Airborne Microbial Composition in a High-Throughput Poultry Slaughtering Facility

Abstract

A high-throughput chicken slaughtering facility in Beijing was systematically investigated for numbers of airborne microorganisms. Samples were assessed for counts of aerobic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, total coliforms, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, and Salmonella. During a 4-month period (September to December 2011), samples were collected for 10 min three times daily (preproduction, production, and postproduction). Samples were collected for three consecutive days of each month with an FA-1 sampler from six sampling sites: receiving-hanging, soaking-scalding and defeathering, evisceration, precooling, subdividing, and packing. Humidity, temperature, wind velocity, and airborne particulates also were recorded at each sampling site and time. The highest counts of microorganisms were recorded in the initial stages of processing, i.e., the receiving-hanging and defeathering areas, with a definite decline toward the evisceration, prechilling, subdividing, and packing areas; the prechilling area had the lowest microbial counts of 2.4 × 10(3) CFU/m(3). Mean total coliforms counts ranged from 8.4 × 10(3) to 140 CFU/m(3). Maximum E. coli counts were 6.1 × 10(3) CFU/m(3) in the soaking-scalding and defeathering area. B. cereus, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus represented only a small proportion of the microbial population (1,900 to 20 CFU/m(3)). L. monocytogenes and Salmonella were rarely detected in evisceration, precooling, subdividing, and packing areas. Our study identified the levels of bioaerosols that may affect chicken product quality. This finding could be useful for improved control of microbial contamination to ensure product quality.

Exposure to pathogens among workers in a poultry slaughter and processing plant

“…Our hypothesis and results are also consistent with the results of European studies that have reported Enterobacter, Citrobacter, and Klebsiella as among the most frequently detected Enterobacteriaceae in chicken carcasses at slaughterhouses [Schwaiger et al, 2012]. Several other studies have reported GNOs as airborne microorganisms in poultry slaughter and processing plants [Whyte et al, 2001;Lues et al, 2007;Fallschissel et al, 2010;Liang et al, 2013]. Enterobacteriaceae including resistant P. mirabilis have been reported in European studies as contaminants on retail chicken [Overdevest et al, 2011;Kola et al, 2012].…”

“…We examined GNO exposures on a relative basis by work area and job duty within this occupational cohort, but our evaluation of exposure is not based on actual sampling of the workplace (which is not possible in the US). Still, other studies examining actual workplaces support our exposure categorization of the workforce in this article [Whyte et al, 2001;Lues et al, 2007;Liang et al, 2013]. The inclusion of a non-worker referent population would improve estimates of the risk of nasal GNO carriage due to exposures from the poultry slaughterhouse environment.…”

“…The five job categories were defined based on estimated exposure intensity to poultry, as inferred from the questionnaire via either direct contact or inhalation of bioaerosols, which has been suggested by other studies [Whyte et al, 2001;Lues et al, 2007;Liang et al, 2013]. Job categorization was further guided by information about the plant layout, gained from on-site observation, and conversations with local UFCW workers.…”