Morar-Leather, Darshana2026-01-282026-01-282018-12-072018-10*A2019http://hdl.handle.net/2263/107661Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2018.Consumption of chicken is high compared to other meat products in South Africa and this has resulted in increased demand for chicken and growth of the informal poultry market, which is unregulated by appropriate government agencies. It is generally believed that the quality of chickens bought from the informal outlets is poor and may pose health hazards to consumers. Unsanitary practices at the informal market will allow opportunist pathogens such as Campylobacter species to contaminate the chicken products which could therefore cause Campylobacteriosis in humans. Campylobacteriosis is foodborne disease which is associated with consumption of Campylobacter contaminated meat products. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence, risk factors and characteristics of Campylobacter species contamination in chicken carcasses sold at informal poultry outlets in Gauteng province, South Africa. The study was conducted in six areas (Germiston, Atteridgeville/Phomolong, Garankuwa, Tembisa/Modise, Alexandra, Soweto) from which a total of 151 chicken carcasses were collected across 47 outlets. From each chicken carcass the carcass drip, cloacal and carcass swabs were sampled which resulted in a total of 453 samples collected. At each outlet, a questionnaire was administered to owners. Campylobacter species were isolated from the samples using conventional bacteriological methods and isolates were confirmed by conventional PCR and speciated into C. coli and C. jejuni. Broth cultures were screened for genus identification of Campylobacter species and speciation into C. coli and C. jejuni using conventional PCR. Six virulence genes (ciaB, dnaj, pldA, racR, flaA, flaB), three toxin genes (cdtA, cdtB, cdtC) and one antimicrobial resistance gene (tetO) were screened by using duplex and multiplex PCR. From the 47 identified outlets, differences were observed in their processing methods, with majority of outlets storing their live chickens in cages, using knives to slaughter the chickens and eviscerating chickens after slaughter. Of all the seven processing parameters, culled breeders (OR = 9.7), followed by spent hens (OR = 7.2), stagnant water (OR = 2.0) and defeathering (OR = 1.8) were significantly higher. From the four risk factor parameters, only poor sanitation (OR = 2.5) was significantly higher. The frequency of isolation of Campylobacter species from carcass drip, cloacal and carcass swabs using standard bacteriology methods was 40.4% (P = 0.0443), 37.7% (P = 0.0235) and 24.5% (P = 0.0091) was statistically significant respectively across the three types of samples. The cloaca is the normal habitat for resident Campylobacter. However, the highest frequency of isolation of Campylobacter species was detected in carcass drip (40.4%, P = 0.0443). This could be explained, in part, by contamination from rinse water, processing and sale tables, human handling and knives used at these outlets. The frequency of isolation of Campylobacter species from carcass samples was the highest in Germiston (66.7%) and lowest in Tembisa/Modise (0.0%). Processing methods and practices in these two areas were different which led to different levels of Campylobacter isolation. Informal chicken outlets in Germiston were slaughtering more culled breeders (36.7%) and spent hens (55.0%) while outlets in Tembisa/Modise slaughtered more broilers (70.0%). The rinsing method was also different, with the outlets in Germiston rinsing from stagnant water in buckets (100.0%) and the outlets in Tembisa/Modise rinsing from stagnant water in drums (100.0%). The water used in Germiston was easily saturated increasing the risk of cross contamination. The total frequency of Campylobacter species using standard bacteriology was 34.2% (P = 0.0201) (155/453 isolates). Conventional PCR confirmed 68.4% (P = 0.0276) as true Campylobacters and 6.6% was speciated into C. coli and 6.6% was C. jejuni and the remaining were not speciated. The frequency of virulence and toxin genes was higher in C. jejuni (69.0%, P = 0.0784) positive broth cultures than in C. coli (38.7%, P = 0.0497) positive broth cultures however, the frequency of virulence genes was only statistically significant in C. coli-positive BB (0.0497). This could be explained in part by the number of human campylobacteriosis cases which are linked to C. jejuni. The frequency of tetracycline resistance gene (tetO) was higher in C. coli (68.3%) than in C. jejuni (50.0%). It is concluded that the high frequency of virulence, toxin and antibiotic resistance genes in the Campylobacter jejuni recovered from chickens slaughtered at the informal chicken market in Gauteng province may pose food safety and therapeutic concerns to consumers of inadequately cooked chickens from these outlets. The high prevalence of Campylobacter species in chicken samples studied could be reduced by the elimination of the risk factors identified for the contamination of chickens during processing.en© 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.UCTDCampylobacterGautengChickensInformal poultry marketSouth AfricaDissertation04896204N/A