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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #249686
Title: Effect of DDGS on Campylobacter in Commercial Laying Hens

Author
item Wesley, Irene
item PERSIA, M - Iowa State University
item AHN, D - Iowa State University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/3/2010
Publication Date: 4/20/2010
Citation: Wesley, I.V., Persia, M., Ahn, D.U. 2010. Effect of DDGS on Campylobacter in Commercial Laying Hens [abstract]. American Society for Microbiology Meeting. p349.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The ethanol industry in the Midwest has boosted production of dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS), a potential nutritional supplement for poultry. C. jejuni and C. coli are human foodborne pathogens and are commensals of livestock. We have previously reported that DGGS increases the prevalence of C. jejuni in dairy cattle. The purpose of this study was to determine if DDGS impacted the prevalence of Campylobacter in layer hens. Hens (n=240) originated from commercial flocks, had experienced one molt, were 50 wks old at the beginning of this study and were caged according to commercial, layer standards (2 hens/cage). Hens were acclimated for 4 weeks before initiating the DDGS diets. Birds were assigned to four groups (n=60 per group) and were fed corn-soy diets supplemented with various concentrations of DGGS (0%, 17%, 35% and 50%). The level of DDGS increased weekly starting from 17%, increased to 35% and then to 50%. Control birds (0% DGGS) were fed the corn-soy diet. To estimate Campylobacter prevalence, cloacal samples were taken with cotton tip swabs after birds had been fed experimental diets for 8-10 weeks. Swabs were placed in blood-free enrichment broth, incubated (42C, 24 hrs, ambient air), and transferred for bacterial isolation to Cefex agar (42C, 48 hrs, 5% 02, 10% C02, 85% N2). Presumptive Campylobacter colonies were identified using a multiplex PCR to differentiate C. jejuni from C. coli. The overall prevalence of Campylobacter was determined for hens fed DGGS levels of 0% (39/60, 65%), 17 % (24/58, 41.4%), 35%(30 /60, 50%), and 50% (31/ 58, 53%). By Chi-Square test for equal proportions no differences in the overall prevalence of Campylobacter spp. or of C. jejuni were evident when the three dietary regimens were compared to control hens. However, the proportion of C. coli-positive hens was significantly lower (P<0.05) in the hens fed DGGS at 17% (12/58, 21%) and 35% (15/60, 25%) when compared to hens fed 0% (30/60, 50%) and 50% DGGS (23/58, 39.7%). Taken together these data indicate that DGGS may selectively impact the prevalence of C. coli in layer hens.