Campylobacter Jejuni and Campylobacter Hyointestinalis in the Intestinal Tract and on the Carcasses of Calves and Cattle

Abstract

Campylobacter jejuni was commonly detected in both rumen (74%) and faecal (54%) samples obtained at slaughter from calves which were about 4-weeks old but was much less frequently found in adult cattle. However there was a high incidence (47–88%) of C. hyointestinalis in intestinal tract samples from both calves and cattle. While C. jejuni occurred in ruminal material at only low counts (less than 100/g), C. hyointestinalis was often present at high counts (above 105/g). Lot-fed cattle were more likely to have both organisms in their intestinal tracts and on their carcasses than were pasture-fed cattle. Chilling cattle carcasses for 20–24 h significantly reduced the incidence of both Campylobacter species on the carcasses. In contrast campylobacters were found on almost all calf carcasses examined after chilling. The mean count of C. jejuni on calf carcasses before chilling was about 16/cm2 and decreased by about 10-fold after 20 h of chilling.