EFFICACY OF DIRECT PLATING AND SELECTIVE ENRICHMENT MEDIA FOR DETECTING CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI IN FRESH EVISCERATED WHOLE MARKET CHICKENS SAO-PAULO BRAZIL

Two methodologies were evaluated to determine the need of selective en richment in the isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from whole chicken c arcasses. They were direct selective media on Campy-BAP (CBAP) and van comycin, trimethoprim polymyxin B-ferrous sulfite, sodium metabisulfit e and sodium pyruvate (VTP-FBP) agars and selective enrichment in Doyl e-Roman (DR) and Preston (P) broths followed by direct selective media on CBAP and VTP-FBP agars. The results were compared using the x2 tes t at significance level of 5%. No statistically significant difference s were found between the two plating media or after enrichment in DR a nd P broths with subsequent plating on CBAP agar. DR and P broths comb ined with VTP-FBP agar showed a statistically significant difference i n relation to all the other procedures, except between P/CPAB and P/VT P-FBP. DR/VTP-FBP was the least effective combination. DR/CBAP was the best among all combinations and statistically was as efficient as CBA P and VTP-FBP isolation agars. Considering the lack of statistically s ignificant difference between the enrichment procedure and direct sele ctive plating method, we conclude that there is no need for using enri chment broth for recovering C. jejuni from chickens carcasses.