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Title: Efficacy of Several Enrichment Procedures Utilizing TECRA and Bolton’s Broth for Recovery of Campylobacter from Commercial Poultry Carcass Rinse Samples

Author
item Richardson, Larry
item Bailey, Joseph
item Cox Jr, Nelson
item HARRISON, M - UGA
item COX, J - U OF NEW SOUTH WHALES

Submitted to: International Association for Food Protection
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2007
Publication Date: 7/8/2007
Citation: Richardson, L.J., Bailey, J.S., Cox Jr, N.A., Harrison, M.A., Cox, J.M. 2007. Efficacy of Several Enrichment Procedures Utilizing TECRA and Bolton’s Broth for Recovery of Campylobacter from Commercial Poultry Carcass Rinse Samples. International Association for Food Protection. P2-68:164-165.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Introduction: Improvements in the cultural recovery methods for Campylobacter are essential to accurately assess the epidemiology and ecology of this organism in poultry. In a preliminary study, significantly more Campylobacter were recovered from poultry carcasses with TECRA broth than with Bolton’s broth. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to 1) compare recovery of Campylobacter from poultry carcass rinses by direct plating and enrichment in TECRA and Bolton’s broths and 2) compare delayed addition of antibiotics, incubation temperature, modified atmosphere, and combinations of the three for recovery of Campylobacter from poultry carcass rinses. Methods: Post-pick and post-chill carcass rinses (n=198) were obtained from 20 processing plants. A matrix was set up to asses five different Bolton’s enrichment procedures and eight different TECRA enrichment procedures on recovery of Campylobacter. From each carcass rinse samples, an aliquot (5ml) was placed into 45ml of enrichment broth for each enrichment procedure. After incubation, an aliquot was streaked from the enrichments onto Campy-Cefex plates and standard laboratory procedures performed. In addition, direct plating was performed on all samples. Results: From direct plating, 50/100 post-pick and 4/98 post-chill rinse samples were positive for Campylobacter. The delayed addition of antibiotics combined with reduced incubation temperature for 5hrs in Campy-gas all contributed to increased recovery of Campylobacter from TECRA enrichment broth. The best TECRA enrichment procedure recovered 80/100 post-pick and 38/98 post-chill positive samples. The best Bolton’s enrichment procedure recovered 72/100 post-pick and 37/98 post-chill positive samples. Significance: The utilization of delayed addition of antibiotics with incubation under Campy-gas had the greatest effect on improved recovery of Campylobacter cells from rinse samples utilizing TECRA while delayed addition of antibiotics and reduced temperature had a negative effect on recovery from Bolton’s. Direct plating was not a reliable method to determine qualitatively the number of samples positive for Campylobacter.