Chicken Feces Research Articles

Comparative analysis of multi-drug resistance pattern of Salmonella sp. isolated from chicken feces and poultry meat in Dhaka city of Bangladesh

The study was conducted for comparative analysis of multi-drug resistance pattern of Salmonella sp isolated from chicken feces and poultry meat and characterization of the isolated using biochemical, and antimicrobial sensitivity techniques. A total of 20 samples were collected of which 50% were positive to Salmonella. All the culturally positive isolates fermented dextrose, maltose and mannitol with the production of acid and gas but not fermented sucrose and lactose. The same isolates showe Indole and V-P tests negative but M-R test positive. All the culturally and biochemically positive Salmonella. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that the isolated Salmonella were highly sensitive to Ciprofloxacin and moderately sensitive to Gentamycin, kanamycin, Erythromycin and Nalidixic acid. However, the positive isolates were resistant to Azithromycin. The present study indicates that ciprofloxacin can be used as a first line therapy for the treatment of Salmonella gastroenteritis.

Dissemination of ESBL-Producing Escherichia coli of Chicken Origin to the Nearby River Water

The dissemination of drug-resistant bacteria from animal farms to aquatic environments can pose a potential threat to public health. In this study, antimicrobial resistance, resistance genes, and genetic similarity of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli of different origins (chicken feces and upstream and downstream river waters) were analyzed to track the spread of drug-resistant bacteria of animals. The results showed that a total of 29 ESBL-producing E. coli were obtained from 258 samples, and isolation rates of the ESBL-producing E. coli from chicken feces and upstream and downstream waters were 10.7% (16/150), 3.7% (1/27), and 14.8% (12/81), respectively. The ESBL-producing E. coli from upstream water was resistant to 7 antibiotics, but isolates from feces and downstream water had a higher resistance rate. In 29 ESBL-producing E. coli, the most common gene was CTX-M and the SHV gene was not detected. Five ESBL-producing isolates from downstream water showed >90% similarity with the fecal isolates, while the only one isolate from upstream water had <70% similarity with fecal isolates. The results suggest that animal farms' effluent, especially the untreated wastewater, could contribute to the spread of resistance genes.

The Influence of Bioactivator Cattle Feces Against The Length of Composting and C/N Ratio from Three Kind of Organic Material

Research of the influence of bio-activator cattle feces against the length of composting and C/N ratio has been done. The purpose of the research was to (1) learn the gift of cattle feces as a compost bio-activator on some materials to accelerate the composting and C/N ratio (2) Determine the best of bio-activator livestock feces in composting process. Research carried out for 8 weeks from April-June 2013. Making compost is done at home composting Agricultural Polytechnic of Payakumbuh, and chemical analysis in Soil Laboratory Andalas University. This study used a factorial 3 x 4 drawn up according to the full Random Design with three replicates. Research on using straw (A1), azoles (A2) and water hyacinth (A3) as a raw material for compost. The second factor: without feces (B1), cow feces (B2), goat feces (B3), and chicken feces (B4) as bio-activator. The observation parameter consists of a long composting and C/N ratio. The results showed that bio-activator cattle feces can accelerate composting and lowering the ratio C/N compost. The best bio-activator to accelerate composting and lowering the C/N of compost is the cow feces.

Molecular characterization of enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157 isolated from animal fecal and food samples in Eastern China.

Objective. To elucidate the extent of food contamination by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157 in Eastern China. Methods. A total of 1100 food and animal fecal samples were screened for EHEC O157. Then, molecular characterization of each isolate was determined. Results. EHEC O157 was isolated as follows: pig feces, 4% (20/500); cattle feces, 3.3% (2/60); chicken feces, 1.43% (2/140); pork, 2.14% (3/140), milk, 1.67% (1/60); and chicken meat, 1.67% (1/60). The stx1, stx2, eae, and hlyA genes were present in 26.7% (8/30), 40% (12/30), 63.3% (19/30), and 50% (15/30) of the O157 isolates, respectively. Molecular typing showed that strains from fecal and food samples were clustered into the same molecular typing group. Furthermore, the isolates from pork and pig feces possessed the same characterization as the clinical strains ATCC35150 and ATCC43889. Biofilm formation assays showed that 53.3% of the EHEC O157 isolates could produce biofilm. However, composite analyses showed that biofilm formation of EHEC O157 was independent of genetic background. Conclusions. Animal feces, especially from pigs, serve as reservoirs for food contamination by EHEC O157. Thus, it is important to control contamination by EHEC O157 on farms and in abattoirs to reduce the incidence of foodborne infections in humans.

Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Salmonella Isolates from Livestock

Food animals are important reservoirs of infectious pathogens. The use of antimicrobial drugs in food animals is a major source of selection of drug resistant pathogens. This study investigated a total of 1000 faecal samples of livestock and poultry between January 2012 and March 2013 to determine the prevalence rate of Salmonella species and their antimicrobial resistance profiles. Faecal samples of chicken, pig, cattle, goat and sheep (200 samples of each) were pre-enriched in Tetrathionate broth and Rappapport Vassiliadis R10 broth. The broth culture was subcultured on XLD agar and incubated. The isolates were identified by standard biochemical tests and confirmed by AP1 20E test kit. Antimicrobial susceptibility was performed by disk diffusion method. The result showed that the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in all the samples was 21.8%. Chicken faeces had the highest prevalence rate of 52.5% followed by pig faeces (40%), cattle (10%), goat (4.5%) and sheep (2%). The isolates have resistance profile ranging from 1 to 9 antimicrobial drugs. Tetracycline had the highest resistance (81%) of all the isolates followed by Streptomycin (68%). Gentamycin had the lowest resistance profile of 14%. We conclude that Salmonella species have high prevalence rate in chicken and pig, but less in cattle, goat and sheep, and that most of the isolates are resistant to most commonly used antibiotics. Effort is needed to adopt measures to control the spread of multidrug resistant pathogens to humans. Care must be taken in the use of antibiotics in farm animals to reduce the selection of multidrug resistant strains.

Isolation of Brachyspira pilocicoli from Gastrointestinal Tract of Commercial Chickens in Khuzestan, South West Iran

Background: Brachyspira pilosicoli is an intestinal spirochete which colonizes in cecum, colon and rectum of the birds. This infection in broiler and laying chicken may cause disorders such as: diarrhea, reduced egg production, pasty vents, fecal staining of egg shells, poor shell quality, pale egg yolks, increased feed consumption, slower growth and poor feed digestion. Objectives: The aim of this study was to isolate and identify B. pilosicoli from broiler and laying chicken. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted by using bacteriological examination and PCR in Khuzestan located in the South West of Iran. Totally 150 samples of broiler chicken feces and 100 samples of laying chicken feces were collected. The samples were cultured on blood agar containing three antibiotics (vancomycin 12.5μg/mL, spiramaycin 25μg/mL and spectinomycin 400 μg/mL).The colonies of intestinal spirochetes were studied by PCR. Results: Intestinal spirochetes were isolated in 21 out of 150 fecal samples of broiler chicken and in 9 out of 100 fecal samples of laying chicken. Species identification of isolates was done by PCR using 16SrRNA gene specific for B. pilosicoli. B. pilosicoli was isolated in 13 out of 21 positive broilers and in 4 out of 9 positive laying chickens. Conclusions: This study showed that B. pilosicoli exists in the broiler and laying chicken in the region. This intestinal pathogen may be considered as a major cause of production threats and economic losses in chicken farms in the region of study.

Local Perceptions, Cultural Beliefs and Practices That Shape Umbilical Cord Care: A Qualitative Study in Southern Province, Zambia

BackgroundGlobal policy regarding optimal umbilical cord care to prevent neonatal illness is an active discussion among researchers and policy makers. In preparation for a large cluster-randomized control trial to measure the impact of 4% chlorhexidine as an umbilical wash versus dry cord care on neonatal mortality in Southern Province, Zambia, we performed a qualitative study to determine local perceptions of cord health and illness and the cultural belief system that shapes umbilical cord care knowledge, attitudes, and practices.Methods and FindingsThis study consisted of 36 focus group discussions with breastfeeding mothers, grandmothers, and traditional birth attendants, and 42 in-depth interviews with key community informants. Semi-structured field guides were used to lead discussions and interviews at urban and rural sites. A wide variation in knowledge, beliefs, and practices surrounding cord care was discovered. For home deliveries, cords were cut with non-sterile razor blades or local grass. Cord applications included drying agents (e.g., charcoal, baby powder, dust), lubricating agents (e.g., Vaseline, cooking oil, used motor oil) and agents intended for medicinal/protective purposes (e.g., breast milk, cow dung, chicken feces). Concerns regarding the length of time until cord detachment were universally expressed. Blood clots in the umbilical cord, bulongo-longo, were perceived to foreshadow neonatal illness. Management of bulongo-longo or infected umbilical cords included multiple traditional remedies and treatment at government health centers.ConclusionUmbilical cord care practices and beliefs were diverse. Dry cord care, as recommended by the World Health Organization at the time of the study, is not widely practiced in Southern Province, Zambia. A cultural health systems model that depicts all stakeholders is proposed as an approach for policy makers and program implementers to work synergistically with existing cultural beliefs and practices in order to maximize effectiveness of evidence-based interventions.

Comparison of two poultry litter qPCR assays targeting the 16S rRNA gene of Brevibacterium sp.

Chicken feces commonly contain human pathogens and are also important sources of fecal pollution in environmental waters. Consequently, methods that can detect chicken fecal pollution are needed in public health and environmental monitoring studies. In this study, we compared a previously developed SYBR green qPCR assay (LA35) to a novel TaqMan qPCR assay (CL) for the environmental detection of poultry-associated fecal pollution. We tested both assays against chicken litter (n = 40), chicken fecal samples (n = 186), non-chicken fecal sources (n = 484), and environmental water samples (n = 323). Most chicken litter samples (i.e., ≥98%) were positive for both assays with relatively high signal intensities, whereas only 23% and 12% of poultry fecal samples (n = 186) were positive with the LA35 and the CL assays, respectively. Data using fecal samples from non-target animal species showed that the assays are highly host-associated (≥95%). Bayesian statistical models showed that the two assays are associated with relatively low probability of false-positive and false-negative signals in water samples. The CL marker had a lower prevalence than the LA35 assay when tested against environmental water samples (i.e., 21% vs. 31% positive signals). However, by combining the results from the two assays the detection levels increased to 41%, suggesting that using multiple assays can improve the detection of chicken-fecal pollution in environmental waters.

Formative Research on Hygiene Behaviors and Geophagy among Infants and Young Children and Implications of Exposure to Fecal Bacteria

We conducted direct observation of 23 caregiver–infant pairs for 130 hours and recorded wash-related behaviors to identify pathways of fecal–oral transmission of bacteria among infants. In addition to testing fingers, food, and drinking water of infants, three infants actively ingested 11.3 ± 9.2 (mean ± SD) handfuls of soil and two ingested chicken feces 2 ± 1.4 times in 6 hours. Hand washing with soap was not common and drinking water was contaminated with Escherichia coli in half (12 of 22) of the households. A one-year-old infant ingesting 1 gram of chicken feces in a day and 20 grams of soil from a laundry area of the kitchen yard would consume 4,700,000–23,000,000 and 440–4,240 E. coli, respectively, from these sources. Besides standard wash and nutrition interventions, infants in low-income communities should be protected from exploratory ingestion of chicken feces, soil, and geophagia for optimal child health and growth.

Rapid enrichment of (homo)acetogenic consortia from animal feces using a high mass-transfer gas-lift reactor fed with syngas

A gas-lift reactor having a high mass transfer coefficient (k(L)a = 80.28 h(-1)) for a relatively insoluble gas (carbon monoxide; CO) was used to enrich (homo)acetogens from animal feces. Samples of fecal matter from cow, rabbit, chicken, and goat were used as sources of inoculum for the enrichment of CO and H(2) utilizing microbial consortia. To confirm the successful enrichment, the Hungate roll tube technique was employed to count and then isolate putative CO utilizers. The results of this work showed that CO and H(2) utilizing consortia were established for each inoculum source after 8 days. The number of colony-forming units in cow, rabbit, chicken, and goat fecal samples were 3.83 × 10(9), 1.03 × 10(9), 8.3 × 10(8), and 3.25 × 10(8) cells/ml, respectively. Forty-two colonies from the animal fecal samples were screened for the ability to utilize CO/H(2). Ten of these 42 colonies were capable of utilizing CO/H(2). Five isolates from cow feces (samples 5, 6, 8, 16, and 22) were highly similar to previously unknown (homo)acetogen, while cow-7 has shown 99 % similarity with Acetobacterium sp. as acetogens. On the other hand, four isolates from chicken feces (samples 3, 8, 10, and 11) have also shown high CO/H(2) utilizing activity. Hence, it is expected that this research could be used as the basis for the rapid enrichment of (homo)acetogenic consortia from various environmental sources.

T4-Like Phage Bp7, a Potential Antimicrobial Agent for Controlling Drug-Resistant Escherichia coli in Chickens

Chicken-pathogenic Escherichia coli is severely endangering the poultry industry in China and worldwide, and antibiotic therapy is facing an increasing problem of antibiotic resistance. Bacteriophages can kill bacteria with no known activity in human or animal cells, making them an attractive alternative to antibiotics. In this study, we present the characteristics of a novel virulent bacteriophage, Bp7, specifically infecting pathogenic multidrug-resistant E. coli. Phage Bp7 was isolated from chicken feces. Bp7 belongs to the family Myoviridae, possessing an elongated icosahedral head and contractile sheathed tail. It has a 168-kb double-stranded DNA genome. For larger yields, its optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) to infect E. coli was about 0.001. The latent period was 10 to 15 min, and the burst size was 90 PFU/infected cell. It was stable both at pH 5.0 to 10.0 and at 40°C or 50°C for at least 1 h. Bp7 could infect 46% of pathogenic clinical E. coli strains. Bp7 harbored 791 open reading frames (ORFs) and 263 possible genes. Among the 263 genes, 199 possessed amino acid sequence identities with ORFs of phage T4, 62 had identities with other T4-like phages, and only one lacked any database match. The genome of Bp7 manifested obvious division and rearrangement compared to phages T4, JS98, and IME08. Bp7 is a new member of the "T4-like" genus, family Myoviridae. Its wide host range, strong cell-killing activity, and high stability to pH make it an alternative to antimicrobials for controlling drug-resistant E. coli in chickens.

Distribution of Nine Virulence-Associated Genes inCampylobacter jejuniandC. coliIsolated from Broiler Feces in Shiraz, Southern Iran

To investigate the prevalence of nine virulence and toxin genes of Campylobacter, a total of 90 Campylobacter strains including 48 C. jejuni and 42 C. coli were recovered from chicken feces by cultivation methods. The isolates were identified on the basis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of 16SrRNA and multiplex PCR for determining two species. For confirmed strains, PCR was carried out for the presence of virulence genes using specific primers. Data were analyzed by SPSS software, version 12.0.1. The cadF gene and three genes associated with cytolethal distending toxin were present in 100% of isolates. Plasmid virB11 gene was not found in any of the Campylobacter isolates, and the prevalence of pldA, wlaN, iamA, and cgtB genes were 92.22%, 82.22%, 81.11%, and 22.22%, respectively. The findings revealed that the distribution of the majority of these genes were not dissimilar among Campylobacter species. The results emphasized that many of the pathogenic C. jejuni and C. coli may have these genes, and the Campylobacter strains with poultry origin have pathogenic potential properties for humans.

Immunomodulatory and Antigenotoxic Properties of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens KU801

The Bacillus KU801 strain, due to its potential in the field of probiotics for animal use, was isolated from chicken feces. Strain KU801 was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens KU801 based on the results of 16S rRNA sequencing. Vegetative and spore cells of B. amyloliquefaciens KU801 were resistant to artificial gastric juice and artificial bile acid. B. amyloliquefaciens KU801 was found to inhibit the production of nitric oxide (NO) and increase the production of Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1). DNA damage induced by N-methyl-Ntion of ninitroso-guanidine (MNNG) was significantly inhibited, in a dose dependent manner, by preincubating MNNG together with B. amyloliquefaciens KU801. These results demonstrate the potential use of B. amyloliquefaciens KU801 as a feed additive.

Unique Class 1 Integron and Multiple Resistance Genes Co-located on IncHI2 Plasmid Is Associated with the Emerging Multidrug Resistance of Salmonella Indiana Isolated from Chicken in China

The objective of this study was to clarify the molecular antimicrobial resistance mechanisms of Salmonella enterica serovar Indiana isolated from chickens in China. A total of 327 chicken intestinal content and feces were collected in Shandong, China in 2009. Isolates were serotyped and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed. Thirty-five (10.7%) Salmonella isolates were recovered, and 16 (45.7%) were Salmonella enterica serovar Indiana, which were resistant to at least 14 of 15 antimicrobial agents. The 16 Salmonella enterica serovar Indiana detected and other 13 Salmonella enterica serovar Indiana that were selected from 133 Salmonella enterica serovar Indiana isolated in 2008 were subjected to pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Then class 1 integron and drug resistance genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction. Linkage between plasmids and resistance components was determined by conjugation, electrotransformation, S1 nuclease-PFGE, polymerase chain reaction-based replicon typing and Southern blot assays. Regions flanking integrons were sequenced by modified random primer walking strategy. PFGE and MLST suggested that all the 29 Salmonella enterica serovar Indiana isolates that shared >78% similarity in PFGE patterns were of the same MLST type, ST17. Two kinds of class 1 integrons had different integrase genes and the same variable region (dfrA7/aadA4/IS26/aac(6')-Ib/blaOXA-1/catB3/arr-3), and additional antimicrobial resistance genes such as blaCTX-M-24, floR, and so on were detected on IncHI2 plasmids in 29 Salmonella enterica serovar Indiana, and seven plasmids were conjugative. Analysis of the genetic environment of the integrons suggested that these integrons might have been formed by the help of IS26. To our knowledge, the variable region in class 1 integrons is the longest reported in Salmonella to date. The unique integrons and multiple resistance genes co-located on the IncHI2 plasmid contributed to the dissemination of multidrug resistance.

Environmental connections of novel avian-origin H7N9 influenza virus infection and virus adaptation to the human

A novel H7N9 influenza A virus has been discovered as the causative identity of the emerging acute respiratory infection cases in Shanghai, China. This virus has also been identified in cases of infection in the neighboring area Hangzhou City in Zhejiang Province. In this study, epidemiologic, clinical, and virological data from three patients in Hangzhou who were confirmed to be infected by the novel H7N9 influenza A virus were collected and analyzed. Human respiratory specimens and chicken feces from a contacted free market were tested for influenza virus by real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and sequencing. The clinical features of the three cases were similar featured with high fever and severe respiratory symptoms; however, only one of the patients died. A certain degree of diversity was observed among the three Hangzhou viruses sequenced from human samples compared with other reported H7N9 influenza A viruses. The sequences of the novel avian-origin H7N9 influenza viruses from Hangzhou City contained important amino acid substitutions related to human adaptation. One of the Hangzhou viruses had gained a novel amino acid substitution (Q226I) in the receptor binding region of hemagglutinin. More importantly, the virus sequenced from the chicken feces had a 627E substitution in the PB2 protein instead of the mammalian-adapted 627K substitution that was found in the PB2 proteins from the Hangzhou viruses from the three patients. Therefore, the newly-emerging H7N9 virus might be under adaptation pressure that will help it "jump" from avian to human hosts. The significance of these substitutions needs further exploration, with both laboratory experiments and extensive field surveillance.

Real-time PCR-based quantification of Eimeria genomes: a method to outweigh underestimation of genome numbers due to PCR inhibition

Eimeria species parasites can cause the disease coccidiosis in all livestock species, most notably poultry. Traditional diagnostics such as faecal microscopy have now been supplemented by molecular assays including genus-specific and species-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), although DNA extracted from faecal samples is commonly affected by PCR inhibition. This was confirmed when genomic DNA extracted from chicken faeces inhibited the threshold cycle value of internal positive control (IPC) DNA amplification by 15.33%. Hence, the objective of the present study was to use IPC qPCR to determine PCR inhibition in a series of experimental samples and use the increase in IPC qPCR threshold cycle value as an individual (sample-specific) correction factor for an established 5S rDNA qPCR used to estimate total Eimeria genome numbers. IPC-corrected genome counts were correlated with conventional oocyst per gram counts and compared with non-corrected counts, revealing a 0.1769 increase in correlation coefficient to outweigh underestimation of oocyst counts. Though the sample size used in this study is small, this limitation would be offset by the sample-specific correction factor determined using the IPC along with each sample.

Environmental Hygiene, Food Safety and Growth in less than Five Year Old Children in Zimbabwe and Ethiopia

Childhood stunting remains a significant public health challenge with adverse developmental and health outcomes in life and over generations. This study explored novel causes of poor growth in infants and young children. Using in‐depth observation methods, soil and chicken feces ingestion were identified as key pathways for fecal‐oral transmission of bacteria in infants and young children in rural Zimbabwe. In a cross‐sectional survey, poor environmental hygiene was associated with linear growth faltering (p =0.032), independent of socioeconomic status, infant feeding and recent morbidity, in 24–59 month old Ethiopian children. Significant aflatoxin exposure in mothers was associated with severe stunting in 6 to 59 months old Zimbabwean children in a dose response manner (p=0.035). We identified poor environmental hygiene and aflatoxin exposure as two novel causes of stunting in African children. Existing WASH interventions are not sufficient to protect infants and young children from fecal bacteria ingestion through soil and poultry feces. In addition, existing hygiene interventions do not directly address improving household environmental hygiene. Our findings raise the need for low cost strategies for aflatoxin control and a holistic approach in designing context‐ and age‐specific hygiene interventions to prevent childhood stunting.Grant Funding Source: Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development (CIIFAD); the Department for International Development (DFID), UK and Borlaug Leadership in Agriculture Enhancement Program (LEAP), UC, Davis, USA; Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation.

Use of bacteriophages to reduce Salmonella in chicken skin in comparison with chemical agents

Salmonella spp. is one of the major causes of foodborne diseases and a problem for the poultry industry. Bacteriophages have emerged as a promising agent to reduce pathogens in foods. Here, we compared bacteriophages and the classically used chemical agents for reducing S. enteritidis counts in chicken skin. Five phages were isolated from chicken feces, characterized and selected to be used as biosanitizer. Bacteriophages were assigned to the family Podoviridae and revealed identical RFLP profiles, although they showed a different host range and replication dynamics. Bacteriophages were found to be effective at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 10 at both 37°C and 25°C in liquid medium, with no significant reductions taking place when MOI was less than 10. When samples of chicken skin experimentally contaminated with 1×105CFU/cm2S. enteritidis were treated with phage cocktail or chemical agents, similar reductions of about 1logCFU/cm2 were observed. These data suggest that bacteriophages can be employed as an alternative agent to reduce S. enteritidis contamination of poultry carcasses in industrial conditions.

Effect of multi-phase feeding on growth, main carcass parts, and nitrogen content in faeces of broiler chickens

The objective of this paper is to investigate the effect of multiphase feeding, i.e. the effect of different mash feeds with multi-phase protein reduction, on growth, main carcass parts and nitrogen content in faeces of broiler chickens. The experiment was conducted on 1216 chickens of Ross 308 provenience, separated by sex. The experiment lasted for 42 days and the standard technology was used. The groups differed in a type of a mash (treatment) given in the starter period, as follows: T1 (control group) was given a mash with 23% crude proteins from day 1 to day 21; T2 - a mash with 23% proteins from day 1 to day 7, followed by a mash with 21.5% proteins given from day 7 to day 21; T3 - a mash with 23% proteins from day 1 to day 14, followed by a mash with 21.5% proteins given from day 14 to day 21; T4 - mashes changed every three days, having 23%, 22.55%, 22.10%, 21.65% , 21.20%, 20.75% and 20.30% of crude proteins, respectively. Slaughtering performance was investigated on a total of 64 broiler chickens, with eight male and eight female chickens used separately for each of the treatments. Nitrogen content in faeces was determined using the pooled sample of faeces. The obtained results showed some differences in the average daily growth of the male and female chickens when comparing the control (T1) and the experimental groups. Those differences were not statistically significant. However, when comparing the male-only groups, it was determined that the experimental group T4 had statistically significantly higher growth than T2 and T3 group. The effect of the multi-phase feeding programme on the breast, thigh and drumstick share of both male and female broilers was not significant. The applied multi-phase feeding programmes resulted in a reduction in the nitrogen content in the faeces. Considering the obtained results, it can be concluded that the multi-phase feeding programmes had no negative effect on the growth and slaughtering performances of broilers. This goes in favour of these programmes, since they can result in some positive economic and environmental effects of production.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility ofCampylobacterSpecies

Thermophilic Campylobacter spp. are important causative agents of diarrhoeal disease in humans. Antimicrobial-resistant Campylobacter spp. that originate from poultry can enter the human food chain and result in resistant Campylobacter spp. in human infections. Campylobacter spp. were isolated from chicken faeces collected from chicken farms near Harare. Human isolates of Campylobacter spp. were obtained from clinical laboratories in Harare. The Campylobacter isolates were identifed by biochemical tests and tested for their susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs using the disc-diffusion method. A total of 77 human and 83 chicken isolates were characterised. C. jejuni was the most common in both humans (75.3%) and chickens (60.2%), followed by C. coli, which was detected in 19.5% of human and 28.9% of chicken isolates, and then C. lari, detected in 5.2% of human and 10.8% of chicken isolates. All the Campylobacter spp. from humans and chickens were susceptible to erythromycin and all isolates from the chick...