Effect of ultrasonic treatment during cleaning on the microbiological condition of poultry transport crates

Vivien Mary Allen (1) , Robin T Whyte (2) , Colin H Burton (3) , Jillian Anne Harris (4) , Roger D L Lovell (1) , Robert J Atterbury (1) , David B Tinker (5)

1 Clinical Veterinary Science
2 Formerly Silsoe Research Institute
3 UR GERE - Gestion environnementale et traitement biologique des déchets
4 Clinical Veterinary Science
5 David Tinker & Associates Ltd

Abstract 1. Small sections cut from commercial crates used to transport live poultry to the processing plant were artificially contaminated with effluent taken from a commercial crate-cleaning system. 2. Laboratory trials, involving the immersion of these sections in an ultrasonic water bath (4 kW energy) showed that aerobic plate counts (APC) and counts of Enterobacteriaceae were progressively reduced as the immersion time was increased from 0 to 120 s and the water temperature raised from 35°C to 58°C. 3. In subsequent trials at a processing plant, using commercially-cleaned crates, there was relatively little effect of ultrasound (or pressure washing) on the biofilm present. However, ultrasonic treatment in combination with an immersion temperature of 60°C reduced counts of Enterobacteriaceae to below the detection limit (log10 2.3 cfu) within 1 – 3 min, while APC were reduced by >2 log10 units after 3 min. 4. It was concluded that ultrasonic treatment has a possible role in the crate-cleaning process, when used in conjunction with higher immersion temperatures. In this way, it could contribute significantly to hygiene control.

Mots clés: Life Sciences

Vivien Mary Allen, Robin T Whyte, Colin H Burton, Jillian Anne Harris, Roger D L Lovell, et al.. Effect of ultrasonic treatment during cleaning on the microbiological condition of poultry transport crates. British Poultry Science, 2008, 49 (04), pp.423-428. ⟨10.1080/00071660802262068⟩. ⟨hal-00545338⟩