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Title: COMPARISON OF TWO METHODS FOR ISOLATION OF CAMPYLOBACTER SPP. FROM LIVE POULTRY

Author
item HJARTARDOTTIR, S - U OF ICELAND
item GUNNARSSON, E - U OF ICELAND
item FRIORIKSDOTTIR, V - U OF ICELAND
item BIRGISDOTTIR, K - U OF ICELAND
item BJARNADOTTIR, S - U OF ICELAND
item JONSDOTTIR, G - U OF ICELAND
item Stern, Norman
item REIERSEN, J - CHIEF VET OFFICE

Submitted to: Campylobacter Helicobacter and Related Organisms International Workshop
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2003
Publication Date: 9/10/2003
Citation: Hjartardottir, S., Gunnarsson, E., Frioriksdottir, V., Birgisdottir, K., Bjarnadottir, S., Jonsdottir, G., Stern, N.J., Reiersen, J. 2003. Comparison of two methods for isolation of campylobacter spp. from live poultry. Campylobacter Helicobacter and Related Organisms International Workshop.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This study compared two methods, the NMKL and the Campy-Cefex direct plating method, for detecting Campylobacter spp. in poultry caecal samples. The samples, consisted of 4 pooled groups of 10 caeca each, which were collected from every broiler catch lot at slaughter as part of the official Icelandic surveillance programme for Campylobacter in poultry. The NMKL method calls for 24 hour incubation of the sample in Preston broth, and the resulting enrichment culture is then plated onto modified CCD agar plates and incubated a further 48 hours. Isolated colonies with typical cellular morphology are further assessed by hippurate hydrolysis and sensitivity to nalidixic acid. The Campy-Cefex method requires serial dilution of samples in saline water which is directly plated onto Campy-Cefex agar and incubated for 24-48 hours. Typical colonies are examined for corkscrew motility by phase-contract microscopy and are confirmed by latex agglutination. The NMKL method is qualitative and requires at least 72 hours while the Campy-Cefex method is a semi-quantitative method requiring 24-48 hours for confirmed detection of Campylobacter spp. Data gathered from May through December 2001 indicated there was little difference in the sensitivity between these two methods. Of 50 positive broiler catch lots, 45 were confirmed by both methods. A single lot was positive only by the NMKL procedure and 5 lots only by the Campy-Cefex protocol. Among 258 catch lots tested, 207 were negative by both assays. In conclusion, the Campy-Cefex method was at least as sensitive as the NMKL method, provided an estimate of Campylobacter levels, and required only 2 days as compared to 3 days for the NMKL method.