Antimicrobial Interventions to Reduce Salmonella and Campylobacter populations and Improve Shelf Life of Quail Carcasses

ABSTRACT Quail (Coturnix japonica) is a delicacy sold in the United States in limited markets. Similar to other poultry, quail is processed and marketed as fresh meat, with limited shelf life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of antimicrobial interventions during slaughter on reducing Salmonella and Campylobacter contamination, and to determine the microbiological quality and shelf life of quail during refrigerated (4°C) storage. Three antimicrobials: peroxyacetic acid (PAA; 400 ppm), Citrilow (pH 1.2), and Cecure (Cetyl Pyridinium Chloride: CPC, 450 ppm), along with a water and no-treatment control were evaluated. Quail carcasses (n=75) were inoculated with a cocktail of nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium (STNR) and gentamicin-resistant Campylobacter coli (CCGR). Following 30 min attachment time, quail carcasses were submerged in each antimicrobial solution for 20 s with air agitation. Non-inoculated quail carcasses (n=25) were similarly treated, packaged and stored under refrigeration (4° C). Aerobic plate counts (APC), psychrotroph counts (PC), Enterobacteriaceae counts (ENT), total coliform counts (TCC) and Escherichia coli counts (ECC) on quail carcasses were determined on 1, 4, 7 and 10 days. Salmonella and Campylobacter populations were determined by plating on Petrifilm APC supplemented with 200 ppm nalidixic acid and Campy-Cefex agar supplemented with 200 ppm Gentamycin, respectively. Results showed that there were no significant reductions (P>0.01 log CFU/mL) in APC, PC, ENT, TCC and ECC on carcasses submerged in water. However, treatments with PAA, Citrilow and CPC significantly reduced (P≤0.05) STNR and CCGR contamination. Also, Citrilow showed greater (P≤0.05) reduction in Salmonella and Campylobacter population (1.90 and 3.82 log CFU/ mL reduction, respectively) to PAA and CPC. Greater (P≤0.05) reductions in APC, PC, ENT, TCC and ECC (2.22, 1.26, 1.47, 1.52, 1.59 log CFU/mL, respectively) were obtained with application of CPC. Application of antimicrobial interventions resulted in a reduction in Campylobacter and Salmonella, APC, PC and ENT populations following treatments (day 0) and throughout the storage period (day 10). Use of antimicrobial interventions after slaughter can improve the microbiological safety and shelf life of quail.