Review of the Food-borne Zoonoses Research ... - ARCHIVE: Defra
Review of the Food-borne Zoonoses Research ... - ARCHIVE: Defra
Review of the Food-borne Zoonoses Research ... - ARCHIVE: Defra
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thinning process for molecular tracking to elucidate <strong>the</strong> most important sources<br />
associated with flock colonisation. In addition, <strong>the</strong> whole chain <strong>of</strong> events from farm<br />
through to <strong>the</strong> slaughter process will be followed in a separate study to investigate <strong>the</strong><br />
sources <strong>of</strong> infection and contribution to Campylobacter load associated with clearance<br />
and transport. A number <strong>of</strong> exposure experiments will also be carried out in Objective 3<br />
to investigate <strong>the</strong> survival and colonisation potential <strong>of</strong> environmental strains.<br />
All <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> above work will provide good quality data with which to update <strong>the</strong> VLA risk<br />
assessment model (Objective 4).<br />
<strong>Review</strong> Summary<br />
OZ0608 was an ambitious project which has moved our understanding <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
environmental sources <strong>of</strong> Campylobacter on <strong>the</strong> poultry farm forward considerably. The<br />
team also developed a PCR screening test for strain-specific detection <strong>of</strong><br />
Campylobacter, enabling detection <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> organism where traditional methods failed.<br />
While <strong>the</strong>re were data deficiencies in <strong>the</strong> Quantitative Risk Assessment, it proved useful<br />
in <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> practical interventions, and data ga<strong>the</strong>red from OZ0610 and<br />
OZ0613 will be used to update <strong>the</strong> model.<br />
Following on from OZ0608, project OZ0610 aims to investigate <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong> environmental<br />
survival, reservoirs <strong>of</strong> infection, and recycling systems, both on or entering <strong>the</strong> farm, in<br />
<strong>the</strong> colonisation <strong>of</strong> broiler flocks with C. jejuni. A vast amount <strong>of</strong> data has been collected<br />
by <strong>the</strong> team, which has yet to be fully analysed, in order to identify badly needed<br />
intervention measures for <strong>the</strong> poultry industry.<br />
Building on both OZ0608 and OZ0610, project OZ0613 will continue to advance<br />
knowledge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> farm situation, environmental stresses, and seasonality that may<br />
adversely affect campylobacters and be used in control. The project includes <strong>the</strong> first UK<br />
survey <strong>of</strong> campylobacters in broilers at slaughter meeting recommendations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Advisory Committee on <strong>the</strong> Microbiological Safety <strong>of</strong> <strong>Food</strong>, and <strong>the</strong> EU requirement for a<br />
survey from January 2008. It is anticipated that this project will significantly contribute to<br />
<strong>the</strong> campylobacter evidence base and provide valuable data on which future costeffective<br />
controls can be based.<br />
All three projects in this cluster have benefited from a close working relationship with <strong>the</strong><br />
FSA and industry. Such collaboration is also invaluable in ensuring findings and<br />
recommendations from research projects are implemented on farms.<br />
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