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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #202738
Title: PREVALENCE OF CAMPYLOBACTER AND SALMONELLA IN LAYING HENS IN CAGED HIGH-RISE AND CAGED MANURE-BELT AND FLOOR AVIARY HOUSING SYSTEM

Author
item Wesley, Irene
item Muraoka, Wayne
item TRAMPEL, D - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item XIN, H - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item GREEN, A - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2006
Publication Date: 10/1/2006
Citation: Wesley, I.V., Muraoka, W.T., Trampel, D.W., Xin, H., Green, A. 2006. Prevalence of Campylobacter and Salmonella in laying hens in caged high-rise and caged manure-belt and floor aviary housing system [abstract]. Food Safety Consortium 2006 Symposium. October 1-3, 2006, Fayetteville, Arkansas. 2006 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Previous reports have shown the frequency of Campylobacter spp. in organic and conventionally raised broilers. However, the prevalence of Campylobacter in table egg chickens maintained in different housing systems is unknown. The objective of this research was to compare the prevalence of Campylobacter in three types of egg layer housing systems: a) buildings in which hens are confined but kept on the ground (n=4 flocks); b) high-rise buildings with chickens in cages and a manure pit beneath the chickens (n=4 flocks); and c) buildings (n=4 flocks) with chickens in cages and a manure belt beneath the chickens. Four flocks were selected for each of the three housing categories and 10 birds from each of the four flocks were randomly selected to yield a total of 40 birds per housing type. Studies were conducted in the winter to maximize air quality differences between houses. Birds were humanely euthanized and ceca were immediately removed and screened for Campylobacter and Salmonella. Following enrichment and selective plating to Campy Cefex agar, presumptive Campylobacter colonies were identified to the species level by a multiplex PCR. The commercial BAX system was used for screening Salmonella. When the three housing types were compared, the prevalence of Campylobacter spp., especially C. coli, was significantly higher in birds which were confined but kept on the ground (p<0.05). No such differences were seen among flocks in the distribution of C. jejuni or in Salmonella.