Germicidal ultra violet light to lessen Campylobacter numbers on chicken liver

Authors: BORNU, BURABARI - Georgia State University; Berrang, Mark; Meinersmann, Richard - Rick; Adams, Eric; Knapp, Steven - Steve

Submitted to: International Poultry Scientific Forum
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/2/2019
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Campylobacter is a human pathogen associated with raw poultry including chicken livers. Multiple outbreaks of foodborne campylobacteriosis have been traced to undercooked chicken livers. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of germicidal ultraviolet (UV) light as a means to reduce the number of naturally occurring Campylobacter on raw chicken liver lobes. Duplicate liver lobes were exposed to germicidal UV ('=254 nm) at 800 µw/cm2 for times of 0, 5, 15, 30, 60 or 120s. Lobes were sampled by rinse and blending. All samples were plated on Campy-Cefex Agar (CCA) plates incubated micro-aerobically for 48 h at 42oC. Typical Campylobacter colonies were counted; suspect colonies were confirmed by observation of cells under phase contrast microscopy and positive reaction to a latex agglutination test. Colony counts were log10 transformed and are reported as log colony forming units (CFU) per lobe. Mean Campylobacter numbers were compared by T test. No significant effect of treatments at 5, 15 or 30 s were noted, therefore, longer exposure times were tested. Exposure of liver lobes to 120 s of UV treatment resulted in log 3.6 or 3.4 log CFU Campylobacter when examined by rinse or blending respectively. This did not differ significantly from untreated control lobes which had log 4.0 or log 3.7 CFU Campylobacter also by rinse or blending. Treatment of raw chicken liver lobes with 800 µw/cm2 UV light for 120 s is not adequate to significantly lessen Campylobacter numbers.