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Title: Detection of fecal residue on poultry carcasses by laser induced fluorescence imaging

Author
item CHO, BYOUNG-KWAN - CHUNGNAM NAT UNIV, KOREA
item Kim, Moon
item Chao, Kuanglin - Kevin Chao
item Lefcourt, Alan
item Lawrence, Kurt
item Park, Bosoon

Submitted to: Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation International (NDT&E)
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2008
Publication Date: 6/1/2008
Citation: Cho, B., Kim, M.S., Chao, K., Lefcourt, A.M., Lawrence, K.C., Park, B. 2008. Detection of fecal residue on poultry carcasses by laser induced fluorescence imaging. Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation International (NDT&E). 1:994-999.

Interpretive Summary: A recently developed laser-induced fluorescence imaging system (LIFIS) was used to demonstrate the detection of a range of diluted poultry fecal matter from various sections of the digestive tract, including gizzard, duodenum, small intestine, ceca, and colon, on poultry carcasses. The LIFIS allows the selections of excitation in the visible and a multiple emission wavebands, up to 4, for multispectral imaging. Therefore, detection parameters, such as fluorescence excitation and emission wavelengths, can be optimized (e.g., 415 nm excitation, and 630 nm emission band) for detection of poultry fecal matter from various digestive tract on poultry carcasses. Feces spots on the carcasses, without dilution and up to 1:5 dilutions, could be detected with 100% accuracy regardless of feces type. Detection accuracy for fecal matters diluted up to 1:10 was 96.6%. Results demonstrated good potential of the LIFIS for detection of diluted poultry fecal matter, which can harbor pathogens, on poultry carcasses. Presented are a fluorescence sensing system and methodologies useful to food processing scientists, engineers, regulatory government agencies (FSIS and FDA), and food processing industries.

Technical Abstract: Feasibility of fluorescence imaging technique for the detection of diluted fecal matters from various parts of the digestive tract, including colon, ceca, small intestine, and duodenum, on chicken carcasses was investigated. One of the challenges for using fluorescence imaging for inspection of agricultural material is the low fluorescence yield in that fluorescence can be masked by ambient light. A laser-induced fluorescence imaging system (LIFIS) developed by our group allowed acquisition of fluorescence from feces-contaminated poultry carcasses in ambient light. Fluorescence emission images at 630 nm were captured with 415 nm laser excitation. Image processing algorithms including threshold and image erosion were used to identify fecal spots diluted up to 1:10 by weight with double distilled water. Feces spots on the carcasses, without dilution and up to 1:5 dilutions, could be detected with 100% accuracy regardless of feces type. Detection accuracy for fecal matters diluted up to 1:10 was 96.6%. Results demonstrated good potential of the LIFIS for detection of diluted poultry fecal matter, which can harbor pathogens, on poultry carcasses.