Cage drying and the application of a dry treatment (absorbent cornstarch powder) as a means to diminish Campylobacter on transport cages.

Authors: Berrang, Mark; Cox Jr, Nelson; NORTHCUTT, JULIE - Clemson University; HOFACRE, CHARLES - University Of Georgia; Meinersmann, Richard - Rick; OAKLEY, BRIAN - Western University Of Health Sciences; Cosby, Douglas; Gamble, Gary; WILSON, JEANNA - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Poultry USA
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2016
Publication Date: 1/1/2017
Citation: Berrang, M.E., Cox Jr, N.A., Northcutt, J., Hofacre, C., Meinersmann, R.J., Oakley, B., Cosby, D.E., Gamble, G.R., Wilson, J. 2017. Cage drying and the application of a dry treatment (absorbent cornstarch powder) as a means to diminish Campylobacter on transport cages. . Poultry USA. p. 44:46.

Interpretive Summary: Broiler transport cages soiled with Campylobacter-positive feces have been shown to facilitate cross contamination of broilers. Campylobacter organisms are sensitive to dry stress. Allowing feces left on transport cage flooring to dry during extended periods of nonuse would be an effective method to reduce or in 24 hours, eliminate, viable Campylobacter left by positive flocks. The problem with this approach is that poultry processors do not have the time, space or resources to maintain several times the minimum required number of transport cages. The current design of transport dump cages commonly used in the United States does not lend itself to removal and replacement of the floor for separate washing or drying. Therefore, it was hypothesized that a technique to reduce the amount of time required to dry fecal matter and apply stress to Campylobacter may be helpful. An absorbent cornstarch powder was applied to the transport cage flooring to draw water out of the feces, thereby hastening the onset of bacterial death. Figure 1 shows the results of a) drying time alone, b) cornstarch alone, c) spray washing or d) spray washing plus the application of cornstarch. After 24 hours drying time, Campylobacter were not detected on control or treated floor samples. At 15 min drying time, cornstarch alone was the same as the unwashed control, while spray washing decreased numbers by greater than 90% and a combination of washing followed by corn starch decreased numbers by 99.9% or 3 logs. In this trial, combining spray washing and cornstarch application for 15 min decreased Campylobacter as much as a 4 hr drying time. It would seem that washing followed by an absorbent powder could be helpful to aid in the desiccation-caused death of Campylobacter on transport cage flooring should a short turnaround time be necessary.

Technical Abstract: Broiler transport cages soiled with Campylobacter-positive feces have been shown to facilitate cross contamination of broilers. Campylobacter organisms are sensitive to dry stress. Allowing feces left on transport cage flooring to dry during extended periods of nonuse would be an effective method to reduce or in 24 hours, eliminate, viable Campylobacter left by positive flocks. The problem with this approach is that poultry processors do not have the time, space or resources to maintain several times the minimum required number of transport cages. The current design of transport dump cages commonly used in the United States does not lend itself to removal and replacement of the floor for separate washing or drying. Therefore, it was hypothesized that a technique to reduce the amount of time required to dry fecal matter and apply stress to Campylobacter may be helpful. An absorbent cornstarch powder was applied to the transport cage flooring to draw water out of the feces, thereby hastening the onset of bacterial death. Figure 1 shows the results of a) drying time alone, b) cornstarch alone, c) spray washing or d) spray washing plus the application of cornstarch. After 24 hours drying time, Campylobacter were not detected on control or treated floor samples. At 15 min drying time, cornstarch alone was the same as the unwashed control, while spray washing decreased numbers by greater than 90% and a combination of washing followed by corn starch decreased numbers by 99.9% or 3 logs. In this trial, combining spray washing and cornstarch application for 15 min decreased Campylobacter as much as a 4 hr drying time. It would seem that washing followed by an absorbent powder could be helpful to aid in the desiccation-caused death of Campylobacter on transport cage flooring should a short turnaround time be necessary.