Microbial Ecology of Campylobacter on Poultry Skin and in Biofilms

The role of biological microstructures including feather follicles, pores, and skin folds of poultry skin in the survival of Campylobacter will be determined using a combination of confocal microscopy, molecular probes and conventional plate counts. The influence of spoilage microflora on the survival of C. jejuni at various microenvironments on the poultry skin during the initial stages of spoilage will be determined using similar methdology. The ability of processing plant microflora to inhibit or stimulate growth of C. jejuni in biofilms produced on stainless steel will be studied and mechanisms of microbial interactions on biofilms and chicken skin containing C. jejuni by identifying changes in the micro and macroenvironment related to production of inhibitors as well as changes in pH and oxidation-reduction potential within the biofilm matrice will be determined.

Campylobacter is a major cause of food-borne illness. It is often isolated from retail poultry. When contaminated poultry is purchased by the consumer, infection can result from consuming the undercooked product or by cross-contamination of other foods during preparation. Campylobacter is considered a fragile microorganism outside of the animal host because it is readily killed by environmental stress in the laboratory. However, it has demonstrated ability to survive in on surfaces and on poultry skin. This project will examine the means by which Campylobacter is able to survive in these environments. This knowledge can then be used to develop strategies for control of Campylobacter in poultry processing plants so that levels of the pathogen in raw retail products will be reduced. The result will be less Campylobacter entering the food preparation environment with a resulting reduction in infection. The specific objective of this research is to define the major factors that allow survival of Campylobacter on poultry skin in the presence and absence of spoilage microorganisms and on stainless steel in the presence of processing plant microorganisms. We believe that Campylobacter may survive on chicken skin in microenvironments that protect it from atmospheric oxygen, such as feather follicles and skin pores, and that spoilage microflora may enhance survival by reducing free oxygen at these sites.