The prevalence of Arcobacter spp. on chicken carcasses sold in retail markets in Turkey, and identification of the isolates using SDS-PAGE.

In this study, the prevalence of Arcobacter spp. on chicken carcasses sold in various retail markets in Turkey was investigated. The isolates were characterized and identified using various phenotypic and molecular tests. The membrane filtration technique employing 0.45-microm pore size membrane filters laid onto a nonselective blood agar was used after enrichment in Oxoid Arcobacter Enrichment Broth (AEB) to examine a total of 75 chicken carcasses (44 fresh and 31 frozen). Species level identification was performed using SDS-PAGE of whole-cell proteins and a recently developed multiplex-PCR assay. All isolates were identified as Arcobacter butzleri. Of the 44 fresh chicken carcasses examined, 42 (95%) were positive for A. butzleri. A. butzleri was also recovered from seven (23%) of the 31 frozen carcasses examined.