Isolation and identification of Salmonella and Campylobacter isolates from a commercial broiler complex through pullets to final raw product

Authors: ADHIKARI, YAGYA - Auburn University; BAILEY, MATTHEW - Auburn University; KREHLING, JAMES - Auburn University; CHASTEEN, KAICIE - Auburn University; MUNOZ, LUIS - Auburn University; LOBO, CESAR - Auburn University; GALINDO, LETICIA - Auburn University; GAONKAR, PANKAJ - Auburn University; KITCHERNS, STEVEN - Auburn University; BOURADSSA, DIANNA - Auburn University; PRICE, STUART - Auburn University; Buhr, Richard - Jeff; MACKLIN, KENNETH - Auburn University

Submitted to: International Poultry Scientific Forum
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2022
Publication Date: 1/23/2023
Citation: Adhikari, Y., Bailey, M., Krehling, J., Chasteen, K., Munoz, L., Lobo, C., Galindo, L., Gaonkar, P., Kitcherns, S., Bouradssa, D.V., Price, S., Buhr, R.J., Macklin, K. 2023. Isolation and identification of Salmonella and Campylobacter isolates from a commercial broiler complex through pullets to final raw product. International Poultry Scientific Forum. 102(E-Suppl.1): M8, p.4..

Interpretive Summary: No summary-BS

Technical Abstract: This study evaluated the efficacy of pressurized steam and forced hot air for cleaning transport cage flooring and compared them to conventional cleaning procedures. Fiberglass and plastic flooring were assessed in this experiment. Flooring pieces were cut into squares and measured to offer a surface area of 5 x 5 cm per sample. For the intestinal contents, 100 g were extracted by manual expression from broiler viscera. A 10^8 CFU/mL Salmonella Infantis inoculum (1 mL) was added to 100 g of intestinal contents and stirred. One g of inoculated intestinal content was applied to each square. Samples were held at room temperature (20°C) for 60 min before any treatment. The treatments were pressurized steam for 15 s, forced hot air for 60 s, and the sequential application of both. The controls were pressure washing for 15 s, the application of a commercial disinfectant following pressure washing, and no cleaning. After treatment, samples were swabbed, and counts for Salmonella, E. coli (EC), coliforms, and aerobic bacteria (AC) were measured. Samples without Salmonella counts were enriched and later confirmed as positive or negative. Bacterial counts were log transformed and the effects of flooring type and treatment were analyzed by ANOVA with Tukeys HSD for mean separation. There was no difference (P>0.05) between fiberglass and plastic flooring in any of the treatments. When compared to the untreated control, forced hot air alone did not reduce any of the microorganisms measured (P>0.05). Pressurized steam alone reduced all counts by more than 2 log10 CFU/cm^2. The combination of steam and hot air reduced all counts by 3 to 4 log10 CFU/cm^2. Steam with hot air was as effective as using pressure washing and disinfectant (P>0.05) for Salmonella counts. Pressure washing with the application of disinfectant was the most effective reducing all counts (P<0.05) when compared to the untreated control, reducing 3 to 6 log10 CFU/cm^2. However, all treatments and controls had at least 3/5 samples confirmed as positive for Salmonella after enrichment. Processors may be able to adapt this process to clean transport cages with low water applications such as steam to reduce potential cross-contamination and lessen the presence of pathogens entering the processing plant.