Determining Poultry Slaughterhouse Waste-Related Risks with HPLC

A joint study conducted by Félix Houphouët-Boigny University (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire) and Nangui Abrogoua University (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire) analyzed the risks associated with the discharge of poultry slaughterhouse waste in public landfill sites in Abidjan. The chemical and microbiological analysis of 30 poultry slaughter waste samples from 10 Abidjan communities were evaluated using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and detection of pathogenic bacteria on specific media, respectively. A paper based on this study was published in The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries (1).

In recent years, Côte d'Ivoire’s poultry industry has experienced a spectacular surge, growing into a prosperous agricultural industry and making this segment an important part of the country’s economy; the amount of poultry meat produced increased from 23.1 tons in 2010 to 85 tons in 2019 and is expected to approach 200,000 tons and more than 1.6 billion of eggs per year by 2030 (2). This increase in poultry production and consumption has unfortunately led to an increase in the volume of waste, particularly from poultry slaughterhouses (3). Slaughterhouse waste is generally directly disposed of in public landfills, often situated near residential areas, leading to unpleasant odors that may contribute to respiratory issues for nearby residents (4). According to the researchers, data regarding the chemical and microbiological composition of these wastes remain poorly documented in Côte d’Ivoire (1).

Some of the most dangerous foodborne pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus, are commonly found in the digestive tract of chickens and their surrounding environment (5). Various studies on the poultry production chain conducted in the district of Abidjan have focused on the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria that are resistant to several families of antibiotics during breeding, during slaughter, and even in poultry carcasses (6,7). The presence of these bacteria may result from the unregulated use of antibiotics during breeding and insufficient hygiene practices (8–10).

Poultry waste was collected from slaughterhouses located in the large markets of 10 municipalities of the District of Abidjan (Abobo, Adjamé, Attécoubé, Bingerville, Cocody, Marcory, Koumassi, Treichville, Port-Bouët, and Yopougon). Eleven representative antibiotics widely used in poultry production (6) belonging to five families of antibiotics—sulfonamides, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and beta-lactams—were targeted. A total of four antibiotic molecules — sulfamethoxazole, oxytetracyclin, ciprofloxacin, and erythromycin — were detected in HPLC-analyzed samples, with levels ranging from 1500 ± 22 to 16200 ± 129 µg/kg. Additionally, 270 bacterial strains including 71 Salmonella, 109 Escherichia. coli, and 90 Staphylococcus aureus were isolated. Among E. coli isolates, 16.5% and 19.3% were identified as enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), respectively. Among the Salmonella strains, 45% were positive for the virulence gene invA. The levels of antibiotic resistance were between 12% and 67%, with a high level of resistance observed for imipenem in E. coli, and for amoxicillin/clavulanic and ampicillin in Salmonella strains. The highest rates of resistance in S. aureus were for fluoroquinolones (23.0–45.0%), fusidic acid (42.2%), and sulphonamides (77.8%). Moreover, multidrug resistance to three, four, and five antibiotic families was detected in 14.8%, 10%, and 2.2% of the 270 tested strains, respectively (1).

The authors of the study state that their findings indicate the necessity for improvement regarding the surveillance systems and policies put in place for the responsible use of antimicrobial molecules in the poultry industry in Côte d'Ivoire, as well as the importance of treating and recovering poultry slaughtering waste (1).

Indoor chicken farm. © davit85 - stock.adobe.com

References

1. Ainyakou-Sanga, M. A.; Goualie, B. G.; Kipre, R. C.; Kra D. K; Karou, G. T. Risks Associated with the Discharge of Poultry Slaughterhouse Waste in Public Landfill Sites in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. J. Infect. Dev. Ctries. 2025, 19 (2), 280–288. DOI: DOI: 10.3855/jidc.20125

2. United States Department of Agriculture Poultry Voluntary Report. 2023. htps://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFileName?fileName=Poultry%20Voluntary%20Report_Accra_Cote%20d%27Ivoire_IV2023-0001.pdf (accessed 2024-12-12).

3. McGauran, T.; Dunne, N.; Smyth, B. M.; Cunningham, E.; Harris, M. Poultry Feather Disulphide Bond Breakdown to Enable Bio-Based Polymer Production. Polym. Renew. Resour. 2021, 12, 92–110. DOI: 10.1177/20412479211008746

4. Al-Gheeth, A.; Ma, N. L.; Rupani, P. F.; et al. Biowastes of Slaughterhouses and Wet Markets: An Overview of Waste Management for Disease Prevention. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. Int. 2023, 30, 71780–71793. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16629-w

5. Kim, J. H.; Yoo, J. G.; Ham, J. S.; Oh, M. H. Direct Detection of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella spp. in Animal-Derived Foods Using a Magnetic Bead-Based Iimmunoassay. Korean J. Food Sci. An. 2018, 38, 727–736. DOI: 10.5851/kosfa.2018.e11

6. Goualie, G. B.; Bakayoko, S.; Coulibaly, K. J. Practices of Biosecurity Measures and Their Consequences on Poultry Farms in Abidjan District. Food Environ. Saf. 2020, 19 (1), 84–91. https://doaj.org/article/483bec27879e4c95b5c7860183f8835e

7. Assoumy, M. A.; Bedekelabou, A. P.; Teko-Agbo, A.; et al. Antibiotic Resistance of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. Strains Isolated from Healthy Poultry Farms in the Districts of Abidjan and Agnibilékrou (Côte d'Ivoire). Vet. World 2023, 14, 1020–1027. DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.1020-1027

8. Neu, H. C. The Crisis in Antibiotic Resistance. Science 1992, 257, 1064–1073. DOI: 10.1126/science.257.5073.1064

9. Witte, W. Medical Consequences of Antibiotic Use in Agriculture. Science 1998, 279, 996–997. DOI: 10.1126/science.279.5353.996

10. Ungemach, F. C. R.; Müller-Bahrdt, D.; Abraham, G. Guidelines for Prudent Use of Antimicrobials and Their Implications on Antibiotic Usage in Veterinary Medicine. Int. J. Microbiol. Res. 2006, 296, 33–38. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2006.01.059