A model system for the study of microbial colonization in poultry defeathering machines |
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| Authors: | GC Mead C Gibson DB Tinker |
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| Institution: | The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Boltons Park, Potters Bar, Herts;Silsoe Research Institute, Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedford, UK |
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| Abstract: | A model system has been developed to simulate key features of the machinery environment in which feathers are removed from poultry carcasses during commercial processing. The model was designed to facilitate study of factors affecting microbial colonization of the machines, including environmental temperature, available nutrients and microbial competition. It involves a rapidly rotating rubber 'finger' contained in a tank in a laboratory incubator, where the 'finger' is sprayed continuously with a microbial suspension in a blood-faecal extract medium. Attachment of cells of Staphylococcus aureus or Staph. sciuri to the rotating 'finger' was demonstrated over a 6-h period at 28°C. |
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