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The present pilot study aimed at evaluating air sampling as a novel method for monitoring Campylobacter in poultry farms. We compared the bacteriological isolation of Campylobacter from boot swabs and air filter samples using ISO 10272-1:2017. A secondary aim was to evaluate the use of molecular methods, i.e. real time PCR, on the same sample set. Samples from 44 flocks from five European countries were collected, and included air samples, in parallel with boot swabs. Campylobacter spp. was isolated from seven of 44 boot swabs from three of five partners using the enrichment method. Two of these positive boot swab samples had corresponding positive air samples. Using enrichment, one positive air sample was negative in the corresponding boot swabs, but Campylobacter spp. was isolated from direct plating of the boot swab sample. One partner isolated Campylobacter spp. from six of 10 boot swabs using direct plating. Overall, 33 air filter samples were screened directly with PCR, returning 14 positive results. In conclusion, there was a lack of correspondence between results from analysis of boot swabs and air filters using ISO 10272-1:2017. In contrast, the combination of air filters and direct real-time PCR might be a way forward. Despite the use of the detailed ISO protocols, there were still sections that could be interpreted differently among laboratories. Air sampling may turn into a multi-purpose and low-cost sampling method that may be integrated into self-monitoring programs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest or commercial interest, and have all approved the manuscript for publication., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Campylobacter has developed resistance to several antimicrobial agents over the years, including macrolides, quinolones and fluoroquinolones, becoming a significant public health hazard. A total of 145 strains derived from raw milk, chicken faeces, chicken carcasses, cattle faeces and human faeces collected from various Italian regions, were screened for antimicrobial susceptibility, molecular characterization (SmaI pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) and detection of virulence genes (sequencing and DNA microarray analysis). The prevalence of C. jejuni and C. coli was 62.75% and 37.24% respectively. Antimicrobial susceptibility revealed a high level of resistance for ciprofloxacin (62.76%), tetracycline (55.86%) and nalidixic acid (55.17%). Genotyping of Campylobacter isolates using PFGE revealed a total of 86 unique SmaI patterns. Virulence gene profiles were determined using a new microbial diagnostic microarray composed of 70-mer oligonucleotide probes targeting genes implicated in Campylobacter pathogenicity. Correspondence between PFGE and microarray clusters was observed. Comparisons of PFGE and virulence profiles reflected the high genetic diversity of the strains examined, leading us to speculate different degrees of pathogenicity inside Campylobacter populations.

Campylobacteriosis is the most commonly reported gastrointestinal disease in humans. Campybacter jejuni is the main cause of the infection, and bacterial colonization in broiler chickens is widespread and difficult to prevent, leading to high risk of occurrence in broiler meat. Phage therapy represents an alternative strategy to control Campylobacter in poultry. The aim of this work was to assess the efficacy of two field-isolated bacteriophages against experimental infections with an anti-microbial resistant (AMR) Campylobacter jejuni strain. A two-step phage application was tested according to a specific combination between chickens' rearing time and specific multiplicities of infections (MOIs), in order to reduce the Campylobacter load in the animals at slaughtering and to limit the development of phage-resistant mutants. In particular, 75 broilers were divided into three groups (A, B and C), and phages were administered to animals of groups B and C at day 38 (Φ 16-izsam) and 39 (Φ 7-izsam) at MOI 0.1 (group B) and 1 (group C). All broilers were euthanized at day 40, and Campylobacter jejuni was enumerated in cecal contents. Reductions in Campylobacter counts were statistically significant in both group B (1 log10 colony forming units (cfu)/gram (gr)) and group C (2 log10 cfu/gr), compared to the control group. Our findings provide evidence about the ability of phage therapy to reduce the Campylobacter load in poultry before slaughtering, also associated with anti-microbial resistance pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress factors and poor animal welfare can increase the susceptibility of food-producing animals to diseases, posing microbial risks to consumers. Animal welfare levels, objectively measured with the application of the Welfare Quality® protocol, were assessed in thirteen broiler flocks, including organic ones, to evaluate the presence of statistically significant differences in relation to Campylobacter and Salmonella faecal shedding and consequent microbiological contamination of broiler carcases at slaughterhouse. Each flock underwent animal welfare evaluation the day before slaughtering, followed by Campylobacter and Salmonella detection in faeces (caecal content) and neck skin at slaughterhouse. A total of 1040 samples (520 caecal contents; 520 neck skins) were included in the study. Campylobacter enumeration and Salmonella serotyping were also carried out. The highest welfare scores were reported in organic flocks. Significantly lower Campylobacter concentrations both in caecal content and neck skins (P < 0.05) were reported in organic batches, compared to high welfare conventional batches. Low-welfare batches showed higher prevalence of Salmonella both in neck skins and caecal content, with a statistically significant difference compared to high-welfare batches (43.6% versus 2.9% in neck skins; 19.3% versus 0% in caecal content; P < 0.00001). Salmonella Infantis and Salmonella Bredeney were the most common serotypes, while Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli were the detected species. This study provides new evidence that high animal welfare standards at farms, other than an ethical issue and a value-add for the end product, could also improve the microbiological safety of poultry meat, ultimately contributing to the protection of consumers. • At-farm stress can increase susceptibility to disease of food producing animals. • Animal welfare levels were measured in broiler flocks, including organic. • Campylobacter and Salmonella shedding and carcass contamination were evaluated. • Significant relation was found between microbial contamination and welfare score. • High animal welfare at farm can improve microbiological safety of poultry meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]