Abstract
BackgroundPoultry represent an important source of foodborne enteropathogens, in particular thermophilic Campylobacter species. Many of these organisms colonize the intestinal tract of broiler chickens as harmless commensals, and therefore, often remain undetected prior to slaughter. The exact reasons for the lack of clinical disease are unknown, but analysis of the gastrointestinal microbiota of broiler chickens may improve our understanding of the microbial interactions with the host.MethodsIn this study, the fecal microbiota of 31 market-age (56-day old) broiler chickens, from two different farms, was analyzed using high throughput sequencing. The samples were then screened for two emerging human pathogens, Campylobacter concisus and Helicobacter pullorum, using species-specific PCR.ResultsThe gastrointestinal microbiota of chickens was classified into four potential enterotypes, similar to that of humans, where three enterotypes have been identified. The results indicated that variations between farms may have contributed to differences in the microbiota, though each of the four enterotypes were found in both farms suggesting that these groupings did not occur by chance. In addition to the identification of Campylobacter jejuni subspecies doylei and the emerging species, C. concisus, C. upsaliensis and H. pullorum, several differences in the prevalence of human pathogens within these enterotypes were observed. Further analysis revealed microbial taxa with the potential to increase the likelihood of colonization by a number of these pathogens, including C. jejuni.ConclusionDepletion of these taxa and the addition of taxa that compete with these pathogens, may form the basis of competitive exclusion strategies to eliminate them from the gastrointestinal tract of chickens.
Highlights
Poultry represent an important source of foodborne enteropathogens, in particular thermophilic Campylobacter species
Several important human pathogens are commonly found within the chicken microbiota, though typically they are nonpathogenic to chickens [3]
To gain a better understanding of the influence of the chicken gastrointestinal microbiota on the carriage of Campylobacter and Helicobacter species, the fecal microbiota of 31, 56-day old chickens originating from two different farms were analyzed using high throughput sequencing
Summary
Poultry represent an important source of foodborne enteropathogens, in particular thermophilic Campylobacter species. Given the association between chickens and campylobacteriosis, as well as the high costs associated with this disease, many countries have investigated intervention strategies to reduce or eliminate Campylobacter from the chicken meat primary production and processing chain [7] Such intervention strategies address the spread of Campylobacter species on farms and the surrounding environment, and strategies aimed at reducing the bacterial load of Campylobacter spp. in the intestinal tract of infected chickens or increasing the resistance of chickens to Campylobacter carriage [3,8]. Other strategies that have been developed to combat the bacterial load of Campylobacter spp. in the intestinal tract of infected chickens include vaccination and the use of bacteriocins, bacteriophages and probiotics [10,11] Such approaches have been reported to lead to a reduction in intestinal colonization levels of broiler chickens and in some cases have resulted in a considerable decline in human campylobacteriosis rates [12]. A quantitative microbial risk assessment determined that a reduction of 2.0 log Campylobacter cells per broiler carcass would result in a 30-fold decline in human campylobacteriosis [13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
