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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #280357
Title: In vitro selection of enteric microflora for potential use as a competitive exclusion culture against Campylobacter in poultry

Author
item BHASKARAN, H - University Of Arkansas
item Donoghue, Ann - Annie
item ARSI, K - University Of Arkansas
item WOOMING, A - University Of Arkansas
item REYES-HERRERA, I - University Of Arkansas
item BIELKE, L - University Of Arkansas
item TELLEZ, G - University Of Arkansas
item Byrd Ii, James - Allen
item BLORE, P - University Of Arkansas
item HARGIS, B - University Of Arkansas
item DONOGHUE, D - University Of Arkansas

Submitted to: International Journal of Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/30/2011
Publication Date: 12/30/2011
Citation: Bhaskaran, H.P., Donoghue, A.M., Arsi, K., Wooming, A., Reyes-Herrera, I., Bielke, L.R., Tellez, G., Byrd II, J.A., Blore, P.J., Hargis, B.M., Donoghue, D.J. 2011. In vitro selection of enteric microflora for potential use as a competitive exclusion culture against Campylobacter in poultry. International Journal of Poultry Science. 10(12):940-945.

Interpretive Summary: The administration of nonpathogenic microflora in neonatal poultry has been employed to reduce or eliminate the colonization of enteric pathogens. This concept, also called competitive exclusion (CE), although effective against Salmonella, has not consistently worked against Campylobacter. Most CE cultures are developed by randomly collecting enteric bacteria without any preselection criteria for bacteria. It may be possible to enhance the efficacy of a CE against Campylobacter by preselecting enteric microflora with the ability to inhibit Campylobacter, in vitro. With this goal, an assay was developed to test individual isolates with the ability to reduce or eliminate Campylobacter growth, in vitro. Individual isolates (n=137) were collected from ceca of both juvenile and adult poultry and tested for efficacy against Campylobacter. Isolates were serially diluted and added to 96 well polystyrene plates. Plates were incubated at in a microaerophilic environment for 24-48 hours. Following incubation, 23 isolates were identified with the ability to inhibit C. jejuni or C. coli growth in vitro. This research demonstrates that is possible to pre-screen enteric isolates for Campylobacter inhibition for use as competitive exclusion cultures.

Technical Abstract: The administration of nonpathogenic microflora in neonatal poultry has been employed to reduce or eliminate the colonization of enteric pathogens. This concept, also called competitive exclusion (CE), although effective against Salmonella, has not consistently worked against Campylobacter. Most CE cultures are developed by randomly collecting enteric bacteria without any preselection criteria for bacteria. It may be possible to enhance the efficacy of a CE against Campylobacter by preselecting enteric microflora with the ability to inhibit Campylobacter, in vitro. With this goal, an assay was developed to test individual isolates with the ability to reduce or eliminate Campylobacter growth, in vitro. Individual isolates (n=137) were collected from ceca of both juvenile and adult poultry and tested for efficacy against Campylobacter. Isolates were serially diluted and added to 96 well polystyrene plates. Plates were incubated at in a microaerophilic environment for 24-48 hours. Following incubation, 23 isolates were identified with the ability to inhibit C. jejuni or C. coli growth in vitro. This research demonstrates that is possible to pre-screen enteric isolates for Campylobacter inhibition for use as competitive exclusion cultures.