Campylobacter spp. in Icelandic poultry operations and human disease

• Published in: Epidemiology and Infection
• Main Authors: Stern, N J, Hiett, K L, Alfredsson, G A, Kristinsson, K G, Reiersen, J, Hardardottir, H, Briem, H, Gunnarsson, E, Georgsson, F, Lowman, R, Berndtson, E, Lammerding, A M, Paoli, G M, Musgrove, M T
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press 2003
• Subjects: Abattoirs; Animal Husbandry; Animals; Campylobacter; Campylobacter Infections; Chickens; Food Microbiology; Food-Processing Industry; Humans; Iceland/epidemiology; Population Surveillance; Research Support; Non-U.S. Gov't; U.S. Gov't; Non-P.H.S; Risk Assessment; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2336/4777; https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268802007914

We describe the observed relationship of campylobacter in poultry operations to human cases in a closed environment. During 1999 in Iceland, domestic cases of campylobacteriosis reached peak levels at 116/100,000 and in 2000 dropped to 33/100,000. Approximately 62% of broiler carcass rinses were contaminated with Campylobacter spp. in 1999. During 2000, only 15% of the broiler flocks tested Campylobacter spp. positive. In 2000, carcasses from flocks which tested positive on the farms at 4 weeks of age were subsequently frozen prior to distribution. We suggest that public education, enhanced on-farm biological security measures, carcass freezing and other unidentified factors, such as variations in weather, contributed to the large reduction in poultry-borne campylobacteriosis. There is no immediate basis for assigning credit to any specific intervention. We continue to seek additional information to understand the decline in campylobacteriosis and to create a risk assessment model for Campylobacter spp. transmission through this well defined system.