Market characteristics, Salmonella prevalence and associated risk practices in poultry processing environments in wet markets in Sri Lanka

Poultry selling is beyond the ambit of industrial processing and marketing trade at Live Bird Market (LBM) operations. Contaminated meat from such LBM is being increasingly recognized as a potential source of food borne disease including salmonellosis. At present, limited information is available on processing and marketing of live birds in informal LBM operations of Sri Lanka. This cross-sectional study was carried out to describe the characteristics of LBM and to determine Salmonella prevalence with special emphasis on the risk practices that could lead to cross contamination. We analysed 123 LBM operations in Sri Lanka using a pretested and structured questionnaire, visual observations by trained enumerators, and culture and isolation of Salmonella to achieve above objectives. The observed characteristics of the LBM in Sri Lanka were generally similar to those operated in other Asian countries even though there were minor variations. Overcrowding of live birds, keeping meat at ambient temperatures and improper evisceration practices leading to cross contamination were some of common characteristics seen in majority of the LBM operations. Regarding Salmonella prevalence, it was moderate in LBM of Sri Lanka (47.97 %) while low prevalence was observed in both poultry meat sold at LBM (30.89%) and meat contact surfaces (<25%). LBM operations showed moderately positive correlations for Salmonella prevalent meat samples (r =0.69), cutting boards (r=0.59) and knives (r =0.57). The most significant risk practice for LBM becoming positive for Salmonella was not using disinfectant/ detergent to clean the premises. Overcrowding of live birds kept in LBM before slaughter and use of unclean waste trays underneath stacked bird crates were the other important risk practices. Our findings indicated the potential of LBM in Sri Lanka acting as a source of food borne infection, which would be important to corresponding authorities to design policies and strategies in order to reduce Salmonella contamination and improve the quality standards of poultry wet market in Sri Lanka.