Campylobacter spp. are the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in humans. Transmission via contaminated poultry is a major cause of human Campylobacteriosis. Decontamination of poultry meat can reduce the incidence of foodborne infections, so we tested the susceptibility of C. coli and C. jejuni (N=17) strains to aerobic exposure to determine the difference in resistance of strains exposed to atmospheric oxygen concentration. Furtheron, we tested the sensitivity of the strains to the increased oxygen concentration in a modified atmosphere with 70 % O2 and 30 % CO2 and after treatment with 10 % lactic acid solution (MK) and 0,5 % and 1 % peracetic acid solution (PAA). According to oxygen sensitivity, strains were aerosensitive (AS) (survived <24 h under aerobic conditions) and hyperaerotolerant (HAT) (survived >24 h under aerobic conditions). In total, 65 % of the tested strains of C. coli and C. jejuni belonged to the AS group, and 35 % to the HAT. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) reduced the average number of AS strains by 1,96 log CFU/ml, and HAT by 0,89 log CFU/ml. Of the acids, PAA was more effective. In a 0,5 % PAA solution, the average number of AS strains was reduced by >3,85 log CFU/ml and 3 aerosensitive strains below the detection limit. The number of HAT strains decreased on average by 3,62 log CFU/ ml. 1 % PAA solution reduced the number of 5 AS strains and 1 HAT strain below the detection limit, and on average reduced the number of bacteria of AS strains by >4,57 log CFU/ml and HAT strains by >4,68 log CFU/ml. A 10 % solution of MK reduced the average number of HAT and AS strains by 1,58 log CFU/ml and 1,25 log CFU/ml. Aerotolerant strains of C. coli and C. jejuni are widespread in poultry and increase the potential for bacterial transmission through food under aerobic conditions. Proper use of MK and PAA and MAP are effective methods to reduce the number of Campylobacter and can improve food safety of poultry meat.
|