CAMPYLOBACTER INCIDENCE ON A CHICKEN FARM AND THE SPREAD OF CAMPYLOBACTER DURING THE SLAUGHTER PROCESS

To get a better understanding of the epidemiology of Campylobacter, a chicken farm was studied for 16 weeks with samplings in each flock wee kly from input until the flock became colonized with Campylobacter or slaughtered. Samples were taken from fresh droppings and from drinkers during the rearing period, as well as from the environment in empty h ouses. The spread of Campylobacter during the slaughter process was al so surveyed. No Campylobacter was found in samples from newly-hatched ol one-week-old chickens or their drinkers. All Hocks but one were col onized at two to five weeks of age. All Campylobacter isolates belonge d to the same sero- and biotype; C. jejuni Penner 2. The spread of Cam pylobacter in the flock was rapid and usually all samples were positiv e once colonization had been proven. C. jejuni was isolated from flies in ante-rooms as well as from air in chicken units ill houses with po sitive chicken flocks. Samples were taken at slaughter when some of th e Campylobacter positive Hocks from the farm were slaughtered. Campylo bacter were isolated from all sampled equipment along the processing l ine, from the chicken transport crates to the chillers, as well as fro m the air.