Associations between animal welfare indicators and Campylobacter spp. in broiler chickens under commercial settings: A case study

Publication date: Available online 15 September 2017 Source:Preventive Veterinary Medicine Author(s): Irene Alpigiani, Josè Cortinas Abrahantes, Virginie Michel, Adeline Huneau-Salaün, Marianne Chemaly, Linda Jane Keeling, Andrea Gervelmeyer, Cristina Bacci, Franco Brindani, Silvia Bonardi, Franck Berthe Few studies have previously investigated how poor animal welfare might be associated with infection of zoonotic pathogens in humans. This paper assesses the predictive value of the presence of Campylobacter spp. in broiler chicken flocks when animal-based measures related to footpad dermatitis, hock burns, body lesions and arthritis are identified under commercial conditions (high density). The study population included 32 flocks analysed on farm and at slaughter, slaughtered between April and August 2008 in six different slaughter plants in Brittany, France. Welfare and health indicators are those indicated by the European legislation and sampling was carried out in the framework of the European baseline survey on the prevalence of Campylobacter in broiler chicken. Caecal contents, sampled both on farm and at slaughter, and carcass skin samples from the neck and breast at slaughter, were investigated for the presence of Campylobacter spp. Logistic models/classification trees were used to estimate the probability of the presence (or absence) of a specific foodborne pathogen in a flock based on specific animal-based measures (or combinations of measures) in orde...
Source: Preventive Veterinary Medicine - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research