Pre-harvest surveillance of Campylobacter and Salmonella in Danish broilerflocks: a 2-year study

In national surveillance programmes of broiler flocks carried out in Denmar k during 1998 and 1999, 89,110 samples for Campylobacter representing 8911 broiler flocks were taken at 10 different abattoirs, and 44,550 samples for Salmonella were taken from the same flocks in the broiler houses at the fa rms. Of the swabs, 42.5% were Campylobacter positive. Most positive samples were found during July, August and September, while the lowest number of p ositive samples were found during January, February, March and April. Of th e flocks, 5.5% were Salmonella positive, but no seasonal variation was obse rved. For each flock, the presence of Campylobacter and Salmonella was reco rded in order to estimate the possible correlation between colonisation wit h the two pathogens. In conclusion, no significant effects on intensive cle aning and disinfection procedures on Campylobacter occurrence could be demo nstrated, and no significant correlation between occurrence of Campylobacte r and Salmonella infections in Danish broilers could be demonstrated which is in contrast to previous observations on concurrent colonisation of broil ers with these two zoonotic pathogens. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.