title: Seasonal influence on the prevalence of thermotolerant Campylobacter in retail broiler meat in Denmark.
abstract: In Denmark, the incidence of human campylobacteriosis cases, as well as the Campylobacter prevalence in broiler flocks, is strongly influenced by season with a summer peak in July-August. Therefore, it was considered that the prevalence of Campylobacter in broiler meat sold at retail in Denmark might also be influenced by season. A retrospective survey analysis was performed on 2001-2007 national surveillance data of the prevalence of thermotolerant Campylobacter in all conventional broiler flocks at slaughter, and in randomly sampled broiler meat at retail. There was a significant effect of season on the occurrence of Campylobacter in meat at retail; the largest effect was found for domestic chilled meat. Thus, the Campylobacter prevalence in Danish broiler flocks, which fluctuated with season, was found to be a strong predictor for the occurrence of Campylobacter in fresh, chilled, Danish broiler meat. However, besides flock prevalence, there was also a direct effect of season on the occurrence of Campylobacter in Danish broiler meat at retail.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Risk Assessment, Technical University of Denmark, National Food Institute, Moerkhoej Bygade 19, 2860 Soeborg, Denmark. lobo@food.dtu.dk
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boysen
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vigre
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rosenquist
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology*; D003718:Denmark; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000382:microbiology*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons