Effects of fibrinopurulent polyserositis in broilers on post-harvest microbiological parameters relevant to public health of broiler meat.

Abstract

Fibrinopurulent polyserositis is of utmost importance in commercial broiler production worldwide. This multifactorial endemic disease is marked by severe clinical alterations post-mortem, yet its effects on food safety and processing hygiene criteria remain unclear. Current considerations presume that bacteraemia lead to meat being unfit for consumption. In the present study, we evaluated some microbiological criteria of affected broiler carcasses in comparison to unaffected control broiler carcasses. The results thereof indicated that the lesions did not result in higher bacterial counts or in an increased percentage of contaminated meat. The carry-over of associated zoonotic pathogens into the food chain seems to be not more prevalent in birds affected with non-systemic affections of polyserositis.