Detection and identification of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli from poultry carcasses slaughtered in Gonabad poultry slaughterhouse

Campylobacter is a major cause of human bacterial gastroenteritis and poultry meat is an important source of human outbreaks of campylobacteriosis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of campylobacter in poultry carcasses in Gonabad poultry slaughterhouse. In this cross-sectional study, a number of 100 samples from broiler poultry carcasses were randomly collected by using rinse test in Gonabad poultry slaughterhouse. The samples after enrichment in Exeter broth were plated on skirrow agar with 5% hemolysed, defibrinated horse blood and then incubated for 48 h at 42C in microaerophilic condition. Suspected colonies with gram negative staining and rod shape were tested for oxidase, catalase, hippurate hydrolysis and Darty mortality. from 100 examined samples, 31 (31%) were found positive for campylobacter spp. Biochemical differentiation of the produced campylobacteria isolates showed that C.jejuni was frequently isolated (61.29%) than C.coli (38.71%). The present results showed that chicken carcasses proved to be reservoir of campylobacter. Consequently, implementation of good cooking techniques and washing carcasses perfectly are necessary. It is also necessary to improve quality control for campylobacter spp. in chicken abattoirs.