title: Distribution and numbers of Campylobacter in newly slaughtered broiler chickens and hens.
abstract: If Campylobacter is present in the intestinal tract, broiler carcasses become extensively contaminated during the slaughter process. To determine the distribution and numbers of Campylobacter jejuni/coli in newly slaughtered broiler chickens and hens, a total of 100 birds from six Campylobacter-positive flocks were sampled at three Swedish processing plants. Campylobacters were isolated in 89% of neck skins, 93% of peritoneal cavity swab samples and in 75% of subcutaneous samples. Muscle samples were only very sparsely contaminated. It is likely that the feather follicles are the orifices where C. jejuni/coli is introduced into the subcutis layer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berndtson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tivemo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Engvall
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D017000:Campylobacter coli / Q000254:growth & development*; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000254:growth & development*; D002432:Cecum / Q000382:microbiology; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology*; D005241:Feathers / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D009132:Muscles / Q000382:microbiology; D009333:Neck; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology