title: The effect of presence of infected neighbouring farms for the Campylobacter infection status in Danish broiler farms.
abstract: Neighbourhood risk factors for Campylobacter infection in Danish broilers were evaluated. Campylobacter infection status of a flock was identified by PCR analysis of cloacal swab samples collected as a part of national surveillance program. Included into the study were, in total, 10,876 broiler flocks sent by 226 farms to processing plants from 2007 to 2009. A multivariable logistic regression model with autocorrelation structure was used to model the effect of exposure variables on the probability of being tested positive to Campylobacter. Results showed a significant protective effect with the absence of infected neighbours within a distance of 2 km. The analysis was adjusted for potential confounding factors. Seasonal cyclic patterns of the Campylobacter infection was accounted for by using sine and cosine function. Predicted probability maps showed a heterogeneous spatial and temporal risk of Campylobacter infection in Danish broiler.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark. shar@niph.dk
authors.forename: Sharmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sandberg
authors.forename: Gonçalo E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Themudo
authors.forename: Annette K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ersbøll
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000818:Animals; D002167:Campylobacter; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D062206:Spatial Analysis