A SURVEY OF CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI IN BROILERS FROM ASSIGNMENT TO SLAUGHTER USING DNA-DNA HYBRIDIZATION

A survey of Campylobacter jejuni in the cecal contents of broilers rai sed on a farm was carried out by the DNA-DNA hybridization method from the day of assignment to slaughter at about 1-week intervals, C. jeju ni was detected in chickens as early as 1 week of age, and was widely detected at each week of age throughout the growing period. In additio n, of 20 chickens tested just after assignment, 7 (35%) were C. jejuni positive. It is suggested that newly introduced chickens may have alr eady been contaminated with C. jejuni. The hybridization method was ab le to detect C. jejuni in the chickens from the day of assignment to 3 weeks of age, but C. jejuni was never detected in the same chickens b y the enriched culture method. Therefore, it is suggested that the hyb ridization method is more sensitive than the enriched culture method.