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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #385546
Research Project: Production and Processing Intervention Strategies for Poultry Associated Foodborne Pathogens

Location: Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit

Title: Bacterial composition of settled dust during growout of broiler chickens

Author
item PAL, AMRIT - Auburn University
item JACKSON, ALLY - Auburn University
item URRUTIA, ANDREA - Auburn University
item MACKLIN, KEN - Auburn University
item PRICE, STUART - Auburn University
item Buhr, Richard - Jeff
item BOURASSA, DIANNA - Auburn University

Submitted to: Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/14/2021
Publication Date: 2/1/2022
Citation: Pal, A., Jackson, A., Urrutia, A., Macklin, K.S., Price, S.B., Buhr, R.J., Bourassa, D.V. 2022. Bacterial composition of settled dust during growout of broiler chickens. Poultry Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2021.101602.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2021.101602

Interpretive Summary: Dust in poultry houses can carry bacteria in the air and deposit them on surfaces throughout the house. This study evaluated bacteria in settled dust during the 6 week growout of two broiler flocks (Flocks A and B) and the birds in Flock B were all inoculated with Salmonella Enteritidis. Dust samples for bacteria were obtained using surface swabs and in petri dishes from different locations inside the poultry house. In addition to weekly swabbing, dust deposited during each week of sampling period (non-cumulatively and cumulatively n=12/weeks) was collected from 6 duplicate locations inside the poultry house. Swabbed dust samples were analyzed for the number of aerobic bacteria, E. coli, coliforms, and Salmonella prevalence. For petri dish dust collection, dust was collected in weekly and bi-weekly time spans during sampling period from 3 locations and then statistically analyzed for Salmonella prevalence. Only the aerobic plate counts increased over time in dust during the 6 weeks of growout for both Flocks A and B. In non-cumulatively settled dust, aerobic bacteria (Flocks A and B) E. coli (Flock A only), and coliforms (Flock B only) varied during growout with peak counts plateaued from weeks 4 to 6. Salmonella prevalence did not vary in cumulatively (4 to 12%) and non-cumulatively (0 to 12%) settled dust during growout in both flocks. In dust sampled by bi-weekly collection in petri dishes, Salmonella prevalence was highest (83%) between weeks 3 to 7 for Flock B. Overall, this study displayed that settled dust bacteria can be fluctuated during broiler growout, and dust can contain Salmonella.

Technical Abstract: Dust present in poultry houses can disseminate bacteria in air and deposit them on surfaces. This study evaluated bacteria in settled dust during growout of broilers. Dust bacteria were analyzed from two flocks (Flocks A and B). Birds in Flock B were inoculated with Salmonella Enteritidis. Dust samples for bacteria analyses were obtained during 6 wks of growout (Flocks A and B) and 1 wk after bird harvest (Flock B) by environmental swabbing and collecting dust in petri dishes from different locations inside the poultry house. For weekly swabbing, dust deposited during each wk of sampling period (non-cumulatively, n=12/wk) and cumulatively (n=12/wk) throughout the sampling period was sampled from 6 duplicate locations. Swabbed dust samples were analyzed for counts (log10 CFU/28 cm2) of aerobic bacteria, E. coli, coliforms, and Salmonella prevalence. For petri dish dust collection, dust was collected in weekly and bi-weekly time spans during sampling period from 3 duplicate locations and then analyzed for Salmonella prevalence. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Fisher’s Exact Test and means were separated using LSD. Only aerobic plate counts were changed over time in dust during growout (Flocks A and B; P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001). In non-cumulatively settled dust, aerobic bacteria (Flocks A and B; P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001), E. coli (Flock A; P = 0.0432), and coliforms (Flock B; P = 0.0303) varied during growout with peak counts on wk 5 or wk 6, wk 4, and wk 4, respectively, after bird placement. Salmonella prevalence did not vary in cumulatively (3/72, 10/84) and non-cumulatively (0/12, 10/84) settled dust during growout in both flocks. In dust sampled by bi-weekly collection in petri dishes, Salmonella prevalence was highest (5/6) between wk 2 to wk 4 for Flock B (P = 0.0118). Overall, this study displayed that settled dust bacteria can be fluctuated during broiler growout, and dust can contain Salmonella.