Examination of Turkey Eggs, Poults and Brooder House Facilities for Campylobacter jejuni

Abstract

Campylobacter jejuni was not isolated from fertile turkey eggs or from newly-hatched poults. The organism was present in 16 to 76% of fecal swabs of 15-to 19-day old turkeys from two commercial brooder facilities, and was isolated from litter and drinking water. Extensive cleaning of a brooder house and application of new litter seemed to exclude litter, water, feed and grit as initial sources of contamination. Newly-hatched poults could be raised in a Campylobacter-free environment for 19 to 21 d without evidence of this organism in fecal swabs.