A Multicenter Proposal for a Fast Tool To Screen Biosecure Chicken Flocks for the Foodborne Pathogen Campylobacter

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Microbiology
• Food Safety
• Poultry Science

Background:

• Campylobacter is a leading cause of foodborne illness globally, with poultry identified as a major reservoir.
• Effective monitoring of Campylobacter in biosecure poultry farms is crucial for preventing human infections and ensuring food safety.
• Current detection methods, such as boot swabs, may have limitations in sensitivity and speed for comprehensive farm screening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of air sampling combined with real-time PCR as a novel monitoring method for Campylobacter in biosecure poultry farms.
• To compare the efficacy of air sampling and boot swabs for Campylobacter detection using both cultivation and PCR-based techniques.
• To assess the sensitivity and speed of air sampling as a screening tool in multi-country European poultry flocks.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter study involving 62 biosecure poultry flocks across five European countries.
• Collection of air samples (on filters) and boot swabs from poultry flocks during summer 2019.
• Comparison of bacteriological isolation protocols (ISO 10272-1:2017 with Bolton/Preston enrichment) and real-time PCR on air filter samples.

Main Results:

• Real-time PCR on air filters detected Campylobacter significantly more often (58%) than cultivation methods (0-8%) (P < 0.01).
• Cultivation methods showed comparable results for Bolton and Preston enrichment, but detected fewer positive samples.
• Boot swabs yielded the highest positive detection rates after enrichment in Preston broth (37%).

Conclusions:

• Air sampling coupled with real-time PCR presents a highly sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective screening method for Campylobacter in poultry production.
• This novel approach is up to four times faster and more sensitive than conventional boot swab testing, enhancing early detection of positive flocks.
• The method's sensitivity was confirmed even in countries with low reported Campylobacter prevalence, highlighting its potential for improved biosecurity and food safety management.