Microbiological vulnerability of eggs and environmental conditions in conventional and free-range housing systems

Abstract

Although Brazil is currently the world's eighth largest egg exporter, the shift of consumers towards free-range eggs may present new sanitary challenges. This study aims to evaluate the microbiological vulnerability of eggs and environmental conditions in a farm certified for both conventional and freerange systems using two standard methods (enterobacteria counting and Salmonella spp. survey). Two high-producing farms were selected for this study, one under both conventional and freerange systems at the same place as the test farm, and another under conventional system only as a control farm. Enterobacteriaceae counts were determined for eggshells; and detection of Salmonella spp. was conducted in eggs, nest box material, feeder, and sponge samples from water dispensers, feeders, production plant, besides water samples from nipple dispensers and artesian well. The average enterobacteria count (log CFUmL -1 ) was 0.09 for conventional and 1.73 for free-range systems (p < 0.001). While Salmonella spp. was not detected in the conventional system but was present in one feeder and three eggshells from the free-range system. Therefore, the conventional system demonstrated better hygiene-sanitary status than the free-range one. Moreover, controlling food safety should always be considered when improving animal welfare. Key words: Enterobacteria. Food safety. Microbial contamination. Public health. Salmonella spp. ResumoApesar do Brasil ser considerado o oitavo maior exportador mundial de ovos, mudanças nas preferências dos consumidores relacionadas a ovos produzidos em sistemas de pastejo livre, podem representar novos desafios sanitários. Neste estudo o objetivo foi avaliar a vulnerabilidade microbiológica dos ovos e ambiente de produção numa fazenda certificada para sistema convencional e de pastejo livre, utilizando dois métodos considerados padrão (contagem de Enterobactérias e pesquisa de Salmonella). Duas fazendas de alta produção de ovos foram selecionadas para o estudo, sendo que uma delas continha o sistema convencional e também o sistema de pastejo livre de criação na mesma localidade. A segunda fazenda (sistema convencional) foi utilizada como controle. A enumeração de enterobactérias

Sustainability and Quality Aspects of Different Table Egg Production Systems: A Literature Review

“…As a consequence of more frequent veterinary interventions, Cepero and Hernándiz [53] suggest that the risk of residues of antimicrobials, anthelmintics and various anticoccidials may be higher for eggs produced in non-cage housing systems. Several studies [57,60,104,105,110,116] also confirmed this finding and found that housing technologies significantly affect the number of bacteria on the surface of eggs and the level of microbial contaminants. In the case of conventional and enriched cage systems, eggshell contamination values in terms of both total bacterial counts and Escherichia coli are significantly lower compared to eggs from alternative technologies (aviary, barn), and the highest contamination was found in the case of barn housing.…”

Aspectos da produção de galinha caipira e sua comercialização em feiras

“…em sistemas convencional e de criação livre, uma vez que há nos diversos sistemas, variações quanto a linhagem da ave, dieta, idade, sistema de alojamento, tempo de criação, clima e práticas de gestão, os quais podem interferir diretamente na ocorrência de surtos de salmonelose. Nos Estados Unidos, 75% dos casos são provenientes de produtos à base de ovo ou que tinham ovo como ingrediente, portanto a segurança sanitária dos ovos deve ser sempre ponderada quando se comparam os sistemas de postura (GALVÃO et al, 2018).…”

Effect of housing environment and hen strain on egg production and egg quality as well as cloacal and eggshell microbiology in laying hens

“…In the United States, more than 75% of table eggs are produced by birds housed in CC. Concurrently, the eggs from CC are considered superior in hygienic standards with less bacterial contamination ( Jones and Anderson, 2013 ; Englmaierová et al., 2014 ; Galvão et al., 2018 ). Due to the dynamic nature of the microbes, both housing environment and laying hen strain might influence microbial growth on the eggshell ( Holt et al., 2011 ), which is related to food safety in the egg industry.…”

“…Due to the dynamic nature of the microbes, both housing environment and laying hen strain might influence microbial growth on the eggshell ( Holt et al., 2011 ), which is related to food safety in the egg industry. Previous studies have shown that eggs from alternative housing systems such as aviaries, litter, free-range or organic systems have a higher eggshell bacterial load than those from conventional cages ( De Reu et al., 2005 ; Buhr et al., 2009 ; Singh et al., 2009 ; Holt et al., 2011 ; Englmaierová et al., 2014 ; Jones et al., 2015a ; Galvão et al., 2018 ; Vlčková et al., 2018 ). Similarly, Jones and Anderson (2013) observed that eggshell microbial load was affected by laying hen strains in different housing environments where the eggshell aerobic bacterial load was different between 2 laying hen strains, Hy-Line Brown and Hy-line silver Brown raised in CC.…”