Survival of Campylobacter spp. in Darkling Beetles ( Alphitobius diaperinus ) and Their Larvae in Australia

Abstract

Campylobacter infection is the most frequently reported notifiable food-borne disease in humans in Australia. Our studies investigated the persistence of Campylobacter spp. in or on darkling beetles ( Alphitobius diaperinus ) and their larvae. Our results in analyses with chickens confirm that, unless very short turnaround times are used (<72 h), beetles colonized in one production cycle (i.e., one batch of chickens) are most unlikely to still be colonized during the next cycle of chickens.