Persistence and Biofilm Assessment of Campylobacter Jujeni in Poultry Abattoir

Abstract

Persistence of Campylobacter sp and its biofilm forming ability was assessed in two poultry abattoirs at two weeks intervals. Average prevalence (63.75%) of Campylobacter spp. was observed on assessing a total of 160 samples collected from the surfaces of packaging table (80%), dressing table (75%), floor source (70%) and washing table (30%). Biofilm assessment formed by Campylobacter jejuni within 5-days at 37⁰C were in decreasing order of washing table> packaging table> dressing table > floor. An average rate (19.6%) of isolates to develop biofilm observed in both sites was considered relatively low. Absorbance value (Optical Density-OD_590nm) of formed biofilms ranged from 0.483 – 0.952. Wastewater from the facilities showed higher TDS (643 – 820 mgl^-1), TSS (1200 – 1775 mgl^-1), COD (152 – 141 mgl^-1) and BOD (30.3 – 32.5mgl^-1) than the WHO standards of 500 mgl^-1, 100 mgl^-1, 10 mgl^-1 and 6 mgl^-1 respectively. This is a clear indication of heavy microbial presence in the wastewater. Total bacterial count (TBC) was slightly higher in site A (4.4 x 10⁵ CFU/ml) than site B (3.5 x 10⁵ CFU/ml). Efficiency index ratio (≈/>1) observed in all tested drugs suggests their effectiveness in campylobacteriosis management. Decreasing drug sensitivity pedigree was observed with streptomycin> erythromycin & gentamincin > tetracycline & neomycin > penicillin> riphapicin & ampicillin > norflaxicin & cephalexin. These results of frequency and biofilm forming tendencies of Campylobacter spp. observed in this study can be of value in checkmating campybacteriosis outbreak from poultry abattoir facility.

Keywords: Campylobacter jejuni, biofilm, poultry, abattoir.