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Recovery of Campylobacter and Salmonella Serovars From the Spleen, Liver and Gallbladder, and Ceca of Six-and Eight-Week-Old Commercial Broilers

N. A. Cox^*, L. J. Richardson^*, R. J. Buhr^*, J. K. Northcutt, J. S. Bailey, P. F. Cray and K. L. Hiett^*

^* Poultry Microbiological Safety Research Unit, Poultry Processing and Swine Physiology Research Unit, and Bacterial Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Research Unit, Russell Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Athens, GA 30605

Correspondence: ¹ Corresponding author: ncox{at}saa.ars.usda.gov

Previous studies have demonstrated that when Campylobacter or Salmonella were either orally or intracloacally inoculated into day-old broiler chicks, within 1 h, these bacteria moved rapidly to the lymphoid organs. These bacteria were still present 1 wk after inoculation. Two different market-age (6 and 8 wk old) broilers were obtained from 2 commercial poultry operations and brought to the laboratory for analysis. Necropsy was limited to the removal of the spleen, liver and gallbladder (L-GB), and ceca using aseptic techniques. To reduce the possibility of cross-contamination between samples, the spleen and L-GB were aseptically removed before the ceca. Samples were individually bagged, and standard laboratory procedures for Campylobacter and Salmonella were carried out for all samples. Fifty-two 6-wk-old broilers were analyzed, and Campylobacter were found in 19 of 52 L-GB, 19 of 52 spleens, and 26 of 52 ceca. Salmonella were found in 5 of 52 L-GB, 8 of 52 spleen, and 4 of 52 ceca. Eighty 8-wk-old broilers were analyzed, and Campylobacter were found in 3 of 80 L-GB, 5 of 80 spleens, and 19 of 80 ceca. Salmonella were found in 41 of 80 L-GB, 38 of 80 spleens, and 52 of 80 ceca. The internal organs of the younger birds were more heavily contaminated with Campylobacter, whereas Salmonella was the predominant organism isolated in the older birds. All Campylobacter isolates were found to be Campylobacter jejuni. The predominant Salmonella serotype was Salmonella Typhimurium; however, 7 other serotypes were found. Overall, C. jejuni was found in 22 of 132 L-GB, 24 of 132 spleen, and 45 of 132 ceca, whereas Salmonella serovars were isolated from 46 of 132 L-GB, 46 of 132 spleen, and 56 of 132 ceca. There is no doubt that these bacteria are naturally present in these organs. The significance of these reservoirs in the internal organs of commercial broilers is yet to be determined but could play a role in the microbiology of the intestinal tract and hence the final food product.

Key Words: Campylobacter • broiler • thymus • spleen • liver and gallbladder • ceca

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