The human infections of food origin caused by Campylobacter spp. result in high
economic losses and these infections are correlated to poultry flock and slaughter,
important steps in Campylobacter spp. dissemination. Based on the importance of this
microorganism in public health and in the literature data that show the high poultry
contamination by Campylobacter spp., we realize a study involving the flock and the
poultry slaughter in Amazon region for adoption of prophylactic and control measures.
The objective of this work was to investigate the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in
poultry flock and slaughterhouse in Amazon region and to isolate and to identify the
Campylobacter species and to identify the sources of infection in the flock and the
critical points in the slaughterhouse. We collected 120 samples in three flocks: 30
cloacal swab samples, 30 poultry litter samples, 30 feed samples and 30 water samples.
In the slaughterhouse, 126 samples were collected: 36 water samples from 12 different
points in the abattoir, 30 neck/ chest skin samples, 30 liver samples and 30 gizzard
samples. The samples were collected from January to May 2007. The samples were
processed in the Bacteriology and Micology Laboratory in Evandro Chagas Institute –
Health Surveilance Office – Brazil’s Health Ministery. Campylobacter spp. was isolated
in 33,3% (40/120) flock samples. There was no significant difference (p>0,05) between
positive isolates in the three flocks. Campylobacter spp. was isolated in 96,6% (29/30)
cloacal swab samples, 33,33% (10/30) poultry litter samples and 3,3% (1/30) water
samples. There were no positive samples in the feed. Campylobacter jejuni was
identified by biochemistry reactions in 82,5% (33/40) of isolates from flocks. In the
slaughterhouse, all isolates were identified as C. jejuni. This microorganism was isolated
in 8,73% (11/126) of slaughterhouse samples. C. jejuni was isolated in 27,8% (10/36)
water samples and in 3,3% (1/30) gizzard samples. Campylobacter spp. was not
isolated in liver samples neather in neck/ chest skin samples. There was significant
difference (p<0,0001) between positive, negative isolates and among all kinds of
samples collected in the flocks and at the slaughterhouse. The infections sources
identified in the flocks were the cloacal swab, the poultry litter and the water. In the
slaughterhouse, the critical points identified were the water and the gizzard. C. jejuni
was identified in high levels in the flocks and in all isolates from the slaughterhouse.
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