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This research aimed to evaluate the efficiency of composting waste from urban and agro-industrial forestry pruning in the broiler production chain (BPC), using PCA multivariate statistics and FTIR spectroscopic analysis. Three composting windrows were assembled, weighing 419 kg (dry matter) with an initial C/N ratio of 22.2. Organic materials such as pruning residues from urban afforestation, cellulosic sausage casing, hatchery residue, floater sludge, and agro-industrial broiler ash composed the windrows. The evaluated treatments were S35: 35 days, S63: 63 days, and S95: 95 days of stabilization. Physicochemical parameters, FTIR, and absorbance index assessed the process. These values were submitted to PCA multivariate statistics to select two PC, capable of explaining 90.2% of the data. PC1 divided the parameters into two groups exhibiting the residues stabilization characteristics at 35, 63, and 95 days of composting. The FTIR displayed an increase in the 1650/2925 and 1650/2845 ratios and a decrease in the 2920/1640 ratio for all treatments as compared to its initial composition. An outcome reflects the degradation of aliphatic groups and increase of aromatic structures as the composting time progresses. The PCA allowed the evaluation of physicochemical parameters and the degree of stabilization of the residues in the composting process. FTIR found significant transformations of the organic matter in the first 35 days of the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to determine the phylogenies of Salmonella strains isolated from cross-sectional studies conducted at hatcheries, broiler farms, processing plants, and retail outlets (broiler production chain) in Trinidad and Tobago over 4 yr (2016–2019). Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to characterize Salmonella isolates. Core genome phylogenies of 8 serovars of public health significance were analyzed for similarities in origin and relatedness. In addition, Salmonella strains isolated from human salmonellosis cases in Trinidad were analyzed for their relatedness to the isolates detected along the broiler production chain. The common source of these isolates of diverse serovars within farms, within processing plants, between processing plants and retail outlets, and among farm-processing plant-retail outlet continuum was well-supported (bootstrap value >70%) by the core genome phylogenies for the respective serovars. Also, genome analyses revealed clustering of Salmonella serovars of regional (intra-Caribbean) and international (extra-Caribbean) origin. Similarly, strains of S. Enteritidis and S. Infantis isolated from human clinical salmonellosis in 2019 from Trinidad and Tobago clustered with our processing plant isolates recovered in 2018. This study is the first phylogenetic analysis of Salmonella isolates using WGS from the broiler industry in the Caribbean region. The use of WGS confirmed the genetic relatedness and transmission of Salmonella serovars contaminating chickens in broiler processing, and retailing in the country, with zoonotic and food safety implications for humans.

This cross-sectional study determined the serovars, antimicrobial resistance genes, and virulence factors of Salmonella isolated from hatcheries, broiler farms, processing plants, and retail outlets in Trinidad and Tobago. Salmonella in silico serotyping detected 23 different serovars where Kentucky 20.5% (30/146), Javiana 19.2% (28/146), Infantis 13.7% (20/146), and Albany 8.9% (13/146) were the predominant serovars. There was a 76.0% (111/146) agreement between serotyping results using traditional conventional methods and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in in silico analysis. In silico identification of antimicrobial resistance genes conferring resistance to aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, peptides, sulfonamides, and antiseptics were detected. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was detected in 6.8% (10/146) of the isolates of which 100% originated from broiler farms. Overall, virulence factors associated with secretion systems and fimbrial adherence determinants accounted for 69.3% (3091/4463), and 29.2% (1302/4463) counts, respectively. Ten of 20 isolates of serovar Infantis (50.0%) showed MDR and contained the blaCTX-M-65 gene. This is the first molecular characterization of Salmonella isolates detected along the entire broiler production continuum in the Caribbean region using WGS. The availability of these genomes will help future source tracking during epidemiological investigations associated with Salmonella foodborne outbreaks in the region and worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional study determined the serovars, antimicrobial resistance genes, and virulence factors of Salmonella isolated from hatcheries, broiler farms, processing plants, and retail outlets in Trinidad and Tobago. Salmonella in silico serotyping detected 23 different serovars where Kentucky 20.5% (30/146), Javiana 19.2% (28/146), Infantis 13.7% (20/146), and Albany 8.9% (13/146) were the predominant serovars. There was a 76.0% (111/146) agreement between serotyping results using traditional conventional methods and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in in silico analysis. In silico identification of antimicrobial resistance genes conferring resistance to aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, peptides, sulfonamides, and antiseptics were detected. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was detected in 6.8% (10/146) of the isolates of which 100% originated from broiler farms. Overall, virulence factors associated with secretion systems and fimbrial adherence determinants accounted for 69.3% (3091/4463), and 29.2% (1302/4463) counts, respectively. Ten of 20 isolates of serovar Infantis (50.0%) showed MDR and contained the blaCTX-M-65 gene. This is the first molecular characterization of Salmonella isolates detected along the entire broiler production continuum in the Caribbean region using WGS. The availability of these genomes will help future source tracking during epidemiological investigations associated with Salmonella foodborne outbreaks in the region and worldwide.

Direct contact between humans and live broilers, as well as the consumption of chicken meat, have been suggested as pathways for transmission of extended‐spectrum‐β‐lactamase (ESBL) and AmpC‐β‐lactamase (AmpC)‐producing Escherichia coli. One approach to design intervention strategies to control the transmission of such bacteria between animals and humans is to study the transmission pathways of such bacteria between the animals themselves. The rationale is that controlling the process of the underlying source, here transmission between animals, can provide hints on how to control a higher‐level process, here the transmission between animals and humans. The focus of this article is the transmission of the above‐mentioned bacteria between broilers and broiler flocks in meat production with regards to the establishment of possible intervention strategies to reduce the transfer of these bacteria between animals. The objective of this work is to design a mathematical transmission model describing the effects of vertical and horizontal bacterial transmission in the broiler production chain, from the parent generation to the slaughterhouse level. To achieve this objective, an existing transmission model for Campylobacter was adapted for the case of E. coli. The model keeps track of prevalence among flocks (flock prevalence) and of prevalence among animals within one flock (animal prevalence). Flock and animal prevalences show different dynamics in the model. While flock prevalence increases mainly through horizontal transmission in hatcheries, animal prevalence increases mainly at the broiler‐fattening farm. Transports have rather small effects just as the vertical transmission from parents to chicks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the phylogenies of Salmonella strains isolated from cross-sectional studies conducted at hatcheries, broiler farms, processing plants, and retail outlets (broiler production chain) in Trinidad and Tobago over 4 yr (2016–2019). Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to characterize Salmonella isolates. Core genome phylogenies of 8 serovars of public health significance were analyzed for similarities in origin and relatedness. In addition, Salmonella strains isolated from human salmonellosis cases in Trinidad were analyzed for their relatedness to the isolates detected along the broiler production chain. The common source of these isolates of diverse serovars within farms, within processing plants, between processing plants and retail outlets, and among farm-processing plant-retail outlet continuum was well-supported (bootstrap value >70%) by the core genome phylogenies for the respective serovars. Also, genome analyses revealed clustering of Salmonella serovars of regional (intra-Caribbean) and international (extra-Caribbean) origin. Similarly, strains of S. Enteritidis and S. Infantis isolated from human clinical salmonellosis in 2019 from Trinidad and Tobago clustered with our processing plant isolates recovered in 2018. This study is the first phylogenetic analysis of Salmonella isolates using WGS from the broiler industry in the Caribbean region. The use of WGS confirmed the genetic relatedness and transmission of Salmonella serovars contaminating chickens in broiler processing, and retailing in the country, with zoonotic and food safety implications for humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowing the Campylobacter spp. load at each stage of production can be helpful in selecting appropriate control methods. The aim of the present study was therefore to evaluate the quantitative contamination of broilers with Campylobacter spp. at different levels of production (pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest) by using the culture method, and to identify the types of samples that can accurately predict the contamination level of the meat. For this purpose, broilers from two different processors were examined. The data were statistically modeled to describe the Campylobacter spp. counts in the samples and to identify correlations between counts in the different sample types, including fecal samples before slaughtering, cecal content at slaughter, neck skin after chilling, cut meat pieces, and finally meat cuts at the end of shelf-life. The Campylobacter spp. counts in pooled fecal samples at pre-harvest level were generally lower than those in individual cecal samples after slaughtering. The results of the meat samples at slaughter level showed that skinless breast fillet samples were less contaminated than legs with skin and neck skin after chilling. The examination of samples at the end of shelf-life showed that breast fillets and legs had lower Campylobacter spp. counts compared to the samples at the beginning of the storage. From these results, it can be summarized that a simple calculation of Campylobacter spp. counts from fecal samples collected on the farm did not allow a direct prediction of Campylobacter spp. loads in cecal content or neck samples. The cecal samples on the other hand can be appropriate to predict Campylobacter spp. counts in neck skin and breast fillet samples. • An average difference of 1 log CFU Campylobacter spp. between fecal and caecum samples was observed. • Correlations of Campylobacter counts were found for different sample matrix comparisons. • Tobit regression was performed to explore significance of input variables on Campylobacter counts. • Campylobacter counts were significantly different between processors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct contact between humans and live broilers, as well as the consumption of chicken meat, have been suggested as pathways for transmission of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL) and AmpC-β-lactamase (AmpC)-producing Escherichia coli. One approach to design intervention strategies to control the transmission of such bacteria between animals and humans is to study the transmission pathways of such bacteria between the animals themselves. The rationale is that controlling the process of the underlying source, here transmission between animals, can provide hints on how to control a higher-level process, here the transmission between animals and humans. The focus of this article is the transmission of the above-mentioned bacteria between broilers and broiler flocks in meat production with regards to the establishment of possible intervention strategies to reduce the transfer of these bacteria between animals. The objective of this work is to design a mathematical transmission model describing the effects of vertical and horizontal bacterial transmission in the broiler production chain, from the parent generation to the slaughterhouse level. To achieve this objective, an existing transmission model for Campylobacter was adapted for the case of E. coli. The model keeps track of prevalence among flocks (flock prevalence) and of prevalence among animals within one flock (animal prevalence). Flock and animal prevalences show different dynamics in the model. While flock prevalence increases mainly through horizontal transmission in hatcheries, animal prevalence increases mainly at the broiler-fattening farm. Transports have rather small effects just as the vertical transmission from parents to chicks., (© 2018 Bundesinstitut Für Risikobewertung. Risk Analysis published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society for Risk Analysis.)