Development of predictive modeling for removal of multispecies biofilms of Salmonella Enteritidis, Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter jejuni from poultry slaughterhouse surfaces

Abstract

Salmonella Enteritidis, Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter jejuni are among the most common foodborne pathogens worldwide, and poultry products are strongly associated with foodborne pathogen outbreaks. These pathogens are capable of producing biofilms on several surfaces used in the food processing industry, including polyethylene and stainless steel. However, studies on multispecies biofilms are rare. Therefore, this study aimed to develop predictive mathematical models to simulate the adhesion and removal of multispecies biofilms. All combinations of microorganisms resulted in biofilm formation with differences in bacterial counts. E. coli showed the greatest ability to adhere to both surfaces, followed by S. Enteritidis and C. jejuni. The incubation time and temperature did not influence adhesion. Biofilm removal was effective with citric acid and benzalkonium chloride but not with rhamnolipid. Among the generated models, 46 presented a significant coefficient of determination (R²), with the highest R² being 0.88. These results provide support for the poultry industry in creating biofilm control and eradication programs to avoid the risk of contamination of poultry meat.