Prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in poultry and poultry products for sale on the Bulgarian retail market

Prevalence of Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni in Retail Chicken, Beef, Lamb, and Pork Products in Three Australian States

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and distribution of Campylobacter species in a variety of fresh and frozen meat and offal products collected from retail outlets in New South Wales (NSW), Queensland (Qld), and Victoria (Vic). A total of 1,490 chicken, beef, lamb, and pork samples were collected from Australian supermarkets and butcher shops over a 2-year sampling period (October 2016 to October 2018). Campylobacter spp. were detected in 90% of chicken meat and 73% of chicken offal products (giblet and liver), with significantly lower prevalence in lamb (38%), pork (31%), and beef (14%) offal (kidney and liver). Although retail chicken meat was frequently contaminated with Campylobacter, the level of contamination was generally low. Where quantitative analysis was conducted, 98% of chicken meat samples, on average, had <10,000 CFU Campylobacter per carcass, with 10% <21 CFU per carcass. Campylobacter coli was the most frequently recovered species in chicken meat collected in NSW (53%) and Vic (56%) and in chicken offal collected in NSW (77%), Qld (59%), and Vic (58%). In beef, lamb, and pork offal, C. jejuni was generally the most common species (50 to 86%), with the exception of pork offal collected in NSW, where C. coli was more prevalent (69%). Campylobacter prevalence was significantly higher in fresh lamb (46%) and pork (31%) offal than in frozen offal (17 and 11%, respectively). For chicken, beef, and pork offal, the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. was significantly higher on delicatessen products compared with prepackaged products. This study demonstrated that meat and offal products are frequently contaminated with Campylobacter. However, the prevalence is markedly different in different meats, and the level of chicken meat portion contamination is generally low. By identifying the types of meat and offal products types that pose the greatest risk of Campylobacter infection to consumers, targeted control strategies can be developed.

Prevalence of Pathogens in Poultry Meat: A Meta-Analysis of European Published Surveys

The objective of this study was to investigate and summarize the levels of incidence of Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Campylobacter spp. in poultry meat commercialized in Europe. After systematic review, incidence data and study characteristics were extracted from 78 studies conducted in 21 European countries. Pooled prevalence values from 203 extracted observations were estimated from random-effects meta-analysis models adjusted by pathogen, poultry type, sampling stage, cold preservation type, meat cutting type and packaging status. The results suggest that S. aureus is the main pathogen detected in poultry meat (38.5%; 95% CI: 25.4⁻53.4), followed by Campylobacter spp. (33.3%; 95% CI: 22.3⁻46.4%), while L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. present lower prevalence (19.3%; 95% CI: 14.4⁻25.3% and 7.10%; 95% CI: 4.60⁻10.8%, respectively). Despite the differences in prevalence, all pathogens were found in chicken and other poultry meats, at both end-processing step and retail level, in packed and unpacked products and in several meat cutting types. Prevalence data on cold preservation products also revealed that chilling and freezing can reduce the proliferation of pathogens but might not be able to inactivate them. The results of this meta-analysis highlight that further risk management strategies are needed to reduce pathogen incidence in poultry meat throughout the entire food chain across Europe, in particular for S. aureus and Campylobacter spp.

Genetic Characterization of Campylobacter Jejuni and C. coli Isolated From Broilers Using flaA PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Method in Shiraz, Southern Iran

Background:

Thermophilic campylobacters, particularly Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli are the main agents of human campylobacteriosis. Campylobacter contaminated chicken products is the most important source of foodborne gastroenteritis. Evaluation of genetic diversity among Campylobacter population is critical for understanding the epidemiology of this bacterium and developing effective control strategies against Campylobacter infections and other related disorders.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to investigate the polymorphism of thermophilic Campylobacter isolated from broiler fecal samples in Shiraz, southern Iran.

Materials and Methods:

Ninety Campylobacter isolates were recovered from broiler feces using enrichment process followed by cultivation method. The isolates were species typing on the basis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of 16SrRNA and multiplex PCR for determining two thermophilic species. To evaluate strain diversity of thermophilic Campylobacter isolates, flaA PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) was performed using DdeI restriction enzyme.

Results:

All 90 Campylobacter isolates confirmed by m-PCR were successfully typed using flaA-PCR-RFLP. Eleven different types were defined according to flaA-typing method and the RFLP patterns were located at three separate clusters in RFLP image analysis dendrogram.

Conclusions:

Campylobacter jejuni isolates significantly showed more variety than C. coli isolates. A relatively low genetic diversity existed among C. jejuni and C. coli isolated from broilers in Shiraz, southern Iran. In our knowledge, this was the first report of genetic diversity among broiler originated human pathogen thermophilic campylobacters in Shiraz, southern Iran.

Prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in Retail Chicken, Turkey, Pork, and Beef Meat in Poland between 2009 and 2013

The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence of thermophilic Campylobacter in poultry, pork, and beef meat at the retail level and to identify the main categories of meat representing the most significant reservoirs of Campylobacter. A monitoring study was conducted throughout Poland from 2009 to 2013. A total of 1,700 fresh meat samples were collected from supermarkets, large retail outlets, and smaller stores. Thermophilic Campylobacter species were detected in 690 (49.3%) of 1,400 poultry samples collected from retail trade. Strains were isolated from 50.2 and 41.1% of raw chicken and turkey meat samples, respectively, and from 50.1 and 42.6% of raw chicken and turkey giblets. The incidence of Campylobacter spp. on pork (10.6%) and beef (10.1%) was significantly lower than on poultry. Campylobacter jejuni was the most prevalent Campylobacter species in chicken (46.6%), pork (68.6%), and beef (66.7%), and Campylobacter coli was the most frequently isolated Campylobacter species in turkey meat (71.2%). This study revealed that retail raw meats are often contaminated with Campylobacter; however, the prevalence of these pathogens is markedly different in different meats. Raw retail meats are potential vehicles for transmitting foodborne diseases, and our findings stress the need for increased implementation of hazard analysis critical control point programs and consumer food safety education efforts.

Prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni in chicken produced by major poultry companies in Saudi Arabia

Background

Campylobacter is a foodborne pathogen that is commonly associated with chicken. The aim of this work was to evaluate the prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni (as affected by refrigerated storage) in chicken samples obtained from the wholesale poultry market in the northern part of Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia.

Findings

A gradual increase in the number of positive samples was noted during storage at 4°C. On days 1, 3, and 7, the number of positive samples were 10 (30.305%), 15 (45.45%), and 27 (81.81%), respectively. Of 99 tested samples, 52 (52.25%) were positive for Campylobacter jejuni. Protein profiling by Sodium dodecyl sulfate -Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was used to identify Campylobacter jejuni. The results were verified using Analytical Profile Index (API Campy system, Marcy l’Etoile, France). Forty-three (82.69%) positive isolates were identified as C. jejuni subsp. jejuni 2, 5 isolates as C. jejuni subsp. jejuni 1 (9.61%), and 4 isolates as C. jejuni subsp. doylei (7.69).

Conclusion

C. jejuni positive samples increased rapidly during storage at 4°C for approximately 1 wk. Our results also indicated a connection between the protein profiles on SDS-PAGE and API Campy used for the identification of C. jejuni.

Occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in poultry and poultry products for sale on the Polish retail market

In 2007 and 2008, a monitoring study was carried out in Poland to examine the occurrence of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. in raw and cooked chicken products available on the retail market. A total of 912 samples were tested: 443 samples of raw chicken meat, 146 samples of giblets, and 323 ready-to-eat poultry products (150 samples of spit-roasted chicken, 56 samples of smoked chicken, and 117 samples of pâté and cold meats). A high level of contamination of raw chicken meat (51.7% of samples) and chicken giblets (47.3% of samples) was detected. However, thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. were found in only 1.2% of the ready-to-eat poultry products.

Comparison of Cape Town and Skirrow's Campylobacter isolation protocols in humans and broilers in Morogoro, Tanzania

Comparison of Cape Town and Skirrow's protocols used in isolation of Campylobacter in humans and broilers was carried out in a cross-sectional study in Morogoro, Tanzania. A total of 176 and 158 human stool and broiler intestinal samples were collected, respectively. While human stool samples were collected from selected health centers, broiler intestinal samples were obtained from selected farms and chicken markets. Samples were inoculated and cultured in duplicate using two protocols and prevalence of Campylobacter were established. In humans, the prevalence of Campylobacter isolates was significantly higher (P < 0.001) (21.6%) with Cape Town protocol than Skirrow's method (9.1%). Similarly, a higher prevalence (P < 0.05) in broilers was recorded in Cape Town protocol (77.8%) than Skirrow's method (66.5%). There was a moderate (0.53) Kappa test of agreement between Skirrow's and Cape Town protocols for human samples and substantial agreement (0.72) for broiler samples. This demonstrates that Cape Town protocol is superior over the Skirrow's protocol in Campylobacter isolation. Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter lari were the Campylobacter spp. isolated. In humans, C. jejuni accounted for 92.1% and 87.5% of all positive samples with Cape Town and Skirrow's protocols, respectively. In broilers, C. jejuni was isolated at 91.1% and 92.5% of all species obtained with Cape Town and Skirrow's protocols, respectively. This shows that C. jejuni is the common species that may be circulating from either broilers to humans or other animals and vice versa. The present study has introduced Cape Town protocol in Tanzania for Campylobacter isolation from human and animal samples, which is expected to improve the isolation of Campylobacter species. Cape Town protocol may also be a good alternative for use in routine isolation of Campylobacter.

Genotyping of Campylobacter coli isolated from humans and retail meats using multilocus sequence typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

AIMS

To determine the antimicrobial resistant profiles and clonality of Campylobacter coli isolated from clinically ill humans and retail meats.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 98 C. coli isolates (20 from humans and 78 from retail meats) were phenotypically characterized. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done using agar dilution method for ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, erythromycin and doxycycline. Seventy C. coli isolates including humans (n = 20) and retail meats (n = 50) were genotyped by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Resistance to ciprofloxacin was found in 29% and 15% of isolates from retail meats and humans. We observed 61 PFGE profiles using two enzymes (SmaI, KpnI) with an Index of discrimination of 0.99, whereas MLST generated 37 sequence types. Two clonal complexes were identified with 58 (82%) C. coli isolates clustered in the ST-828 complex.

CONCLUSIONS

Resistance to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin was identified in C. coli obtained from retail meats and ill humans. PFGE typing of C. coli isolates was more discriminatory than MLST. Grouping of C. coli isolates (82%) by MLST in ST-828 clonal complex indicates a common ancestry.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

A high frequency of resistance found to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin is concerning from food safety perspective. PFGE using single or double restriction enzymes was found to be more discriminatory than MLST for genotyping C. coli. Overall, the C. coli populations recovered from humans and retail meats were genotypically diverse.