Chicken Exposures and Enteric Pathogens in Children Exposed through Environmental Pathways “ChEEP ChEEP”

The aim of the first phase of the ChEEP ChEEP Study was to identify potential sites and strategies to mitigate enteric pathogen transmission along the chicken value chain in Maputo. We found that prevalence and levels of contamination increased as chickens progressed along the value chain, from no contamination of broiler chick feces at the start of the value chain to 100% contamination and high concentrations of C. jejuni/coli in carcasses from open-air markets.

Our results suggest that interventions at open-air markets could prove an effective strategy for controlling zoonotic transmission of enteric pathogens and antibiotic resistance in chicken products, as they represent a centralized source of microbial risk that leads to downstream transmission to households and individuals. As such, the objectives of this study are to develop and test an intervention for open-air markets in low-to-middle income countries to reduce hazards and risk related to microbial contamination of poultry products and estimate population-level health effects of potential mitigation efforts. This will be explored through three main aims, which will:

  1. Develop and pilot a market-based poultry hygiene intervention.

  2. Test and quantify the microbial risk reduction associated with a market-based poultry hygiene intervention.

  3. Estimate the potential impact of the market-based poultry hygiene intervention on health outcomes given changes in detection of Salmonella spp., Campylobacter jejuni/coli, and fecal indicator bacteria.

Our partnerships with local researchers and policymakers will support the development of an intervention that could be implemented at scale. The intervention package will aim to reduce risk to endemic enteric pathogens and to antimicrobial resistant organisms.

 
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Timeline

2024-2026

Study Location

Maputo, Mozambique

 

Target Population

Open-air food markets

 

Principal Investigators

Karen Levy (Co-PI), Matthew Freeman (Co-PI)

 

IMPLEMENTING partners

Eduardo Mondlane University, National Health Institute (INS), Ministry of Health, Mozambique

 

Funders

Reckitt Global Hygiene Institute (RGHI)

 

Project Staff

Hermogenes Mucache, Tatiana Marrufo, Jose Fafetine, Amelia Mondlane, Plácida Maholela, Osvaldo Inlamea, Kelsey Jesser, Jedidiah Snyder, Erika Canda