Public Funding for St Davids Poultry Team Limited

Camplylobacter is one of the most serious food borne pathogens, infecting over 280,000 people, and costing the UK economy £580m p.a. In this study, we will conduct the largest known molecular study to track and trace Campylobacter through the supply chain. We will deploy whole genome sequencing on a massive scale to optimise a series of on farm and factory interventions that reduce the contamination of whole chickens with Campylobacter. These interventions include novel animal feeds and factory processes. We will also develop a new qPCR testing kit for Campylobacter. This will be deployed and validated on farm and in factories. The kit will be developed to segregate live from dead cells. It will provide the industry with a real time and accurate rapid enumeration technique.