Distribution and numbers of Campylobacter in newly slaughtered broiler chickens and hens.

If Campylobacter is present in the intestinal tract, broiler carcasses become extensively contaminated during the slaughter process. To determine the distribution and numbers of Campylobacter jejuni/coli in newly slaughtered broiler chickens and hens, a total of 100 birds from six Campylobacter-positive flocks were sampled at three Swedish processing plants. Campylobacters were isolated in 89% of neck skins, 93% of peritoneal cavity swab samples and in 75% of subcutaneous samples. Muscle samples were only very sparsely contaminated. It is likely that the feather follicles are the orifices where C. jejuni/coli is introduced into the subcutis layer.