RESUMO
The objective of this study was to determine Salmonella contamination levels, presence and serovar distribution in broiler carcasses before and after chilling, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of chilling process. A total of 96 pooled neck skin samples (PNSS) of 48 prechill (PreC) and 48 postchill (PosC) carcasses, representing 480 broilers collected in 6 mo' period were analyzed using ISO 6579-2:2012 Miniaturized Most Probable Number (ISO-mMPN) technique. Species confirmation and serovar identification was performed by Salmonella-specific real-time PCR (Salm-PCR) and conventional serotyping, respectively. Mean Salmonella count was 1.84 log10 MPN/g in PreC, and 1.48 log10 MPN/g in PosC samples, indicating a statistically significant reduction of 0.36 log10 MPN/g (p < 0.05) in the counts by plant's air chill system. Salmonella positivity reduced from 97.9% (47/48) in PreC to 85.42% (41/48) in PosC samples, confirmed by Salm-PCR with identified serovars as S. Virchow (89.77 %) followed by S. Schwarzengrund (9.09%) and S. Bredeney (1.14%). Persistence of high load and prevalence of Salmonella with serovar Virchow dominance (other than the ones mandated in current guidelines) in the final product contributes significant and up to date data to relevant literature, and provides unbiased epidemiological reference to legal authorities for future relevant revisions.