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Abstract The genus Helicobacter was not known, and members belonging to this genus were included as members of the genus Campylobacter. Recently, members of the genus Helicobacter showed great differences from members of the genus Campylobacter which were sufficient to create a new genus called Helicobacter. The genus Helicobacter grow rapidly and now included about 24 species and there are many species of this genus still waiting classification. The most important member of this genus is H.pylori, which causes many diseases to man such as gastric ulcer, peptic ulcer, in addition it causes chronic bronchitis, hypertension, growth retardation in children as well as it causes many other diseases. Since Helicobacter species may infect many animals and birds which may be used for human food, contaminated food with Helicobacters may be a vehicle for human infection. So, this study was constructed aiming to detect the presence of H.pylori antibodies in the blood of live chicken coming to the abattoir, and to detect H.pylori antigen in the intestinal contents of chicken at slaughter age which may contaminate chicken carcasses at the abattoir during evisceration. Also, different sources of contamination of chicken carcasses with Helicobacters in poultry processing plant was investigated. The extent of contamination of chicken carcasses, gizzards and livers with Helicobacters was also studied. Recommendations were made to minimize the contamination, and certain treatments were carried out to eradicate H.pylori which may be present on chicken carcasses. The study included the following parts: Part Ӏ: 1- Detection of H.pylori antibodies in chicken blood serum and H.pylori antigen in chicken intestinal contents. A total of 50 samples of chicken serum were examined serologically for H.pylori antibodies. 12 samples proved to be positive (+) (24%), indicating that live chickens may be infected with H.pylori and may be source of contamination for chicken carcasses with H.pylori. The detection of H.pylori antigen (serologically) in 50 samples of chicken intestinal contents was carried out. Five (5) samples were found to be positive (+) for H.pylori antigen (10% of the examined samples), indicating that H.pylori present in the intestinal contents may contaminate chicken carcasses during evisceration. 2- Sources of contamination of chicken carcasses: This part included the incidence of Helicobacters in different sources of contamination of chicken carcasses such as: cages used for chicken transport, surfaces and utensils in the abattoir, hands of abattoir workers, water source in the abattoir and intestinal contents of the slaughtered birds. The following results were obtained: - 30 samples (swab samples) taken from the cages used for chicken transport to the abattoir were investigated for the incidence of Helicobacters. Eight samples were found to be positive for Helicobacters .H.pullorum was found in 5 samples, H.pylori was found in 2 samples and H.hepaticus was found in one sample. This means that H.pullorum, H.pylori and H.hepaticus were isolated in a percentage of 16.66%, 6.66% and 3.33% of the examined samples, respectively. - 50 samples of chicken intestinal contents were also examined for the incidence of Helicobacters. Fourty two samples were found to be positive (+) for the presence of Helicobacters. H.pullorum was found in 25 samples, H.pylori was present in 8 samples, H.cinaedi and H.hepaticus each of them was found in 3 samples, H.bilis was found in 2 samples and H.canis was present in one sample. This means that H.pullorum, H.pylori, H.cinaedi, H.hepaticus, H.bilis and H.canis were found in 50%, 16%, 6%, 6% 4% and 2% of the examined samples, respectively. - 30 samples (swab samples) of the abattoir surfaces and utensils were examined for the incidence of Helicobacters. Sixteen samples were found to be positive (+) for the presence Helicobacters (53.33% of the examined samples) H.pylori was present in 7 samples; H.pullorum was found in 6 samples; H.bilis, H.hepaticus and H.canis, each of them was found in one of the examined samples. This means that H.pylori, H.pullorum, H.bilis, H.hepaticus and H.canis were found in 23.33%, 20%, 3.33%, 3.33% and 3.33% of the examined samples; respectively. - 30 samples of the abattoir water (tap water) were examined for the incidence of Helicobacters Helicobacter failed to be isolated from the examined abattoir water samples. It seems that chlorine treatment in the water works was sufficient to eradicate H.pylori. - 30 samples (swab samples) taken from the hands of abattoir workers were examined for the incidence of Helicobacters. Eleven samples were found to be positive (+) for the presence of Helicobacters (36.66% of the total examined samples. H.pylori was found in 5 samples, H.pullorum was present in 4 samples, H.hepaticus and H.bilis each of them was found in one of the examined samples. This means that H.pylori, H.pullorum, H.hepaticus and H.bilis was found in 16.66%, 13.33%, 3.33% and 3.33% of the total examined samples; respectively. 3- Incidence of Helicobacters on chicken carcasses and giblets. In this part, the extent of contamination of chicken carcasses and giblets (gizzards and livers) with Helicobacters was studied. Fifty (50) chicken gizzard samples were examined for the incidence of Helicobacters. Seven gizzards samples were found to be positive (+) for the presence of Helicobacters. H.pylori was found in 3 samples, H.pullorum was found also in 3 samples while H.canis was found in only one gizzard sample. This means that H.pylori, H.pullorum and H.canis were found in 6%, 6% and 2% of the total examined samples; respectively. Fifty (50) chicken liver samples, taken from manual chicken abattoir, were examined for the presence of Helicobacters. Ten samples were found positive (+) for the presence of Helicobacters (20% of the total examined liver samples). H.pullorum was found in 7 samples, H.pylori was present in 2 samples while H.bilis was found only in one chicken liver sample. This means that H.pullorum, H.pylori and H.bilis were found in 14%, 4% and 2% of the total examined liver samples; respectively. Fifty (50) chicken carcass samples were obtained from manual abattoir, and were examined for the presence of Helicobacters. Thirty six chicken samples were found positive (+) for the presence of Helicobacters (72% of the total examined chicken samples). Fourteen chicken samples were contaminated with H.pylori, sixteen chicken carcasses were contaminated with H.pullorum, H.cinaedi and H.hepaticus each of them was contaminating three chicken samples. This means that H.pylori, H.pullorum, H.hepaticus and H.cinaedi were present in 28%, 32%, 6% and 6% of the total examined chicken samples; respectively. Part ӀӀ: Treatments on chicken carcasses for control and prevention of H.pylori. The application of such recommendations will reduce the contamination of chicken carcasses with Helicobacters but it will not cause complete decontamination. So, certain treatments may be applied on chicken carcasses to eradicate H.pylori. Since H.pylori can grow within the pH range of 4.5-9, it was thought to study the effect of application of organic acids to the surface of chicken carcasses to reduce the pH than the minimum pH degree for growth of H.pylori and acetic and lactic acids were chosen for application on chicken carcasses. The effect of acetic acid and lactic acids on the survival of H.pylori, previously inoculated on chicken carcasses (drumsticks), was investigated. Results indicated that the immersion of chicken carcasses for 15 minutes in 1.25% (v/v) of any of the acids acetic and lactic reduced H.pylori from 6x103 cfu/cm2 in the control sample to be 9x102cfu/cm2 and 12x102cfu/cm2 for acetic and Lactic acids treatments, respectively. The immersion of chicken carcasses in higher concentrations namely 2.5% or 5% of acetic acid or Lactic acid completely eradicated H.pylori from the surface of chicken carcasses. Trisodium phosphate (TSP), which increase the pH, was chosen for application on chicken carcasses to study its effect on the survival of H.pylori on chicken carcasses. Results showed that the immersion of chicken carcasses (drumsticks), previously inoculated with H.pylori, in different concentrations of TSP namely 6% and 8%, reduced H.pylori from the surface of chicken carcasses from 6x103 CFU/cm2 in the control to be 1.1x102 CFU/cm2 and 7.2x10 CFU/cm2 for 6% and 8% TSP treatments, respectively. The immersion of chicken carcasses in 10% TSP completely eradicated H.pylori from the surface of chicken carcasses. So, it is recommended to immerse chicken carcasses (in the abattoir) in 2.5% of acetic or Lactic acids for 15 minute, or in Trisodium phosphate solution (10%) for 15 seconds to eradicate H.pylori which may be present on chicken carcasses. |