Campylobacter isolates from different stages of the poultry meat supply chain in Argentina.

ZBRUN, M.V.; ZIMMERMANN, J.A.; ASTESANA D.M.; FRIZZO, L.S.; OLIVERO, C.R.; SOTO, L.P.; BERISVIL, A.P.; ROMERO SCHARPEN A.; ROSSLER E.; BLAJMAN, J.E.; SIGNORINI, M.L.

REVISTA ARGENTINA DE MICROBIOLOGíA

ASOCIACION ARGENTINA MICROBIOLOGIA

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2017 vol. 49 p. 235 - 241

0325-7541

The objective of this study was to investigate a clonal relationship among thermotolerant Campylobacter isolates from different stages of the poultry meat supply chain in Argentina. A total of 128 thermotolerant Campylobacter (89 C. jejuni and 39 C. coli) isolates from six poultry meat chains were examined. These isolates were from: a) hens from breeder flocks, b) chickens on the farm (at ages 1wk and 5wk), c) chicken carcasses in the slaughterhouse, and d) chicken carcasses in the retail market. Chickens sampled along each food chain were from the same batch. Campylobacter isolates were analyzed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to compare different profiles according to the source. Clustering of C. jejuni isolates resulted in 17 profiles, with four predominant genotypes and many small profiles with just a few isolates or unique patterns, showing a very high degree of heterogeneity among the C. jejuni isolates. Some clusters included isolates from different stages within the same chain, which would indicate a spread of strains along the same poultry meat chain. Moreover, twenty-two strains of C. coli clustered in seven groups and the remaining 17 isolates exhibited unique profiles. Evidence for transmission of thermotolerant Campylobacter through the food chain and cross contamination in the slaughterhouses were obtained. This collective evidence should be considered as the scientific basis to implement risk management measures to protect the public health.