Assessment of Campylobacter from production farms, hatchery, and processing plant of a conventional broiler complex

Authors: ADHIKARI, YAGYA - Auburn University; BAILEY, MATTHEW - Auburn University; GAONKAR, PANKAJ - Auburn University; KITCHENS, STEVEN - Auburn University; MUNOZ, LUIS - Auburn University; BOURASSA, DIANNA - Auburn University; PRICE, STUARD - Auburn University; Buhr, Richard; MACKLIN, KENNETH - Auburn University

Submitted to: Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/29/2024
Publication Date: 7/15/2024
Citation: Adhikari, Y., Bailey, M.A., Gaonkar, P., Kitchens, S., Munoz, L.R., Bourassa, D.V., Price, S.B., Buhr, R.J., Macklin, K.S. 2024. Assessment of Campylobacter from production farms, hatchery, and processing plant of a conventional broiler complex. Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract. 103(E-Suppl.1: 527P, p. 244-245.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Campylobacter is a gram negative, microaerophilic foodborne pathogen that usually causes acute gastro-enteritidis in humans. Poultry and products are considered as the major reservoir for this pathogen. The main purpose of this study was to isolate Campylobacter from a wide variety of samples along the various locations of an integrated broiler complex. Altogether 810 farm environmental samples were collected from inside and outside of 38 production houses (8 pullets, 10 breeders, 20 broilers), a hatchery, 6 trucks, and a processing plant of a conventional broiler complex. Buffered peptone water was used to pre-enrich all those collected samples and after 24 hours of incubation, the pre-enrichments were pre-screened with 3M Molecular Detection System (MDS). The suspect positive samples were further processed for confirmation. Data were analyzed using R® (version 4.3.1) using Generalized Linear Modeling for binomial distribution. The odds ratio for Campylobacter detection and 95% confidence intervals were compared among different locations and sample types considered along the complex. The level of significance was set to a < 0.05. Based on MDS results, 32% (257/810) of total samples and 87% (33/38) of production houses were found to be contaminated with Campylobacter. Out of 257 MDS Campylobacter positive samples, 137 samples were also positive on culture. Moreover, the pathogen was detected in all locations and 12 different sample types. Interestingly, the odds of Campylobacter detection in production farms were significantly higher (p<0.05) than its detection in hatchery. Similarly, the odds of pathogen detection in boot swabs and sponge-stick swabs were significantly higher (p<0.01) as compared to the rest of the sample types in production farms and hatchery. However, 95% (36/38) of transport samples and 55% (107/193) of processing plant samples were MDS positive for Campylobacter. Similarly, 96% (44/46) of fecal samples collected from transport and processing plant were Campylobacter MDS positive. In the processing plant, the odds of pathogen detection in fecal samples and post-picking carcass rinses were significantly higher (p<0.01) as compared to its detection in post-chilling carcass rinses. Therefore, the pathogen is present in the surroundings of chicken houses and facilities. The prevalence percentage was found to be higher in transport and processing plants which can potentially contaminate the final product and can cause foodborne illness in humans. Whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of these pure isolates could be helpful to know the genetic relatedness among the strains and determine the possible routes of entry and transmission of this pathogen along the poultry food chain.