National surveillance of Campylobacter in broilers at slaughter in Denmarkin 1998

A surveillance study for thermophilic Campylobacter spp. in broiler flocks was carried out fur the year 1998 in Denmark. The study included examinatio ns of 4286 broiler flocks comprising samples from 57,000 birds. Overall, a hock prevalence of 46.0% was recorded. The species distribution was Campylo bacter jejuni 86%, Campylobacter coli 11%, Campylobacter lari 1%, other not further diagnosed species 2%. The prevalence was significantly higher in t he period from June to October (3.2 < odds ratio [OR] < 1.8, P < 0.0002) an d was significantly associated with abattoir (OR < 2.8, P < 0.0001) and the length of the period the broiler houses were left empty between flocks (do wnload period; 6 days or more) (OR = 1.6, P < 0.0198). No association betwe en Campylobacter colonization and the age at slaughter was found. Separatin g the flocks into batches for slaughter elevated the dock prevalence from 0 .41 after the first hatch had been slaughtered to 0.46 after all batches ha d been slaughtered.