Environmental sampling methods’ influence on detection of pathogens in cage-free aviary housing

ABSTRACT: The environmental sampling of layer housing systems is essential to identifying potential pathogens that are of concern to human health. To identify the natural occurrence of pathogens (Listeria, Campylobacter, and Salmonella) at various locations in a cage-free aviary housing system, swab...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: J.S. Garcia, D.R. Jones, R.K. Gast, D.M. Karcher, M.A. Erasmus
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-02-01
Series:Poultry Science
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579122006757
_version_ 1811175466407559168
author J.S. Garcia
D.R. Jones
R.K. Gast
D.M. Karcher
M.A. Erasmus
author_facet J.S. Garcia
D.R. Jones
R.K. Gast
D.M. Karcher
M.A. Erasmus
author_sort J.S. Garcia
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT: The environmental sampling of layer housing systems is essential to identifying potential pathogens that are of concern to human health. To identify the natural occurrence of pathogens (Listeria, Campylobacter, and Salmonella) at various locations in a cage-free aviary housing system, swabs were collected when hens were 22 to 39 wks of age. Duplicate environmental swabs were taken and inoculated with a low dose (101 cfu) Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) and examined for the recovery of SE from environmental samples. Detection of Listeria (P < 0.0001) and Campylobacter (P < 0.0001) varied between the environmental sample types taken: concrete dust, drag swabs, egg belt dust, manure belt scraper swabs, and wall dust. Detection of Listeria (P < 0.0001) was the highest (70.0%) at the beginning of the study (22 wk) and decreased over time. Detection of Campylobacter (P < 0.001) was also the highest at 22 wk, however the decrease over time was more gradual. Interestingly, detection of Campylobacter (P < 0.0001) was the greatest in concrete dust samples (96.25%), which can be attributed to the presence of rodent excreta in the samples. Drag swabs and manure belt scraper swabs were the best sampling types for high detection of Listeria and Campylobacter. It should be noted that Listeria recovered was not of human health concern. No naturally occurring Salmonella was identified in this study. The recovery of the SE inoculum increased over time, reaching the greatest recovery in drag (81.25%; P < 0.0001), egg belt dust (100.00%; P < 0.0001) and wall dust swabs (100.00%; P < 0.0001) by 39 wk. This high rate of SE recovery occurred just before US mandatory SE environmental monitoring at 40 to 45 wks of age. Based on this study, the use of drag and manure belt scraper swabs are effective in detecting Listeria and Campylobacter in cage-free aviary housing. Along with good pest management, the occurrence of pathogens could be monitored and reduced in laying hen flocks.
first_indexed 2024-04-10T19:37:27Z
format Article
id doaj.art-393650fff5a5435783f376d7bb82af86
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0032-5791
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-10T19:37:27Z
publishDate 2023-02-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Poultry Science
spelling doaj.art-393650fff5a5435783f376d7bb82af862023-01-30T04:11:30ZengElsevierPoultry Science0032-57912023-02-011022102381Environmental sampling methods’ influence on detection of pathogens in cage-free aviary housingJ.S. Garcia0D.R. Jones1R.K. Gast2D.M. Karcher3M.A. Erasmus4Egg Safety and Quality Research Unit, US National Poultry Research Center, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Athens, GA 30605, USAEgg Safety and Quality Research Unit, US National Poultry Research Center, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Athens, GA 30605, USA; Corresponding author:Egg Safety and Quality Research Unit, US National Poultry Research Center, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Athens, GA 30605, USADepartment of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USADepartment of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USAABSTRACT: The environmental sampling of layer housing systems is essential to identifying potential pathogens that are of concern to human health. To identify the natural occurrence of pathogens (Listeria, Campylobacter, and Salmonella) at various locations in a cage-free aviary housing system, swabs were collected when hens were 22 to 39 wks of age. Duplicate environmental swabs were taken and inoculated with a low dose (101 cfu) Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) and examined for the recovery of SE from environmental samples. Detection of Listeria (P < 0.0001) and Campylobacter (P < 0.0001) varied between the environmental sample types taken: concrete dust, drag swabs, egg belt dust, manure belt scraper swabs, and wall dust. Detection of Listeria (P < 0.0001) was the highest (70.0%) at the beginning of the study (22 wk) and decreased over time. Detection of Campylobacter (P < 0.001) was also the highest at 22 wk, however the decrease over time was more gradual. Interestingly, detection of Campylobacter (P < 0.0001) was the greatest in concrete dust samples (96.25%), which can be attributed to the presence of rodent excreta in the samples. Drag swabs and manure belt scraper swabs were the best sampling types for high detection of Listeria and Campylobacter. It should be noted that Listeria recovered was not of human health concern. No naturally occurring Salmonella was identified in this study. The recovery of the SE inoculum increased over time, reaching the greatest recovery in drag (81.25%; P < 0.0001), egg belt dust (100.00%; P < 0.0001) and wall dust swabs (100.00%; P < 0.0001) by 39 wk. This high rate of SE recovery occurred just before US mandatory SE environmental monitoring at 40 to 45 wks of age. Based on this study, the use of drag and manure belt scraper swabs are effective in detecting Listeria and Campylobacter in cage-free aviary housing. Along with good pest management, the occurrence of pathogens could be monitored and reduced in laying hen flocks.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579122006757cage-free aviaryenvironmental samplingcampylobacterlisteriasalmonella
spellingShingle J.S. Garcia
D.R. Jones
R.K. Gast
D.M. Karcher
M.A. Erasmus
Environmental sampling methods’ influence on detection of pathogens in cage-free aviary housing
Poultry Science
cage-free aviary
environmental sampling
campylobacter
listeria
salmonella
title Environmental sampling methods’ influence on detection of pathogens in cage-free aviary housing
title_full Environmental sampling methods’ influence on detection of pathogens in cage-free aviary housing
title_fullStr Environmental sampling methods’ influence on detection of pathogens in cage-free aviary housing
title_full_unstemmed Environmental sampling methods’ influence on detection of pathogens in cage-free aviary housing
title_short Environmental sampling methods’ influence on detection of pathogens in cage-free aviary housing
title_sort environmental sampling methods influence on detection of pathogens in cage free aviary housing
topic cage-free aviary
environmental sampling
campylobacter
listeria
salmonella
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579122006757
work_keys_str_mv AT jsgarcia environmentalsamplingmethodsinfluenceondetectionofpathogensincagefreeaviaryhousing
AT drjones environmentalsamplingmethodsinfluenceondetectionofpathogensincagefreeaviaryhousing
AT rkgast environmentalsamplingmethodsinfluenceondetectionofpathogensincagefreeaviaryhousing
AT dmkarcher environmentalsamplingmethodsinfluenceondetectionofpathogensincagefreeaviaryhousing
AT maerasmus environmentalsamplingmethodsinfluenceondetectionofpathogensincagefreeaviaryhousing