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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 #198017

Title: PRESLAUGHTER EVENTS DO NOT IMPACT SALMONELLA PREVALENCE IN TURKEYS

Author
item ROSTAGNO, MARCOS - 3625-30-15
item TRAMPEL, DARRELL - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item RIVERA, FERNANDO - UNIVRESITY OF ZUILA, VE
item HARBAUGH, ELLEN - 3625-30-15
item Wesley, Irene
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: Rostagno, M., Trampel, D., Rivera, F., Harbaugh, E., Wesley, I.V., Hurd, H.S. 2006. Preslaughter events do not impact Salmonella prevalence 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 preslaughter events, such as transport and holding at the slaughterhouse, impact Salmonella prevalence in turkeys. Floors of transport crates were swabbed after loading and prior to transport at the farm (Time 1, n = 100 swabs per trial) and after transport and holding at the abattoir (Time 2, n = 100 swabs per trial). In addition, environmental samples were taken at each of the six premises (n = 25 per premise) as well as in the holding shed at the abattoir (n = 25 samples per trial). At slaughter, crops, ceca, and spleens were cultured (n = 50 each per flock). Based on culture of crate floor swabs collected pre- and post-transport, when individual farms were analyzed only one premise exhibited a statistically significant change as seen by decline in Salmonella prevalence post-transport (P < 0.01). When data from all farms were combined, Salmonella was recovered more frequently from swabs collected pre-transport at loading on-farm (Time 1, 47.6%) than from swabs collected after transport (Time 2, 39.7%, P < 0.01). This suggests that transport and holding at the abattoir do not increase the prevalence of Salmonella in turkeys. This observation contrasts with the increase in Salmonella prevalence reported for hogs and some reports for broilers.