Frequency and Enumeration of Campylobacter Species from Processed Broiler Carcasses by Weep and Rinse Samples

ABSTRACT Frequency and numbers of Campylobacter spp. were assessed per freshly processed, contaminated broiler carcass. Campylobacter-positive flocks were identi-fied by cecal sample analysis at slaughter. These flocks had been tested as Campylobacter negative at 4.1 ± 0.9 d prior to slaughter. Levels of contamination were esti-mated using 2 sampling approaches per carcass: (1) free weep fluids and (2) whole-carcass, 100 mL of distilled water rinses. Estimations of counts were determined by directly plating dilutions of weeps and rinses onto Campy-Cefex agar and incubating the plates at 41.5°C under microaerobic atmosphere. Confirmation was pro-vided by latex agglutination to quantify levels per millili-ter of weep and per 100 mL of rinse. Thirty-two slaughter groups (∼20 carcasses per group) were compared fro