title: Foodborne disease prevention and broiler chickens with reduced Campylobacter infection.
abstract: Studies have suggested that flies play a linking role in the epidemiology of Campylobacter spp. in broiler chickens and that fly screens can reduce the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. We examined the year-round and long-term effects of fly screens in 10 broiler chicken houses (99 flocks) in Denmark. Prevalence of Campylobacter spp.-positive flocks was significantly reduced, from 41.4% during 2003-2005 (before fly screens) to 10.3% in 2006-2009 (with fly screens). In fly screen houses, Campylobacter spp. prevalence did not peak during the summer. Nationally, prevalence of Campylobacter spp.-positive flocks in Denmark could have been reduced by an estimated 77% during summer had fly screens been part of biosecurity practices. These results imply that fly screens might help reduce prevalence of campylobacteriosis among humans, which is closely linked to Campylobacter spp. prevalence among broiler chicken flocks.
authors.affiliation: Technical University of Denmark, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bahrndorff
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rangstrup-Christensen
authors.forename: Steen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nordentoft
authors.forename: Birthe
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hald
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000382:microbiology*; D010571:Pest Control / Q000379:methods; D011200:Poultry / Q000382:microbiology; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Campylobacter spp.; Denmark; bacteria; broiler chickens; campylobacteriosis; flies; fly screens; gastroenteritis; insect vectors; intervention studies; poultry