AUTHOR=Mustedanagic Azra , Matt Monika , Weyermair Karin , Schrattenecker Anna , Kubitza Isabella , Firth Clair L. , Loncaric Igor , Wagner Martin , Stessl Beatrix 

TITLE=Assessment of microbial quality in poultry drinking water on farms in Austria

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1254442

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2023.1254442

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>The quality of poultry drinking water has a significant effect on broiler health and performance. This study conducted an analysis of aerobic mesophilic counts (AMC), <italic>Enterobacteriaceae</italic> (EB), <italic>Pseudomonadaceae</italic> (PS), and screened for the presence of <italic>Campylobacter</italic> spp. in water samples collected from a total of 14 farms in Austria, with either a public or private water source. The efficacy of two water line treatment methods was evaluated: a chemical treatment of the water lines with 4.0 ppm ClO<sub>2</sub> (T1) and a combined chemical (4.0 ppm active ClO<sub>2</sub> and 3.0% peracetic acid) and mechanical treatment (purging of the water lines with a high-pressure air pump; T2). However, both the T1 and T2 treatments failed to reduce the AMC counts below the maximum acceptable microbial limit of 4.0 log<sub>10</sub> CFU/ml in water samples. In addition, no significant reduction in EB and PS counts was observed in water samples after either T1 or T2 water line treatment. The water samples showed a high level of microbial diversity with 18 to 26 different genera. The genus <italic>Pseudomonas</italic> was most frequently isolated across all poultry farms, while <italic>Campylobacter jejuni</italic> was identified in a single sample collected before water line treatment. Isolate analysis revealed the presence of opportunistic pathogens in water samples both before (T1 43.1%, T2 30.9%) and after (T1 36.3%, T2 33.3%) water line treatment. Opportunistic pathogens belonging to genera including <italic>Pseudomonas</italic> spp., <italic>Stenotrophomonas</italic> spp., and <italic>Ochrobactrum</italic> spp., were most frequently isolated from poultry drinking water. These isolates exhibited multidrug resistance and resistance phenotypes to antimicrobials commonly used in Austrian poultry farms. The findings of this study emphasize the potential risk of exposure to opportunistic pathogens for poultry and personnel, underscoring the importance of efficient water line management.</p>