Thermophilic Campylobacter spp. in Danish broiler production: a cross-sectional survey and a retrospective analysis of risk factors for occurrence inbroiler flocks

In order to elucidate the rate of thermophilic Campylobacter spp, carriage in Danish broiler production and to identify risk factors for occurrence of campylobacter in broiler flocks, a total of 88 randomly selected broiler f locks were tested for campylobacter infection, and a subsequent study of ri sk factors based on a questionnaire was conducted, The sample material comp rised cloacal swabs from live birds before slaughter, and neck skin samples from carcasses at the end of the processing line. A total of 52% of the fl ocks were found Campylobacter spp.-positive before slaughter. At the end of processing, 24% of the flocks were positive. The species distribution was 87% Campylobacter jejuni, 8% Campylobacter coli and 5% Campylobacter lari, The following parameters were identified as significant risk factors: lack of a hygiene barrier (odds ratio (OR) = 3.1, 1.1 < OR < 9.3), presence of a nimals in the vicinity of the broiler house on farms with a missing hygiene barrier (OR = 7.0, 1.6 < OR < 33.9), livestock other than chickens on farm s with a missing hygiene barrier (OR = 7.6, 1.4 < OR < 44.9), dividing the flock into batches for staggered slaughter (OR = 6.8, 1.2 < OR < 49.3), a d own period of less than 14 days (OR = 5.0, 1.2 < OR < 22.6), and feeding pu rchased wheat rather than home-grown wheat (OR = 3.1, 1.0 < OR < 9.9). The presence of a hygiene barrier was found to be the single most important bio security measure for production of campylobacter-free broilers.