2001 and after the chilling operation (50 carcasses per flock) in both 1995 and 2001 were estimated. Levels of the organism on freshly processed broiler carcasses were estimated by the same methods in 1995 and 2001, and a significant reduction from an average of 10(4.11) CFU per carcass in 1995 to an average of 10(3.05) CFU per carcass in 2001 was observed. Levels of Campylobacter spp. found in production and in processing were not strongly correlative, indicating the existence of complex parameters involving production factors and variables associated with flock transport and the processing of the broilers. The reduction in Campylobacter levels on processed carcasses may have contributed to the reduction in the frequency of human disease observed by the Centers for Disease Control during the same period. These data characterize the distribution of Campylobacter in north Georgia poultry operations and should assist in the development of risk assessment models for Campylobacter spp. The results obtained in this study suggest that the implementation of antimicrobial interventions by the poultry industry has already reduced consumer exposure to the organism.

Molecular Tracking, through Processing, of Campylobacter Strains Colonizing Broiler Flocks

“…Our observations using cultural and genusspecific probe methods confirm that a significant reduction in campylobacter numbers occurred from postbleed to postpluck sampling points but that numbers stabilized at chilling, to give about 10 4 CFU/g skin, consistent with other studies (5,7,25,33).…”

Prevalence, seasonality and antibiotic susceptibility of thermophilic Campylobacters in ceca and carcasses of poultry birds in the live-bird market

“…Previous studies in India also concur with our findings with 39.3% of the tested poultry positive for Campylobacter in Calcutta (Chattopadhyay et al, 2001), 64% in Vellore (Rajendran et al, 2012) and 17.14% in the Meghalaya-Assam region (Rizal et al, 2010). Our findings on the prevalence of Campylobacter, based on cecal samples, corresponds well with those reported by Stern and Robach (2003) with an average population of 4.6 log 10 CFU/g in 1995 and an average population of 5.17 log 10 CFU/g in 2001 (Stern and Robach, 2003). These findings are also in agreement with values reported by Berrang et al (2000) and Hansson et al, (2010).…”

“…Hence, any contamination on the carcass is from within the birds itself. The Campylobacter levels on the carcass represent an important source of consumer exposure and potential risk for infection (Stern and Robach, 2003). Thus, the quantification of the Campylobacter contamination levels in the birds available through 'live-market' is predominantly imperative.…”

Campylobacter Colonization of the Turkey Intestine in the Context of Microbial Community Development

“…A commensal in poultry, Campylobacter is present in the crop at 10 4 and in the ceca at 10 7 CFU/g contents; thus, a single rupture early in processing can contaminate carcasses from several flocks (31). The estimated Campylobacter infectious dose for humans is 500 cells, and in the United States, broiler chickens routinely are contaminated with 10 3 CFU per carcass (4,43). Other risk factors for campylobacteriosis include the consumption of fresh vegetables and bottled water (11).…”