Investigation of prevalence and risk factors for Campylobacter in broiler flocks at slaughter: results from a UK survey

During 2007-2009 a UK-wide, 3-year stratified randomized survey of UK chicken broiler flocks was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Campylobacter-infected batches of birds at slaughter. Thirty-seven abattoirs, processing 88.3% of the total UK slaughter throughput, were recruited at the beginning of the survey. Of the 1174 slaughter batches sampled, 79.2% were found to be colonized with Campylobacter, the majority of isolates being C. jejuni. Previous partial depopulation of the flock [odds ratio (OR) 5.21], slaughter in the summer months (categorized as June, July and August; OR 14.27) or autumn months (categorized as September, October and November; OR 1.70) increasing bird age (40-41 days, OR 3.18; 42-45 days, OR 3.56; >= 46 days, OR 13.43) and higher recent mortality level in the flock (1.00-1.49% mortality, OR 1.57; >= 1.49% mortality, OR 2.74) were all identified as significant risk factors for Campylobacter colonization of the birds at slaughter. Time in transit to the slaughterhouse of more than 2.5 h was identified as a protective factor (OR 0.52).