Impact of Built-up-Litter and Commercial Antimicrobials on Salmonella and Campylobacter Contamination of Broiler Carcasses Processed at a Pilot Mobile Poultry-Processing Unit

Abstract

The small-scale mobile poultry-processing unit (MPPU) produced raw poultry products are of particular food safety concern due to exemption of USDA poultry products inspection act. Limited studies reported the microbial quality and safety of MPPU-processed poultry carcasses. This study evaluated the Salmonella and Campylobacter prevalence in broiler ceca and on MPPU-processed carcasses and efficacy of commercial antimicrobials against Campylobacter jejuni on broilers. In study I, straight-run Hubbard × Cobb broilers (147) were reared for 38 days on clean-shavings (CS, 75) or built-up-litter (BUL, 72) and processed at an MPPU. Aerobic plate counts (APCs), coliforms, Escherichia coli, and yeast/molds (Y/M) of carcasses were analyzed on petrifilms. Ceca and carcass samples underwent microbial analyses for Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. using the modified USDA method and confirmed by API-20e test (Salmonella), latex agglutination immunoassay (Campylobacter), and Gram staining (Campylobacter). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (CadF gene) identified the prevalence of C. jejuni and Campylobacter coli in ceca and on carcasses. In study II, fresh chilled broiler carcasses were spot inoculated with C. jejuni (4.5 log10 CFU/mL) and then undipped, or dipped into peroxyacetic acid (PAA) (1,000 ppm), lactic acid (5%), lactic and citric acid blend (2.5%), sodium hypochlorite (69 ppm), or a H2O2–PAA mix (SaniDate® 5.0, 0.25%) for 30 s. Surviving C. jejuni was recovered onto Brucella agar. APCs, coliforms, and E. coli populations were similar (P > 0.05) on CS and BUL carcasses. Carcasses of broilers raised on BUL contained a greater (P < 0.05) Y/M population (2.2 log10 CFU/mL) than those reared on CS (1.8 log10 CFU/mL). Salmonella was not detected in any ceca samples, whereas 2.8% of the carcasses from BUL were present with Salmonella. Prevalence of Campylobacter spp., C. jejuni was lower (P < 0.05), and C. coli was similar (P > 0.05) in CS-treated ceca than BUL samples. Prevalence of Campylobacter spp., C. jejuni, and C. coli was not different (P > 0.05) on CS- and BUL-treated carcasses. All antimicrobials reduced C. jejuni by 1.2–2.0 log CFU/mL on carcasses compared with controls. Hence, raising broilers on CS and applying post-chilling antimicrobial treatment can reduce Salmonella and Campylobacter on MPPU-processed broiler carcasses.

Effect of Flock Age, Air Pressure and Litter Types on Carcass Traits and Meat Quality of Broiler Chicks

“…Litter type showed highly significant (p<0.0001) effect on meat bacteriological examination, broilers chicks reared on PL and WSH showed the lowest count of APC and coliform count bacteria (2.95×10 3 and 3.30×10 2 cfu/g, respectively). These results agreed with those reported by (Li et al, 2017) who found that built-up litter like wood shaving and sand litter types increasing APC and coliform count bacteria in meat of chickens.Torok et al, (2009) indicated that the welfare, performance and carcass meat quality of poultry are affected directly by litter types and quality.…”

Applications of Microbiome Analyses in Alternative Poultry Broiler Production Systems

“…in birds raised in open-air housing compared to those from environmentally-controlled housing. Li et al (40) reported an increase in the incidence of Salmonella and C. jejuni recovered from the ceca of birds processed in a MPPU after being raised on built-up litter when compared to birds reared on clean shavings. The method of processing may not be a factor.…”

“…of Agriculture inspected facility, and a MPPU pilot plant facility and concluded that birds generally were contaminated with Salmonella and/or Campylobacter regardless of the type of facility. However, Li et al (40) reported that post-chill application of antimicrobials can successfully reduce Campylobacter and Salmonella carcass contamination. Reduction of foodborne pathogens during the processing of pasture flock birds may be important, not only for decreasing levels on the retail birds but also for reducing pathogen loads in the processing waste disposal onto the soil (18).…”

Gastrointestinal microbiomes of broilers and layer hens in alternative production systems

“…Food safety concerns also have to be considered with free-range broiler production and most aspects involving free-range broilers have recently been summarized by Shi et al ( 2019 ) and will not be discussed in detail in the current review. The primary foodborne pathogens associated with poultry, namely Campylobacter and Salmonella have been identified in free-range broiler flocks, processing operations, and retail products (Bailey and Crosby, 2005 ; McCrea et al, 2006 ; Hanning et al, 2010 ; Melendez et al, 2010 ; Trimble et al, 2013a , b ; Tangkham et al, 2016 ; Li et al, 2017 ). Listeria spp.…”