Location: Egg and Poultry Production Safety Research Unit
Project Number: 6040-32000-012-013-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2024
End Date: Oct 1, 2027
Objective:
1. Identify a molecular odor signature of Salmonella or Campylobacter infected chicken poop.
2. Leverage this odor signature in the development of a novel biosensor for the non-invasive detection of Salmonella or Campylobacter in poultry flocks.
Approach:
Poultry act as a major reservoir host for Salmonella and Campylobacter spp., two leading causes of foodborne illnesses and economic loss. An early detection method that is non-invasive is sensitive, and enables on-farm ease-of-use is urgently needed by industry stakeholders as current non-invasive detection methods remain insufficient. ARS researcher in Fayetteville, Arkansas, conceived of the idea and experimental plan, and proposed that the unique volatile chemical compounds that compose the chicken feces smell represent a ‘molecular odor signature’ of Salmonella or Campylobacter that can serve as a highly novel and precise analyte panel in the development of a biosensor for the non-invasive detection of Salmonella and Campylobacter carriage in live chickens. Broiler chickens will be raised under ideal conditions and challenged with Salmonella or Campylobacter. Freshly deposited feces will be collected, sampled, and submitted for analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify a fecal odor molecular profile that distinguishes foodborne pathogen-infected chickens from uninfected chickens. Cooperator will utilize the unique analytes in the development of an electrochemical sensor array utilizing nanomaterials, ultimately in the production of a manufactured device.
