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Title: Comparison of Selective Campylobacter Media for Detection and Enumeration of Naturally Occurring Campylobacter spp. on Poultry

Author
item STEININGER, CHARLOTTE - University Of Georgia
item Berrang, Mark
item HARRISON, MARK - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: International Poultry Scientific Forum
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2014
Publication Date: 1/26/2015
Citation: Steininger, C., Berrang, M.E., Harrison, M. 2015. Comparison of Selective Campylobacter Media for Detection and Enumeration of Naturally Occurring Campylobacter spp. on Poultry. International Poultry Scientific Forum. January 26-27, 2015. Atlanta, Georgia. P14.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Campylobacter spp. are among the most common cause of bacterial foodborne diarrheal illness; poultry has been linked as a primary source of contamination. Detection and enumeration of low numbers of naturally occurring Campylobacter spp. on poultry is difficult due to the presence of competing microflora that are not eliminated by selective media. This study compared the effectiveness of various combinations of enrichment broths and plating media to detect naturally occurring Campylobacter spp. in broiler carcass rinse samples. Campy-Cefex Agar (CCA) and RF Campylobacter Agar (RFA) were used for enumeration of Campylobacter spp. recovered from 100 mL broiler carcass rinses. These two selective plating media were also used for Campylobacter detection following enrichment in Bolton broth and Bolton broth supplemented with 0.1 µg/mL triclosan (T-Bolton). On average, enumeration of carcass rinsate on RFA resulted in a 2.5-3.5 cfu/mL log recovery of Campylobacter spp. with little contamination by background microflora, while enumeration on Campy-Cefex agar resulted in a 1.5-3.0 cfu/mL log recovery of Campylobacter spp. with a significant amount of contamination by background microflora. When enriching for positive or negative, the combination of Bolton broth and CCA resulted in 0-10% positive, the addition of triclosan to the Bolton broth improved recovery on CCA to 30-40% positive. Enrichment in Bolton and plating on RFA resulted in 90-100% positive samples, and enrichment using T-Bolton paired with RFA plating media was the most effective combination resulting in 95-100% positive samples. When enumerating or enriching for naturally occurring Campylobacter spp. in broiler carcass rinsate, RFA or T-Bolton broth followed by plating on RFA proved to be most effective in the elimination of background microflora, therefore allowing for more accurate enumeration and enrichment procedures.