Enumeration of Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli, and Salmonella in broiler carcass rinses before and after simulated transport in artificial ice for 24 hours.

The maintenance and survival of target pathogens during transport from the field collection site to the analytical laboratory is essential for obtaining accurate and reliable data. This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of sterile tap water (SW), buffered peptone water (BPW), and universal preenrichment broth (UP) for maintaining populations of Campylobacter spp., Salmonella, and Escherichia coli for 24 h under simulated transport conditions. Freshly processed broiler carcasses (n = 100) were rinsed in SW. The rinses were divided, and components were added to create equal volumes of rinse samples consisting of SW, BPW, and UP. The rinses were analyzed for the target organisms immediately and again after 24 h of simulated chilled transport conditions. The only meaningful difference between the different transport media was found for UP, which recovered fewer E. coli than did either SW or BPW. These findings support the conclusion that either SW or BPW should be used as a broiler carcass rinse and/or transport medium to accurately depict the levels or presence of these three target bacteria as a whole. Because potable water differs in pH and hardness across the United States, a follow-up study was conducted to investigate whether water hardness or pH within the ranges normally found across the United States would affect Campylobacter recovery from carcass rinses. No significant differences were detected.