ARS | Publication request: PREVALENCE OF SALMONELLA ENTERICA IN TURKEYS ON-FARM AND AT SLAUGHTER

Submitted to: American Society for Microbiology Branch Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 22, 2005
Publication Date: September 22, 2005
Citation: Rostagno, M.H., Wesley, I.V., Trampel, D.W., Hurd, H.S. 2005. Prevalence of Salmonella enterica in turkeys on-farm and at slaughter [abstract]. North Central Branch-American Society for Microbiology Annual Meeting. p. 67.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of Salmonella enterica in turkeys on-farm and at slaughter (i.e., before and after feed withdrawal, catching, loading, transportation, and pre-slaughter holding). In each of the six commercial turkey production flocks studied, 30 birds were randomly selected from the production barn scheduled to be shipped to the abattoir in the same day, to be euthanized and necropsied. Individual samples collected included: cloacal loop, large intestine, crop, ceca, liver/gall bladder, and spleen. At the abattoir, 30 birds from the same production barn sampled on-farm were randomly selected in the slaughter line for sampling. Individual samples collected at slaughter included: crop, ceca, liver/gall bladder, and spleen. Samples were individually processed for the isolation and identification of S. enterica. All flocks studied were positive for S. enterica at slaughter. No statistical difference was found between the overall prevalence found on-farm and at slaughter, based on any sample type analyzed (i.e., birds positive in any of the samples collected). In both sampling points, on-farm and at slaughter, the overall prevalence found was 33.3%, with a minimum and maximum of 0% and 96.7%, and 6.7% and 80%, respectively. Diverging prevalence estimates were obtained based on the different sample types collected on-farm, and at slaughter. In both cases, cecal contents samples had the highest relative sensitivity (73.3% and 68.3%, respectively). This study demonstrates that the perimarketing practices of feed withdrawal, catching, loading, transportation, and pre-slaughter holding do not significantly affect the prevalence of S. enterica in market-age turkeys. Therefore, our results suggest that it may be possible to monitor turkey production farms based on samples collected at slaughter.