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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #253558
Title: Water administration of medium-chain fatty acid caprylic acid produced variable efficacy against cecal Campylobacter jejuni concentrations in broilers

Author
item METCALF, JOEL - University Of Arkansas
item Donoghue, Ann - Annie
item VENTINARAYANAN, KUMAR - University Of Connecticut
item REYES-HERRRERA, IXCHEL - University Of Arkansas
item AGUAIR, VIVIAN - University Of Arkansas
item BLORE, PAM - University Of Arkansas
item DONOGHUE, DAN - University Of Arkansas

Submitted to: Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/12/2010
Publication Date: 2/1/2011
Citation: Metcalf, J.M., Donoghue, A.M., Ventinarayanan, K.H., Reyes-Herrrera, I.H., Aguair, V.F., Blore, P.J., Donoghue, D.J. 2011. Water administration of medium-chain fatty acid caprylic acid produced variable efficacy against cecal Campylobacter jejuni concentrations in broilers. Poultry Science. 90:494-497.

Interpretive Summary: Campylobacter is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness, and poultry is considered a primary source of Campylobacter infections. Caprylic acid, an eight-carbon fatty acid, has been shown in previous studies to reduce enteric cecal Campylobacter concentrations in poultry when administered in the feed. For greater ease of application for producers, a water soluble form of caprylic acid, sodium octanoate, was evaluated for efficacy against enteric Campylobacter. Unlike caprylic acid in feed, which is effective, water treatment with caprylic acid had an inconsistent effect on intestinal Campylobacter counts.

Technical Abstract: Campylobacter is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness, and poultry is considered a primary source of Campylobacter infections. Caprylic acid, an eight-carbon fatty acid, has been shown in previous studies to reduce enteric cecal Campylobacter concentrations in poultry when administered in the feed. For greater ease of application for producers, a water soluble form of caprylic acid, sodium octanoate, was evaluated for efficacy against enteric Campylobacter. The first trial consisted of 84 birds in 7 groups (n=12/group): an untreated control and 6 other groups, all of which were inoculated with Campylobacter and received 0%, 0.175%, 0.35%, 0.7%, 1.4%, or 2.8% water soluble caprylic acid in water 3 d prior to necropsy on the 14th d of the trial. The second trial consisted of 96 birds in 8 groups (n=12/group): an untreated negative control and seven other groups, all of which were inoculated with Campylobacter and received 0%, 0.044%, 0.088%, 0.175%, 0.35%, 0.7%, or 1.4%, water soluble caprylic acid for 3 d prior to necropsy on the 14 d of the trial. Chicks were challenged at d 3 with C. jejuni, 2.1x107 or 1.2x104 CFU/mL in trial 1 or 2, respectively. In trial 1, only the 0.175% dose caused a significant reduction in cecal Campylobacter counts in comparison with the positive control (approximately a 2 log reduction). In trial 2, there was no significant reduction in C. jejuni among any of the groups in comparison with the Campylobacter positive control. Unlike caprylic acid in feed, which is effective, water treatment with caprylic acid had an inconsistent effect on intestinal Campylobacter counts.