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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #198011
Title: THE EFFECT OF PRESLAUGHTER EVENTS ON THE PREVALENCE OF CAMPYLOBACTER JEJUNI AND CAMPYLOBACTER COLI IN TURKEYS

Author
item Wesley, Irene
item Muraoka, Wayne
item TRAMPEL, DARRELL - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item HURD, HOWARD - 3625-30-15

Submitted to: Electronic Publication
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/16/2006
Publication Date: 5/25/2006
Citation: Wesley, I.V., Muraoka, W.T., Trampel, D., Hurd, H.S. 2006. The effect of preslaughter events on the prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in turkeys. Poultry Science Day, May 25, 2006, Ames, Iowa. 2006 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The goal of this study was to determine if perimarketing events (i.e., feed withdrawal, catching, transport, and pre-slaughter holding) impact Campylobacter spp. in the intestines of turkeys. The distribution of C. jejuni and C. coli along the intestinal tract was examined before and after transport to the abattoir for six flocks. Market weight turkeys (n = 30/ flock) were euthanized and viscera (crops, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon, ceca, spleen) removed on the farm premise. Within ~ 24 hrs, cohorts (n = 30/flock) from the same flock were transported to a commercial abattoir, maintained in holding sheds, and slaughtered. Overall, when data for the six farms are combined, for turkeys examined on-farm, Campylobacter spp. were recovered from ceca (64%), crop (3%), duodenum (62.l2%), ileum (87.33%), and large intestine (86.67%). Campylobacter spp were not isolated from either the gall bladder or spleen. After the perimarketing events (i.e., at the abattoir), Campylobacter spp. were recovered from the ceca (57%), crop (24%), duodenum (74.67%), ileum (76%), and large intestine (80%) of the turkeys examined. That the recovery of Campylobacter spp. from the gall bladder was significantly higher at slaughter (14.67%) when compared to on-farm levels (0%, P < 0.05) reflects the accumulation of bile and subsequent enlargement of this organ during fasting. When compared to on-farm levels (3%) the increase in recoveries from the crop at slaughter (24%) was significant (P < 0.05%). Overall, C. coli was isolated more often from the crop and cecum. That C. jejuni predominates in the intestine (duodenum, ileum, colon) concurs with previous observation that C. jejuni is isolated more often than C. coli in cloacal swabs. Ability to differentiate C. jejuni from C. coli is fundamental to understanding dynamics of Campylobacter in the avian gut and in evaluating on-farm pathogen reduction interventions.