The occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in Estonian broiler chicken production in 2002-2007

The aim of the present study was to monitor the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in broiler chicken production in Estonia from 2002 to 2007. Campylobacter spp. was isolated in 163 (12.3%) of 1320 broiler chicken meat samples form 2002 to 2007 and in 115 (6.3%) of 1819 cecal samples in 2005–2007. Campylobacter jejuni was the most commonly isolated species (98.2%), followed by Campylobacter coli (1.4%) and Campylobacter lari (0.4%). The seasonal peak of Campylobacter contamination was from July to September. Our findings showed that Campylobacter contamination at all levels of broiler chicken production in Estonia was low.