Control of Campylobacter in the primary production of Broilers in Denmark Surveillance and strategies to control Campylobacter in the Danish Broiler production. CRL Campylobacter Workshop, Uppsala 2009 Steen Nordentoft
The Broiler production i Denmark Rose Poultry Danpo, Lantmennen 210 Farms, 500 Houses 120 mill. Broilers/year Bornpoultry 2 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark
No of human cases Major zoonoses in Denmark - human cases 6.000 5.000 Pigs Table egg Salmonella Campylobacter 4.000 Yersinia 3.000 VTEC Listeria 2.000 1.000 0 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 3 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark
First initiative against Campylobacter 1998-2001: A monitoring program was established: All broiler flocks (>4200/year) were sampled by collecting 10 cloacal swabs at slaughter. Swabs transported by ordinary mail to the laboratory in agar sticks. Detection method: direct plating on mccda, phenotypic identification of isolates according to ISO 10272. 4 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark
The first results from monitoring Campylobacter in broilers Campylobacter jejuni was the most predominant species accounting for more than 86% of the cases, and C. coli 11% and C. lari 1%. Large differences in the prevalence of positive flocks between farms indicating that factors as management and the local environment could be involved in the colonization of broilers by Campylobacter. The results showed, that within one year, more than 45% of the flocks were positive, but the infection rate showed huge difference with a peek in the summer month (June - September) 5 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark
No. of human cases % positive flocks Positive flocks and Human cases 1000 100 800 80 600 60 400 40 200 20 0 2003 2004 Hu ma n ca se 2006 s 2005 Bro ile rs 2007 2008 2009 0 Source: Statens Serum Institute, and National Veterinary Institute and National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark 6 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark
Risk factors for the introduktion of Campylobacter in the broilerflocks A study of risk factors was conducted and important factors in the were identified : Missing hygiene barrier Other animals close the farm, or other animal production Thinning/ batch slaughtering - one week before slaughter Down period 7 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark
Strategies to lower the prevalence of Campylobacter in the Broilers In corporation with the companies and the farmers, the authorities forced a 2-way strategy to bring down the number positive flocks, and reduce the quantitative amount in broiler meat. On the farm actions were taken in order to stop the introduction of Campylobacter into the flock Visit by consultants from the slaughter companies Improved bio security Farmers received higher prices for negative broilers Improved cleaning and disinfection procedures between flocks Abandoning batch slaughter In the laboratory faster methods for the detection was developed 8 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark
Development of a PCR Method for detecting Campylobacter in Cloacal Swabs Aim was to reduce the time from sampling to resultresult within a day Sample: 10 cloacal swabs taken at slaughter Result: 3 hour method based on traditional PCR with comparable sensitivity as culturing 9 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark
PCR detection of Campylobacter on feces Campylobacter Internal control - + - + Detection limit 50-100 cfu/ml faecal solution = 2-400 cfu/g faecal material Corresponds to detection limit for direct culture on mccda plates 10 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark
No. of flocks % positive flocks Broiler flocks positive for Campylobacter, 1998-2008 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 Positive % Positive 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Source: National Veterinary Institute and National Food Institute, Techinical University of Denmark 11 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark
Number of Houses Frequency of negative samples in individual broiler houses Data from houses with more than 20 registered samples in the period 1. jan 2006-1. sep 2009. 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 22 25 31 35 37 39 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 61 63 65 67 69 71 73 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 100 18 23 30 32 36 38 41 43 45 47 49 51 53 55 57 59 62 64 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 % negative flocks 12 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark
Strategies to lower the prevalence of Campylobacter in the Broiler Meat Second leg of the strategy At the slaughterhouse All flocks should be tested for Campylobacter by cloacal swabs On the basis of the farms history of delivering negative or positive broilers the presumed negative flocks should be slaughtered before the positive in order not to avoid cross contamination (Channeling) Negative flocks should be used for fresh products, while positive flocks should be freezed 13 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark
RESULT OF THE FIRST INTERVENTIONS By focusing on the preharvest level we were able to lower the frequnce of positive flocks from 45% to >25%. However the frequence of positive broiler meat was still too high, as it was very dificult to predict the status of the flock based on historical data. New measures needed to be taken in order to predict the true flock status before slaughter 14 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark
Campylobacter socksample Each flock is sampled 7-10 days before slaughter by taking one par of socks. Socks are made of 10-15 cm tubegaze, and moistured with water before they at put on the boot The farmer walks around in the house while the socks collects a fecalsample representing the whole flock. Socks are then submitted to a laboratory using standard mail or currier. 15 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark
Sock sample ready for analyses Socks are diluted in saline, and purification of DNA and PCR are done as for the cloacal swabs The correlation between the results from the sock-sample and the cloacal swab is on average 0,8. The correlation is variable during the season, and also from farm to farm. During summertime the spread of Campylobacter within the flock occurs earlier and faster than during wintertime, making the sock more predictable. 16 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark
jan-06 apr-06 jul-06 okt-06 jan-07 apr-07 jul-07 okt-07 jan-08 apr-08 jul-08 okt-08 jan-09 apr-09 jul-09 The correlation between Sock samples and Cloacal svabs 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 % pos socksample % pos cloacalsvab 17 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark
Risk factors - Revised Many farmers in Denmark are able to produce Campylobacter negative broilers, - also even though they do thinning. However The individual farmers needs motivation to do something Bad economy Bad behaviours Establishment of a good bio security Control of flies Quality of external labour Keeping buildings up-to-date 18 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark
Example of good Biosecurity 19 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark
Thank you for your attention 20 DTU Vet, Technical University of Denmark