2016 Volume 33 Issue 4 Pages 182-186
In this study, we investigated Campylobacter prevalence in chicken fecal samples and cross-contamination of chicken carcass surface samples at a slaughterhouse, with an aim toward the production of Campylobacter-free chicken meat. Twenty-four broiler flocks comprising a total of 120 chickens were examined. C. jejuni were isolated in fecal samples from 34 chickens (28.3%) in 12 flocks, and C. jejuni and C. coli were from 5 chickens (4.2%) in a flock, respectively. A total of 13 Campylobacter-positive flocks and 11 Campylobacter-free flocks existed in this research. Immediately after all Campylobacter-free flocks had been slaughtered, no Campylobacter could be detected from the chicken carcass surfaces. However, all slaughtered flocks, including those that were initially Campylobacter-free, were later found to have been cross-contaminated by Campylobacter-positive flocks slaughtered on the same day. Our results indicate that preventing cross-contamination from Campylobacter-positive flocks is a crucial consideration for chicken slaughterhouse to produce Campylobacter-free chicken meat.
