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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #210217
Title: THE PREVALENCE OF CAMPYLOBACTER AND SALMONELLA THROUGHOUT TURKEY BROODER PRODUCTION

Author
item Wesley, Irene
item Muraoka, Wayne

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/19/2007
Publication Date: 4/19/2007
Citation: Wesley, I.V., Muraoka, W.T. 2007. The prevalence of Campylobacter and Salmonella throughout turkey brooder production [abstract]. Institute for Food Safety and Security. p. 28.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We have previously surveyed market weight turkeys for the presence of Campylobacter and Salmonella and have reported that whereas the prevalence of Campylobacter is >60% at slaughter the Salmonella prevalence varies from 0 to 97%. The purpose of this study was to determine the temporal point of entry of Campylobacter and Salmonella into the brooder house, which is the first stage of commercial turkey production. Two studies were conducted. In summer 2005, birds (100 per time point) were collected on-farm (0-, 9- and 16-days of age), transported to the laboratory, euthanized, necropsied, and intestines cultured for Campylobacter and Salmonella. Whereas Campylobacter spp. were not detected in day of hatch poults, Salmonella was isolated from the ceca (3.9%) and yolk sac (0.1%). By day 9, Salmonella were frequently isolated from the ceca (55%) and small intestine (45%) while Campylobacter was not detected by culture. By day 16, the estimated prevalence of Salmonella in the ceca (21%) and small intestine (5.1%) had declined. In contrast, Campylobacter was infrequently isolated from either the ceca (2%) or small intestine (3%) of 16-day old poults. In summer 2006, young birds (50 per time point) were monitored on a second farm under the same ownership at three intervals (5-, 20- and 33-day old). Whereas Campylobacter was not detected by PCR in the ceca of 5-day old birds, it could be detected on days 20 (92%) and 33 (90%). Salmonella was isolated from young birds at day 5 (98%), 20 (98%) and 33(98%), at which time the turkeys were moved to the finisher house. At slaughter, Salmonella (4.5%) and Campylobacter (92%) were isolated from the ceca of the market weight (138-day old) birds. Antimicrobial profiles of the Salmonella isolates indicated resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and susceptibility to quinolones in the young birds. PFGE analysis of Salmonella (45 isolates per sampling time) indicated two major clusters (SxX 1 and SxX 2). Salmonella isolates of SxX 1 cluster predominated at day 5 (84% of the 45 isolates), declined by day 20 (53%) and day 33 (31%) at which time cluster SxX 2 predominated (69%). This suggests a shift in Salmonella populations as the birds move through the brooder house.