Investigation of prevalence and risk factors for Campylobacter in broiler flocks at slaughter: results from a UK survey.
During 2007-2009 a UK-wide, 3-year stratified randomized survey of UK chicken broiler flocks was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Campylobacter-infected batches of birds at slaughter. Thirty-seven abattoirs, processing 88·3% of the total UK slaughter throughput, were recruited at the beginning of the survey. Of the 1174 slaughter batches sampled, 79·2% were found to be colonized with Campylobacter, the majority of isolates being C. jejuni. Previous partial depopulation of the flock [odds ratio (OR) 5·21], slaughter in the summer months (categorized as June, July and August; OR 14·27) or autumn months (categorized as September, October and November; OR 1·70) increasing bird age (40-41 days, OR 3·18; 42-45 days, OR 3·56; ⩾46 days, OR 13·43) and higher recent mortality level in the flock (1·00-1·49% mortality, OR 1·57; ⩾1·49% mortality, OR 2·74) were all identified as significant risk factors for Campylobacter colonization of the birds at slaughter. Time in transit to the slaughterhouse of more than 2·5 h was identified as a protective factor (OR 0·52).
Centre for Epidemiology and Risk Analysis, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Surrey, UK. joanna.lawes@ahvla.gsi.gov.uk
J R
JR
Lawes
A
A
Vidal
F A
FA
Clifton-Hadley
R
R
Sayers
J
J
Rodgers
L
L
Snow
S J
SJ
Evans
L F
LF
Powell
D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002645:Chickens; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D016019:Survival Analysis; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology