ARS | Publication request: Effect of multiple washing in salicylic acid on the bacterial flora of the skin of processed broiler chickens

Submitted to: Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 2, 2008
Publication Date: July 20, 2008
Citation: Hinton Jr, A., Cason Jr, J.A. 2008. Effect of multiple washing in salicylic acid on the bacterial flora of the skin of processed broiler chickens [abstract]. Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract. 86(Suppl.1):38.

Technical Abstract: Experiments were conducted to determine changes in the bacterial flora of the skin of processed broilers after each of five consecutive washings in solutions of the keratolytic agent, salicylic acid. Skin samples from commercially processed broiler carcasses were divided into 3 groups and washed in distilled water, 10% salicylic acid, or 20% salicylic acid by agitating skin in these solutions in a Stomacher laboratory blender. After each wash, skin was transferred to fresh solutions and washing was repeated to provide samples washed 1 to 5 times in each solution. Washed skin was then stomached in Butterfield’s Phosphate Buffer to recover viable bacteria remaining on the skin. Bacterial flora of the rinsates was enumerated on Plate Count Agar, Staphylococcus Agar, Levine Eosin Methylene Blue Agar, Lactic Acid Bacteria Agar, and Perfringens Agar. Results indicated that after each of 5 consecutive washes in water, there was no significant difference in the number of bacteria recovered from skin on any of the agar media. Significantly fewer bacteria were recovered on Lactic Acid Bacteria Agar from skin after 5 washes in 10% salicylic acid than after 1 wash, but there was no significant decrease in the number of bacteria recovered on any other media after skin was washed in this solution. However, washing skin 4 or 5 times in 20% salicylic acid significantly reduced the number of bacteria recovered on Plate Count Agar and Staphylococcus Agar. Furthermore, no bacteria were recovered on Eosin Methylene Blue or Lactic Acid Bacteria Agars from rinsates of skin washed 4 or 5 times in 20% salicylic acid or on Perfringens Agar from skin washed 3 or more in the 20% solution. Findings indicate that successive washing of skin in salicylic acid may significantly reduce the number of bacteria recovered from the poultry skin, although bacterial populations found on poultry skin vary in their resistance to the antibacterial activity of salicylic acid.