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Title: SPRAY WASHING AND SANITIZER IMMERSION TO LOWER CAMPYLOBACTER NUMBERS ON BROILER TRANSPORT CAGE FLOORING

Author
item Berrang, Mark
item Northcutt, Julie

Submitted to: Poultry Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/29/2004
Publication Date: 7/31/2005
Citation: Berrang, M.E., Northcutt, J.K. 2005. Spray washing and sanitizer immersion to lower campylobacter numbers on broiler transport cage flooring [abstract]. Poultry Science. 84(suppl.1):92.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Broiler transport cages become soiled with feces during transportation and holding. Feces may contain high numbers of Campylobacter which can cross contaminate the next flock of broilers placed into the cages. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of spray washing and immersion in chemical sanitizer on Campylobacter contamination in feces left on the floor surface of broiler transport cages. Fiberglass floor material was cut into squares (25 cm2). One gram of Campylobacter contaminated feces was placed onto each of ten sterile floor squares per treatment and allowed to dry for 60 min. Treatments included: i) untreated control, ii) 15 s water spray, iii) water spray followed by a 15s, 1 min or 5 min dip in 200 ppm chlorine, and iv) water spray followed by a 15 s, 1 min or 5 min dip in 200 ppm quaternary ammonium chloride based sanitizer. Following treatment, each flooring square was sampled by means of a sterile cotton tipped applicator pre-moistened with neutralizing broth. Serial dilutions were plated onto the surface of Campy-cefex agar. A 15 s tap water spray at 10 psi caused significant reduction in Campylobacter numbers recovered from fiberglass flooring material. This decrease ranged from 2 to 4 log cfu / 25cm2. Immersing spray washed flooring in either sanitizing chemical for 15 s did not further reduce the numbers of Campylobacter recovered. Longer dip times in sanitizer solutions actually resulted in higher numbers of Campylobacter recovered. This improved recovery was likely due to an increased hydration effect during immersion which softened remaining fecal material thereby making surviving Campylobacter more readily available for surface sampling. Removal of visible feces by a water spray can lower the numbers of Campylobacter recovered from broiler transport cage flooring; however, the organism is not entirely eliminated. Subsequent wetting may allow injured cells to recover or become more available thus regaining the potential for cross contamination. Campylobacter, transport cage, sanitization, sanitation, washing