Thermotolerant Campylobacter in poultry meat marketed in the Abruzzo and Molise regions of Italy: prevalence and contamination levels.

The prevalence and level of contamination of Campylobacter were determined for poultry meat taken from small and large retailers in Abruzzo and Molise. Of a total of 392 samples analysed, 160 (40.8%) revealed low-level thermotolerant Campylobacter contamination (0.3-9.3 most probable number [MPN]/g), 17 samples (10.6%) showed a contamination level above 9.3 MPN/g and one sample (0.6%) had 110 MPN/g. Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli were isolated from 81.9% and 32.5% of the samples, respectively. More than one species of Campylobacter were isolated from 23.1% of the positive samples.