Occurrence of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. at different stages of the poultry meat supply chain in Argentina

ZBRUN, M. V. ; ROMERO SCHARPEN A. ; OLIVERO C. ; ROSSLER E. ; SOTO, L.P. ; ROSMINI, M.R. ; SEQUEIRA, G.J. ; SIGNORINI M.L.; FRIZZO, L.S.

NEW ZEALAND VETERINARY JOURNAL

NEW ZEALAND VETERINARY ASSOC INC

Año: 2013 vol. 61 p. 337 - 343

0048-0169

AIMS: The objectives of this study were to investigate the occurrence and concentration of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. at different stages of the poultrymeat supply chain in Argentina. METHODS: Three integrated poultry companies were sampled. Each supply chain was considered at different stages from the reproductive farm to chicken meat at a retail market. The stages sampled were: (a) hens from breeder flocks, (b) eggs in the incubator, (c) broiler chickens in flocks (aged 5 weeks), (d) chickens at a slaughterhouse, and (e) chicken meat at a retail market. The chickens sampled along each supply chain were in the same batch. Samples collected were: (a) cloacal samples from hens and chickens on the farms, (b) fertile eggs, (c) feed, water and litter from flocks, (d) chicken carcasses from the slaughterhouse and retail market, and (e) caeca and livers from the slaughterhouse. Samples obtained were examined for Campylobacter spp. The isolates were biotyped and the genus and species identified by PCR. Campylobacter spp. on chicken carcasses at slaughterhouse and retail market were enumerated. RESULTS: The highest proportions of Campylobacter positive samples were observed in carcasses at retail (25/30, 83.3%) and faecal samples from breeding hens (27/45, 60.0%). Only 3.3% (3/90) samples collected from broiler chickens aged