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

Authors: AL HAKEEM, WALID - US Department Of Energy; Oladeinde, Adelumola; Li, Xiang; Cho, Sohyun; Rothrock Jr, Michael

Submitted to: Zoonoses and Public Health
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/19/2024
Publication Date: 9/20/2024
Citation: Al Hakeem, W., Oladeinde, A.A., Li, X., Cho, S., Rothrock Jr, M.J. 2024. Campylobacter diversity along the farm-to-fork continuum of pastured poultry flocks in the southeastern United States. Zoonoses and Public Health. (72):55-64. https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.13184.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.13184

Interpretive Summary: Consumer demand for all-natural, antibiotic-free poultry products has led to an increase in pastured poultry operations within the United States. 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, forty pastured poultry flocks from nine farms were sampled using a farm-to-fork strategy, and Campylobacter was isolated and characterized from pre-harvest (feces, soil) through post-harvest (ceca, whole carcass rinse) to the final product the consumer would purchase (whole carcass rinse). Campylobacter was isolated from 872 of 1820 samples, showing an overall prevalence of 47.91%. The ceca showed the highest (P < 0.05) Campylobacter load (4.64 log10 CFU/mL) and prevalence (95.5%), while the final product whole carcass rinses had the lowest (P < 0.05) Campylobacter load (0.32 log10 CFU/mL) and prevalence (15.45%), suggesting that the Campylobacter load in the ceca may not be indicative of the Campylobacter load on the final product. Of the 872 positive samples, 337 Campylobacter isolates were selected for further characterization. Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 74.18% of the positive samples (250/337), while Campylobacter coli was isolated from 21.95% (74/337). While the Campylobacter isolates displayed resistance to several antibiotics, the most common resistance for both C. jejuni and C. coli isolates was towards tetracycline (55.86% and 70.31%, respectively). Multidrug resistance rates (=3 antibiotics) were relatively low for both C. jejuni (2.34%) and C. coli (7.81%) isolates. Campylobacter load, prevalence, and diversity were more affected by farm location than by the type of sample from which the Campylobacter was isolated. Overall, these results indicate a need for farm-specific Campylobacter mitigation strategies to ensure the safety of these increasingly in-demand poultry products.

Technical Abstract: Consumer demand for all-natural, antibiotic-free poultry products has led to an increase in pastured poultry operations within the United States. 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, forty pastured poultry flocks from nine farms were sampled using a farm-to-fork strategy, and Campylobacter was isolated and characterized from pre-harvest (feces, soil) through post-harvest (ceca, whole carcass rinse) to the final product the consumer would purchase (whole carcass rinse). Campylobacter was isolated from 872 of 1820 samples, showing an overall prevalence of 47.91%. The ceca showed the highest (P < 0.05) Campylobacter load (4.64 log10 CFU/mL) and prevalence (95.5%), while the final product whole carcass rinses had the lowest (P < 0.05) Campylobacter load (0.32 log10 CFU/mL) and prevalence (15.45%), suggesting that the Campylobacter load in the ceca may not be indicative of the Campylobacter load on the final product. Of the 872 positive samples, 337 Campylobacter isolates were selected for further characterization. Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 74.18% of the positive samples (250/337), while Campylobacter coli was isolated from 21.95% (74/337). While the Campylobacter isolates displayed resistance to several antibiotics, the most common resistance for both C. jejuni and C. coli isolates was towards tetracycline (55.86% and 70.31%, respectively). Multidrug resistance rates (=3 antibiotics) were relatively low for both C. jejuni (2.34%) and C. coli (7.81%) isolates. Campylobacter load, prevalence, and diversity were more affected by farm location than by the type of sample from which the Campylobacter was isolated. Overall, these results indicate a need for farm-specific Campylobacter mitigation strategies to ensure the safety of these increasingly in-demand poultry products.