Campylobacter; epidemiology; free-range broiler flocks; open-air range; prevalence; risk factors; épidémiologie; facteur de risque; lots de poulets élevés en plein air; parcours extérieur; prévalence
Abstract :
[en] A one year epidemiological study was carried out between February 2005 and January 2006 in the southern part of Belgium to assess the Campylobacter prevalence in free-range broiler production. Three successive broiler flocks from six Belgian farms were investigated for the presence of Campylobacter spp. during the rearing period. Each flock was visited four times, before and after the outdoor rearing period. During each visit, samples were taken in the broiler house (litter, cecal droppings, water-lines, feed, anteroom) as well as from the outer rearing environment (open-air range). The Campylobacter detection in all samples was carried out according to the ISO 10272 standard. Identification was based on colonial morphology, microscopic examination, and biochemical tests. PCR multiplex was used for genetic confirmation. Campylobacter jejuni was the main species isolated from all contaminated samples. Overall, mixed infections C. jejuni/C. coli represented 40.6%, while C. jejuni and C. coli represented 46.9% and 12.5% of chicken samples respectively. A 100% flock contamination was observed in the 6 farms during the summer/autumn period, whereas only 66.7% and 33.3% of the flocks became Campylobacter-positive in spring and winter respectively, at the end of the rearing period. Half of contaminated flocks were infected before chickens have access to the open-air range. Environmental samples, especially the open-air range soil, were found to be Campylobacter-positive before flock infection. The other potential sources of contamination were delivery tray, anteroom floor and water-lines. Other animal productions like cattle on the farm, no applied rodent control, no cleaning and disinfection of water-lines between flocks, no detergent used for cleansing and thinning were recorded as risk factors. In conclusion, the contact with the environment, particularly the access to an open-air range, appeared to be the major way of Campylobacter contamination of chickens in free-range broiler production. [fr] Une étude épidémiologique d’un an a été menée de février 2005 à janvier 2006 en Région Wallonne de Belgique afin d’évaluer la prévalence de Campylobacter dans les productions de poulets de chair élevés en plein air. Trois lots successifs dans six exploitations belges ont été investigués pour la présence de Campylobacter spp. pendant la période d’élevage. A chaque visite, des échantillons ont été prélevés dans le poulailler (litière, matières caecales, lignes d’eau, aliment, sas d’entrée) ainsi que de l’environnement extérieur (parcours). La détection de Campylobacter dans les échantillons a été réalisée selon le standard ISO 10272. L’identification était basée sur la morphologie des colonies, l’examen microscopique et des tests biochimiques. La PCR multiplex a été utilisée pour confirmation génétique. Campylobacter jejuni était la principale espèce isolée de tous les échantillons contaminés. Globalement, les infections mixtes C. jejuni/C. coli représentaient 40,6%, tandis que C. jejuni et C. coli représentaient 46,9% et 12,5% des isolats de poulets respectivement. Tous les lots (100%) étaient contaminés dans les 6 exploitations pendant la période été/automne, alors que seulement 66,7% et 33,3% des lots étaient positifs à Campylobacter, à la fin de la période d’élevage, au printemps et en hiver respectivement. La moitié des lots contaminés étaient infectés avant que les poulets n’aient accès au parcours extérieur. Différents échantillons environnementaux, plus particulièrement le sol du parcours, ont été détectés positifs à Campylobacter avant l’infection du lot. Les autres sources potentielles de contamination étaient le véhicule de livraison, le sol du sas et les lignes d’eau. La présence d’autres productions animales comme des bovins dans l’exploitation, l’absence de contrôle des rongeurs, l’absence de nettoyage et de désinfection des lignes d’eau entre les lots, le nettoyage sans détergent et la séparation des lots pour l’abattage ont été déterminés comme facteurs de risque. En conclusion, le contact avec l’environnement, plus particulièrement l’accès à un parcours extérieur, apparaît comme une source majeure de contamination des poulets par Campylobacter en production de poulets de chair élevés en plein air.
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