CELLULITIS IN BROILER-CHICKENS - EPIDEMIOLOGICAL TRENDS, MEAT HYGIENE, AND POSSIBLE HUMAN HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

The present work evaluates trends in the incidence of cellulitis durin g the last decade using Canadian National Poultry Condemnation Records . In 1986, only 0.048% of the total slaughter broilers were condemned as a result of cellulitis lesions. Over the next 10 yr, steady increme nts in cellulitis condemnations were observed, and between 1986 and 19 96, the percentage of cellulitis condemnation increased 11.8-fold. In 1996, more than 2.6 million broilers (0.568% of total slaughter) were condemned due: to cellulitis; this constituted 30.1% of total condemna tions, making it the number one condemnation category in 1996. In the context of dynamic increase in cellulitis, the problems concerning mea t hygiene and possible health risk to the consumer are deliberated.