Risk factors for Campylobacter spp. colonization in broiler flocks in Iceland.
We sampled 1,091 Icelandic broiler flocks at slaughter from May 2001 to December 2003 to determine the prevalence of, and investigate risk factors for the presence of, Campylobacter spp. at the flock level. Approximately 15% of the flocks were positive for Campylobacter spp.; most (95%) of the infected flocks being raised during the months of April-September. Based on the data from the latter months, and using multivariable logistic regression with random effects for herd, we found that the odds of a flock being positive for Campylobacter spp. increased with age and flock size. Additionally, vertical ventilation systems were strongly associated with positive flocks (OR=5.3). After controlling for these variables, we found no evidence of an effect of: year; company; Campylobacter being carried over from one flock to the next; time interval between flocks; using (at the hatcheries) eggs laid on the floor; density of bird housing, or the number of catch lots a flock was divided into for slaughtering purposes on the risk of a Campylobacter-positive flock.
Barrios
Pablo Romero
PR
Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ont., Canada N1G 2W1.
Reiersen
Jarle
J
Lowman
Ruff
R
Bisaillon
Jean-Robert
JR
Michel
Pascal
P
Fridriksdóttir
Vala
V
Gunnarsson
Eggert
E
Stern
Norman
N
Berke
Olaf
O
McEwen
Scott
S
Martin
Wayne
W
D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002645:Chickens; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D014691:Ventilation