Uittreksel
Development of a reliable measurement system to evaluate different cleaning and disinfection protocols in broiler houses
Luyckx K.*, Van Weyenberg S.1, Dewulf J.2, Herman L.1, Zoons J.3, Vervaet E.3, Heyndrickx M.1 and De Reu K..1
1Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Technology and Food Science Unit, Melle, Belgium 2Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Ghent University, Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Merelbeke, Belgium
3Provincial Centre for Applied Poultry Research of the province of Antwerp, Geel, Belgium
Introduction
A hygienic and high quality food production is of great importance, considering the increasing demands of Western consumers regarding food safety and the pressure of European regulations. The livestock sector has an important role in that aspect. Cleaning and disinfection (C&D) of the stable environment is an essential part of the hygiene management on the farm. This is important for the prevention and control of diseases and zoonosis. An evaluation of the effectiveness of C&D protocols can help farmers to reduce the infection pressure on the farm. The objective of this study is to test and evaluate C&D protocols in broiler houses.
Material and methods
Various cleaning protocols were carried out in different stables present on the same farm. Following C&D protocols were carried out in six stables on two farms: 1) cleaning with warm (60 °C) water preceded by a soaking step, 2) cleaning with cold water preceded by a soaking step, 3) cleaning with cold water, 4) cleaning with warm water (60 °C). Protocols 1 and 2 were carried out three times on farm A and protocols 3 and 4 five times in total; three times on farm A and two times on farm B. The effectiveness was evaluated through visual inspection, ATP hygiene monitoring and microbiological analyses. Before cleaning and after disinfection agar contact plates (ACPs) and swab samples for enumeration and detection of microbiological parameters were taken in each quarter of the hen house, in twelve defined sites. The enumeration of total aerobic flora, Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia coli and the presence of E. coli and Salmonella were determined. After cleaning, microbiological and ATP swabs were taken. Moreover a visual score was assigned for each location.
Results and discussion
To assess the effectiveness of the C&D methods, 4508 ACPs and 1507 swabs for microbiological analyses were taken in total. In addition, 102 air samples and 802 ATP swabs were taken and analyzed.
This study showed that ACPs, which are standard used to evaluate C&D, were less sensitive than swabs to enumerate and less useful to thoroughly compare different C&D protocols. Besides total aerobic flora, Enterococcus spp. seems to be a better hygiene-indicator to evaluate C&D protocols compared to E. coli.
The addition of a soaking step (protocols 1 and 2) during cleaning showed a higher mean reduction in Enterococcus spp and total aerobic flora count compared to the cleaning protocols without a soaking step (protocols 3 and 4). No difference was seen in total aerobic flora count by swab analyses on both farms between the use of warm and cold water alone or in combination with a soaking step.
Since all stables were Salmonella negative, the detection of its indicator E. coli gives additional information for the determination of potentially critical points. It appeared that the drinking system is one of the most critical points for C&D in broiler houses, demonstrated by the microbiological parameters as well as visual control scores and ATP values.
Acknowledgments
We gratefully thank all the poultry farmers for their excellent collaboration. This work would not have been possible without the help of especially Eline Dumoleijn. Also many thanks to Ann Van De Walle, Sofie De Vlam and Elly Engels for their practical assistance. This research is funded by the Belgian Federal Public Service for Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment (RT 11/8 CLEANDESOPT).
Luyckx K.*, Van Weyenberg S.1, Dewulf J.2, Herman L.1, Zoons J.3, Vervaet E.3, Heyndrickx M.1 and De Reu K..1
1Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Technology and Food Science Unit, Melle, Belgium 2Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Ghent University, Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Merelbeke, Belgium
3Provincial Centre for Applied Poultry Research of the province of Antwerp, Geel, Belgium
Introduction
A hygienic and high quality food production is of great importance, considering the increasing demands of Western consumers regarding food safety and the pressure of European regulations. The livestock sector has an important role in that aspect. Cleaning and disinfection (C&D) of the stable environment is an essential part of the hygiene management on the farm. This is important for the prevention and control of diseases and zoonosis. An evaluation of the effectiveness of C&D protocols can help farmers to reduce the infection pressure on the farm. The objective of this study is to test and evaluate C&D protocols in broiler houses.
Material and methods
Various cleaning protocols were carried out in different stables present on the same farm. Following C&D protocols were carried out in six stables on two farms: 1) cleaning with warm (60 °C) water preceded by a soaking step, 2) cleaning with cold water preceded by a soaking step, 3) cleaning with cold water, 4) cleaning with warm water (60 °C). Protocols 1 and 2 were carried out three times on farm A and protocols 3 and 4 five times in total; three times on farm A and two times on farm B. The effectiveness was evaluated through visual inspection, ATP hygiene monitoring and microbiological analyses. Before cleaning and after disinfection agar contact plates (ACPs) and swab samples for enumeration and detection of microbiological parameters were taken in each quarter of the hen house, in twelve defined sites. The enumeration of total aerobic flora, Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia coli and the presence of E. coli and Salmonella were determined. After cleaning, microbiological and ATP swabs were taken. Moreover a visual score was assigned for each location.
Results and discussion
To assess the effectiveness of the C&D methods, 4508 ACPs and 1507 swabs for microbiological analyses were taken in total. In addition, 102 air samples and 802 ATP swabs were taken and analyzed.
This study showed that ACPs, which are standard used to evaluate C&D, were less sensitive than swabs to enumerate and less useful to thoroughly compare different C&D protocols. Besides total aerobic flora, Enterococcus spp. seems to be a better hygiene-indicator to evaluate C&D protocols compared to E. coli.
The addition of a soaking step (protocols 1 and 2) during cleaning showed a higher mean reduction in Enterococcus spp and total aerobic flora count compared to the cleaning protocols without a soaking step (protocols 3 and 4). No difference was seen in total aerobic flora count by swab analyses on both farms between the use of warm and cold water alone or in combination with a soaking step.
Since all stables were Salmonella negative, the detection of its indicator E. coli gives additional information for the determination of potentially critical points. It appeared that the drinking system is one of the most critical points for C&D in broiler houses, demonstrated by the microbiological parameters as well as visual control scores and ATP values.
Acknowledgments
We gratefully thank all the poultry farmers for their excellent collaboration. This work would not have been possible without the help of especially Eline Dumoleijn. Also many thanks to Ann Van De Walle, Sofie De Vlam and Elly Engels for their practical assistance. This research is funded by the Belgian Federal Public Service for Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment (RT 11/8 CLEANDESOPT).
| Oorspronkelijke taal | Engels |
|---|---|
| Titel | Proceedings of the 18th Conference on Food Microbiology |
| Publicatiedatum | 2013 |
| Pagina's | 124 |
| Publicatiestatus | Gepubliceerd - 2013 |
| Evenement | 18th Conference on Food Microbiology (2013) - Brussel, België Duur: 12-sep.-2013 → 13-sep.-2013 |