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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Egg and Poultry Production Safety Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #412584
Research Project: Reduction of Foodborne Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance in Poultry Production Environments

Location: Egg and Poultry Production Safety Research Unit

Title: Campylobacter diversity along the farm-to-fork continuum of pastured poultry flocks in the southeastern United States.

Author
item HAKEEM, WALID - Department Of Energy
item Oladeinde, Adelumola
item Li, Xiang
item Rothrock Jr, Michael

Submitted to: Meeting, Center for Food Safety, University of Georgia
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/9/2024
Publication Date: 3/1/2024
Citation: Hakeem, W.A., Oladeinde, A.A., Li, X., Rothrock Jr, M.J. 2024. Campylobacter diversity along the farm-to-fork continuum of pastured poultry flocks in the southeastern United States. UGA Center for Food Safety. p. 15.

Interpretive Summary: NA

Technical Abstract: The increased consumer demand for all-natural, antibiotic-free poultry products has increased pastured poultry operations. Given the increased level of environmental interaction and the potential increase in exposure to foodborne pathogens, a greater understanding of the prevalence and diversity of Campylobacter populations inherent within pastured poultry flocks is needed. To achieve this, 42 pastured poultry flocks from 11 farms were sampled using a farm-to-fork strategy, and Campylobacter was isolated and characterized through pre-harvest (feces, soil) to post-harvest (ceca, whole carcass rinse) to the final product (whole carcass rinse) the consumer would purchase. Campylobacter was isolated from 573 of 1890 samples, showing an overall prevalence of 30.32%. The ceca showed the highest Campylobacter load (4.52 log Log10CFU/ml) and prevalence (93.33%). At the same time, the final product had the lowest Campylobacter load (0.33 log10 CFU/ml) and prevalence (16.19%), indicating that the ceca is not a proper parameter to assess the Campylobacter load on the final product. Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 219 of the 573 positive samples (38.22%), while Campylobacter coli was isolated from 66 of the 573 positive samples (11.52%). Campylobacter jejuni isolates showed resistance to different antibiotics, with the most common resistance towards tetracycline (55.86%). Campylobacter coli isolates showed a similar antibiotic resistance, with the most common resistance towards tetracycline (70.31%). Only 2.34% of the Campylobacter jejuni isolates were multidrug-resistant, while 7.81% of the Campylobacter coli isolates were multidrug-resistant. Campylobacter load, prevalence, and diversity were more related to the farm location than to the type of sample from which the Campylobacter was isolated along the farm-to-fork continuum. Based on these data, Campylobacter prevalence was somehow similar to those from commercial poultry production. Campylobacter prevalence and load tended to be more farm-specific, indicating a potential need for more tailored intervention strategies to ensure the food safety of these products.