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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #284060
Title: Targeting motility properties of bacteria in the development of probiotic cultures against Campylobacter jejuni in broiler chickens

Author
item AGUIAR, VIVIAN - University Of Arkansas
item Donoghue, Ann - Annie
item ARSI, KOMALA - University Of Arkansas
item REYES-HERRERA, IXCHEL - University Of Arkansas
item METCALF, JOEL - University Of Arkansas
item DE LOS SANTOS, FAUSTO - University Of Arkansas
item BLORE, PAMELA - University Of Arkansas
item DONOGHUE, DAN - University Of Arkansas

Submitted to: Foodborne Pathogens and Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2013
Publication Date: 4/29/2013
Citation: Aguiar, V.F., Donoghue, A.M., Arsi, K., Reyes-Herrera, I., Metcalf, J.H., De Los Santos, F., Blore, P.J., Donoghue, D.J. 2013. Targeting motility properties of bacteria in the development of probiotic cultures against Campylobacter in poultry. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease. 10(5):435-441.

Interpretive Summary: Campylobacter is the leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. Campylobacter is commonly present in the intestinal tract of poultry and one strategy to reduce enteric colonization is the use of probiotic cultures. This strategy has successfully reduced enteric colonization of Salmonella, but has had limited success against Campylobacter. In an effort to improve the efficacy of probiotic cultures, we developed a novel in vitro screening technique for selecting bacterial isolates with enhanced motility. It is proposed that motility-selected bacteria have the marked ability to reach the same gastrointestinal niche in poultry and competitively inhibit Campylobacter. Bacterial isolates were collected from ceca of healthy chickens and motile isolates were identified and tested for anti-Campylobacter activity. Isolates with these properties were selected for increased motility by passing each isolate 10 times and at each passage selecting bacteria which migrated the farthest during each passage. Three bacterial isolates with the greatest motility were used alone or in combination in two poultry trials. At day of hatch chicks were administered these isolates alone or in combination and chicks were orally challenged with a mixture of four different strains of Campylobacter on day 7. Isolate 1 reduced Campylobacter colonization in both the trials. A follow up study was conducted to compare isolate 1 subjected to enhanced motility selection with its non-selected form. A reduction in Campylobacter colonization was observed in all 3 trials in the birds dosed using isolate with enhanced motility compared to the control and unselected isolate. These findings support that the motility enhancement of potential probiotic bacteria may provide a strategy for reduction of Campylobacter in preharvest poultry.

Technical Abstract: Campylobacter is the leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. Campylobacter is commonly present in the intestinal tract of poultry and one strategy to reduce enteric colonization is the use of probiotic cultures. This strategy has successfully reduced enteric colonization of Salmonella, but has had limited success against Campylobacter. In an effort to improve the efficacy of probiotic cultures, we developed a novel in vitro screening technique for selecting bacterial isolates with enhanced motility. It is proposed that motility-selected bacteria have the marked ability to reach the same gastrointestinal niche in poultry and competitively inhibit Campylobacter. Bacterial isolates were collected from ceca of healthy chickens and motile isolates were identified and tested for anti-Campylobacter activity. Isolates with these properties were selected for increased motility by passing each isolate 10 times and at each passage selecting bacteria which migrated the farthest during each passage. Three bacterial isolates with the greatest motility were used alone or in combination in two poultry trials. At day of hatch chicks were administered these isolates alone or in combination and chicks were orally challenged with a mixture of four different strains of Campylobacter on day 7. Isolate 1 reduced Campylobacter colonization in both the trials. A follow up study was conducted to compare isolate 1 subjected to enhanced motility selection with its non-selected form. A reduction in Campylobacter colonization was observed in all 3 trials in the birds dosed using isolate with enhanced motility compared to the control and unselected isolate. These findings support that the motility enhancement of potential probiotic bacteria may provide a strategy for reduction of Campylobacter in preharvest poultry.