Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica logoLink to Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
. 2021 Jan 23;29(3-4):451–462. doi: 10.1186/BF03548642

Prevalence of Campylobacteria in the Finnish Broiler Chicken Chain from the Producer to the Consumer

Prevalens av campylobakterier i broiler kedjen från producenten till konsumenten i Finland

Matti Aho 1,✉, Jorma Hirn 1
PMCID: PMC8161604  PMID: 3256242

Abstract

The prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni is 1.7 % (9/600) in the faeces of 4–5 week broiler chickens in Finland and 24 % (117/490) in the caeci of broiler chickens at slaughter. All waste waters at a processing plant, except water in a chlorinated (25 ppm) chilling tank, contained campylobacteria when a Campylobacter positive flock was slaughtered. Caeci contained mean logio 7.2 CFU campylobacteria/g. After chilling in a chlorinated ice–water tank there were still mean log10 4.5 CFU campylobacteria/carcass. Campylobacteria were detected from 7.0% (14/199) of deep–frozen broiler chicken carcasses at the market level. The concentration of C jejuni in naturally contaminated deep–frozen broiler chicken carcasses decreased by 2 log10 units in 4 weeks.

All prevalence figures were lower than in other developed countries outside Scandinavia. In Finland one of the reasons for low prevalence may be the extensive use of Nurmi cultures in Salmonella prevention programs.

Keywords: food chain, contamination, food hygiene.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (2.8 MB).

References

  1. von Altmeyer M, Krabish P, Dorn P. Occurrence and distribution of Campylobacter jejuni/coli in broiler production. 1. Communication. Dtsch. tierärztl. Wschr. 1985;92:456–459. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Blaser MJ, Hardesty HL, Powers B, Wang W-L. Survival of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni in biological milieus. J. Can. Microbiol. 1979;11:309–313. doi: 10.1128/jcm.11.4.309-313.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bruce D, Zochowski W, Ferguson IR. Campylobacter enteritis. Brit. Med. J. 1977;2:1219. [Google Scholar]
  4. Banffer JRJ. Biotypes and serotypes of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli strains isolated from patients, pigs and chickens in the region of Rotterdam. J. Infect. 1985;10:277–281. doi: 10.1016/S0163-4453(85)92813-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Christenson B, Ringner, Blücher C, Billaudelle H, Gundtoft KN, Eriksson G, Böttiger M. An outbreak of Campylobacter enteritis among the staff of a poultry abattoir in Sweden. Scand. J. infect. Dis. 1983;15:167–172. doi: 10.3109/inf.1983.15.issue-2.07. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Comi G, Cantoni C, Marenda G. Campylobacter jejuni nelle carni di polio. (Campylobacter jejuni in the meat of poultry). Arch. Vet. It. 1984;35:1–9. [Google Scholar]
  7. van Damme LR, Lauwers S. Isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from animals in Zaire. In: Pearson AD, Skirrow MB, Rowe B, Davies JR, Jones DM, editors. Campylobacter II. Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Campylobacter Infections, Brussels. London: Public Health Laboratory Service; 1983. p. 159. [Google Scholar]
  8. Dawkins HC, Bolton JL, Hutchinson DN. A study of the spread of Campylobacter jejuni in four large kitchens. J. Hyg., Camb. 1984;92:357–364. doi: 10.1017/S0022172400064573. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Doyle MP. Association of Campylobacter jejuni with laying hens and eggs. Appl. environ. Microbiol. 1984;47:533–536. doi: 10.1128/AEM.47.3.533-536.1984. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Engvall A, Bergqvist, Sandstedt K, Danielsson–Tham M-L. Colonisation of broilers with Campylobacter in conventional broiler–chicken flocks. Acta vet. scand. 1986;27:450–457. doi: 10.1186/BF03548133. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Figueroa G, Hidalgo H, Troncoso M, Rosende S, Soto V: Campylobacter jejuni in broilers, hens and eggs in a developing country. In: Pearson AD, Skirrow MB, Rowe B, Davies JR, Jones DM (eds.): Campylobacter II. Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Campylobacter Infections, Brussels, 6.–9. September 1983. Public Health Laboratory Service, London 1983, pp. 161–162.
  12. Fricker CR. Procedures for the isolation of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli from poultry. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 1984;1:149–154. doi: 10.1016/0168-1605(84)90005-9. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  13. Genigeorgis C, Hassuneh M, Collins P. Campylobacter jejuni infection on poultry farms and its effect on poultry meat contamination during slaughtering. J. Food Prot. 1986;49:895–903. doi: 10.4315/0362-028X-49.11.895. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Grados O, Bravo N, Butzler JP, Ventura G: Campylobacter infection: an occupational disease risk in chicken handlers. In: Pearson AD, Skirrow MB, Rowe B, Davies JR, Jones DM (eds.): Campylobacter II. Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Campylobacter Infections, Brussels, 6.–9. September 1983. Public Health Laboratory Service, London 1983, p. 162.
  15. Harris NV, Thompson D, Martin DC, Nolan CM. A survey of Campylobacter and other bacterial contaminants of pre–market chicken and retail poultry and meats, King county, Washington. Amer. J. Publ. Hlth. 1986;76:401–406. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.76.4.401. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Harris NV, Weiss NS, Nolan CM. The role of poultry and meats in the etiology of Campylobacter jejuni/coli enteritis. Amer. J. Publ. Hlth. 1986;76:407–411. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.76.4.407. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Hartog BJ, Boer de E: Campylobacter jejuni in poultry products from retail outlets and in poultry slaughterhouses. In: Newell DG (ed.): Campylobacter. Epidemiology, Pathogenesis and Biochemistry. MTP Press Limited, Lancaster 1982, p. 270.
  18. Hayek LJ, Cruickshank JG. Campylobacter enteritis. Brit. Med. J. 1977;2:1219. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.6096.1219-a. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Hoop R, Ehrsam H. Ein Beitrag zur Epidemiologic von Campylobacter jejuni und Campylobacter coli in der Hühnermast. (On the epidemiology of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in the broiler chicken production) Schweiz. Arch. Tierheilkd. 1987;129:193–203. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Hudson WR, Mead GC. Factors affecting the survival of Campylobacter jejuni in relation to immersion scalding of poultry. Vet. Rec. 1987;121:225–227. doi: 10.1136/vr.121.10.225. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Hanninen M-L. Survival of Campylobacter jejuni/coli in ground refrigerated and ground frozen beef liver and in frozen broiler carcasses. Acta vet. scand. 1981;22:566–577. doi: 10.1186/BF03548680. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Hanninen ML, Raevuori M. Occurrence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni and Yersinia enterocolitica in domestic animals and in some foods of animal origin in Finland. Nord. Vet.–Med. 1981;53:441–445. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Istre GR, Blaser MJ, Shillam P, Hopkins RS. Campylobacter enteritis associated with undercooked barbecued chicken. Amer. J. Publ. Hlth. 1984;74:1265–1267. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.74.11.1265. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Juven BJ, Rogol M. Incidence of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli serogroups in chicken processing factory. J. Food Prot. 1986;49:290–292. doi: 10.4315/0362-028X-49.4.290. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Jorgensen, Κ . De mulige relationer mellem fore–komst af Campylobacter jejuni i fjerkrae og levnedsmidler og human campylobacteriose. (The possible relationship between human campylobacteriosis and the occurrence of Campylobacter jejuni in poultry and in foodstuffs) 1982. Proceedings of XIV Nordiske Vete–rinaerkongress, København; pp. 223–224. [Google Scholar]
  26. King EO. The laboratory recognition of Vibrio fetus and closely related Vibrio isolated from cases of human vibriosis. Ann. Ν. Y. Acad. Sci. 1962;98:700–711. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1962.tb30591.x. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  27. Levi A, Ricciardi ID. Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni (C. jejuni): Identification of strains isolated from chickens in Rio de Janeiro. Rev. Microbiol., Sao Paulo. 1982;13:332–334. [Google Scholar]
  28. Lindblom G-B, Sjögren E, Kaijser B. Natural Campylobacter colonization in chickens raised under different environmental conditions. J. Hyg., Camb. 1986;96:385–391. doi: 10.1017/S0022172400066146. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Lior H. New, extended biotyping scheme for Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and ”Campylobacter laridis”. J. clin. Microbiol. 1984;20:636–640. doi: 10.1128/JCM.20.4.636-640.1984. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Luechtefeld NW, Wang W-L. Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni in a turkey processing plant. J. clin. Microbiol. 1981;13:226–228. doi: 10.1128/JCM.13.1.226-227.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Marjai E, Kováts Z, Kajáry I, Horváth Z. Campylobacter jejuni contamination of slaughtered chickens. Acta Microbiol. Acad. Sci. Hung. 1982;29:213–215. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Montrose MS, Shane SM, Harrington KS. Role of litter in the transmission of Campylobacter jejuni. Avian Dis. 1985;29:392–399. doi: 10.2307/1590500. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Moulton RP, Veltkamp JJ, Lauwers S, Butzler JP: Analysis of small outbreak of Campylobacter infections with high morbidity. In: Newell DG (ed.): Campylobacter. Epidemiology, Pathogenesis and Biochemistry. MTP Press Limited, Lancaster 1982, pp. 129–134.
  34. Nurmi E, Rantala M. New aspects of Salmonella infection in broiler production. Nature. 1973;241:210–211. doi: 10.1038/241210a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Okrend AJ, Johnston RV, Moran AB. Effect of acetic acid on the death rate at 52°C of Salmonella typhimurium and Campylobacter jejuni in poultry scald water. J. Food Prot. 1986;49:500–503. doi: 10.4315/0362-028X-49.7.500. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Oosterom J, de Wilde GJA, de Boer E, de Blaauw LH, Karman H. Survival of Campylobacter jejuni during poultry processing and pig slaughtering. J. Food Prot. 1983;46:702–706. doi: 10.4315/0362-028X-46.8.702. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Pönka A, Pitkänen T, Sarna S, Kosunen TU. Infection due to Campylobacter jejuni: a report of 524 outpatients. J. Infect. 1984;12:175–178. doi: 10.1007/BF01640893. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Richardson ^J, Koornhof ^J. Campylobacter infections in Soweto. S. Afr. Med. J. 1979;54:73–74. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Rogol M, Sechter I, Greenberg Z, Mizrachi R, Shtark Y, Alfl S. Contamination of chicken meat and environment with various sero–groups of Campylobacter jejuni/coli. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 1985;1:271–276. doi: 10.1016/0168-1605(85)90019-4. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  40. Rosef O, Bjorland J. Forekomsten av Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni i importerte frosne fjørfe og småvilt. (Occurrence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni in imported deep–frozen poultry and small game) Norsk Veterinaer–tidsskrift. 1981;93:689–692. [Google Scholar]
  41. Rosef O, Kapperud G. Isolation of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni from faeces of Norwegian poultry. Acta vet. scand. 1982;23:128–134. doi: 10.1186/BF03546829. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Rosef O, Kapperud G. House flies (Musca dome–stica) as possible vectors of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni. Appl. environ. Microbiol. 1983;45:381–383. doi: 10.1128/AEM.45.2.381-383.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Rosef O, Gondrosen B, Kapperud G. Campylobacter jejuni. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 1984;1:205–215. doi: 10.1016/0168-1605(84)90017-5. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  44. Rosenfield JA, Arnold GJ, Davey GR, Archer RS, Woods WH. Serotyping of Campylobacter jejuni from an outbreak of enteritis implicating chicken. J. Infect. 1985;11:159–165. doi: 10.1016/S0163-4453(85)92123-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Sandven P, Solberg O, Ødegaard K, Myhre G. Improved medium for the transportation of gonococcal specimens. Acta pathol. microbiol. Immunol. Scand. sect. B. 1982;90:73–77. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1982.tb00083.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  46. Severin WPJ. Campylobacter and enteritis. Ned. T. Geneesk. 1978;122:499–504. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  47. Shane SM, Montrose MS, Harrington KS. Transmission of Campylobacter jejuni by the housefly (Musca domestica). Avian Dis. 1985;29:384–391. doi: 10.2307/1590499. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  48. Shanker S, Rosenfield JA, Davey GR, Sorrell TC. Campylobacter jejuni: incidence in processed broilers and biotype distribution in human and broiler isolates. Appl. environ. Microbiol. 1982;43:1219–1220. doi: 10.1128/AEM.43.5.1219-1220.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  49. Shanker S, Lee A, Sorrell TC. Campylobacter jejuni in broilers: the role of vertical transmission. J. Hyg., Camb. 1986;96:153–159. doi: 10.1017/S002217240006592X. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  50. Skirrow MB. Campylobacter enteritis: a ”new” disease. Brit. Med. J. 1977;2:9–11. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.6078.9. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  51. Skirrow MB, Benjamin J. Differentiation of ente–ropathogenic Campylobacter. J. clin. Pathol. 1980;33:1122. doi: 10.1136/jcp.33.11.1122. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  52. Soerjadi–Liem AS, Snoeyenbos GH, Weinack OM. Comparative studies on competitive exclusion of three isolates of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni in chickens by native gut microflora. Avian Dis. 1983;28:139–146. doi: 10.2307/1590135. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  53. Soto A, Figueroa G, Urcelay S. Frequency of infection with Campylobacter jejuni/coli and the occurrence of IgG, IgM and complement fixing antibodies against the agent in workers in poultry abattoir in Santiago, Chile. J. Vet. Med. Β. 1986;33:676–684. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0450.1986.tb00086.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  54. Stern NJ, Green SS, Thaker N, Krout DJ, Chiu J. Recovery of Campylobacter jejuni from fresh and frozen meat and poultry collected at slaughter. J. Food Prot. 1984;47:372–374. doi: 10.4315/0362-028X-47.5.372. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  55. Svedhem, Kaijser B. Isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from domestic animals and pets: probable origin of human infection. J. Infect. 1981;3:37–40. doi: 10.1016/S0163-4453(81)92261-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  56. Svedhem, Kaijser B, Sjögren E. The occurrence of Campylobacter jejuni in fresh food and survival under different conditions. J. Hyg., Camb. 1981;87:421–425. doi: 10.1017/S0022172400069667. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  57. Wempe JM, Genigeorgis GA, Farver TB, Yusufu HI. Prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni in two California chicken processing plants. Appl. environ. Microbiol. 1983;45:355–359. doi: 10.1128/AEM.45.2.355-359.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  58. Wesley RD, Swaminathan B, Stadelman WJ. Isolation and enumeration of Campylobacter jejuni from poultry products by selective enrichment method. Appl. environ. Microbiol. 1983;46:1097–1102. doi: 10.1128/AEM.46.5.1097-1102.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  59. Wright EP. The isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from flies. J. Hyg., Camb. 1983;91:223–226. doi: 10.1017/S0022172400060228. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica are provided here courtesy of BMC

RESOURCES