[Air sacculitis in poultry--human relevance of E. coli-isolates from the body cavity of turkeys unfit for human consumption].

: Air sacculitis is a common lesion found in herds during poultry meat inspection. To support the decision during inspection, 101 carcasses from turkey herds with frequently occurring air sacculitis (unfit for human consumption because of air sacculitis) were examined and 96 E. coil-isolates were collected. The isolates were tested for EHEC/STEC, i.e. gene sequences encoding Shigatoxin 1 and 2, EHEC-hemolysin (hlyEHEC) and intimin (eae). Moreover, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the isolates to 13 antimicrobial substances was tested. Factors determining EHEC or STEC were not identified. MIC to several substances were higher, related to the reference strain. Regarding the farm units, some of the respective strains had more frequently higher MIC. Based on these results, in case of air sacculitis, the decision should depend on macroscopic lesions exclusively.