Campylobacter colonization and diversity in young turkeys in the context of gastrointestinal distress and antimicrobial treatment

Authors: KIRCHNER, MARGARET - North Carolina State University; Miller, William - Bill; OSBORNE, JASON - North Carolina State University; BADGLEY, BRIAN - Virginia Tech; NIEDERMEYER, JEFFREY - North Carolina State University; KATHARIOU, SOPHIA - North Carolina State University

Submitted to: Microorganisms
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/11/2023
Publication Date: 1/19/2023
Citation: Kirchner, M., Miller, W.G., Osborne, J., Badgley, B., Niedermeyer, J.A., Kathariou, S. 2023. Campylobacter colonization and diversity in young turkeys in the context of gastrointestinal distress and antimicrobial treatment. Microorganisms. 11(2). Article 252. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11020252.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11020252

Interpretive Summary: Campylobacter are commonly associated with human foodborne illness. Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the primary Campylobacter species that cause human illness and transmission is often via contaminated poultry products. Young turkeys are vulnerable to undifferentiated gastrointestinal distress episodes referred to as “irritable and crabby syndrome” (ICS). ICS is typically treated with a combination of penicillin and gentamicin (P/G). This study tested Campylobacter prevalence, diversity and antimicrobial resistance in young turkeys from four commercial brooder flocks. Weekly gastrointestinal samples were analyzed from day of hatch to the completion of the brooder period (4-5 weeks). Two of the flocks developed ICS and were P/G-treated between weeks 3 and 4. All four flocks became colonized by week 2-3. Two of the flocks were grown as an antibiotic-free (ABF) flock, while the other was produced under standard industry practices. The ABF flock did not develop ICS while its counterpart did. Campylobacters from all four flocks were multidrug resistant. The findings from this study suggest that ICS and P/G treatment did exert noticeable impacts on Campylobacter population dynamics in commercial young turkey flocks, and that ABF flocks may become readily colonized by multidrug-resistant strains from conventionally-produced flocks at the same farm.

Technical Abstract: Gut distress and general irritability frequently afflict young turkeys in commercial production. These undifferentiated gastrointestinal distress episodes, here referred to as “irritable and crabby syndrome” (ICS), can severely compromise flock performance and are typically treated with a combination of penicillin and gentamicin (P/G). The potential impact of ICS and P/G treatment of young turkeys on Campylobacter levels, genotypes and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) traits has not been investigated. Here we performed a longitudinal study of Campylobacter in four commercial brooder flocks. Weekly samples of cecum and jejunum were analyzed from day of hatch to the completion of the brooder period (week 4-5). Two of the flocks developed ICS and were P/G-treated between weeks 3 and 4. All four flocks became colonized with Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli by week 2-3. The relative prevalence of C. jejuni in the cecum and jejunum was higher after ICS and P/G after treatment, correlated to a shift in the most common species/AMR combinations in flock 2. Two of the flocks were housed in separate houses at the same farm but differed in one being grown as antibiotic-free (ABF) flock, while the other was produced conventionally. The ABF flock did not develop ICS while its counterpart did and was P/G treated. Nonetheless, Campylobacter prevalence, genotypes and AMR profiles were largely similar between the two flocks. C. jejuni and C. coli from all four flocks were multidrug resistant (MDR; three or more antibiotic classes). ICS and P/G did increase the relative C. jejuni isolated from the cecum and jejunum after treatment and were correlated to a shift in the most common species/AMR combinations in flock 2. Six STs were only found in the ABF flock 4 but not the conventional flock at the same farm, with some being closely related to STs found in other flocks. The findings suggest that ICS and P/G treatment did exert noticeable impacts on Campylobacter population dynamics in commercial young turkey flocks, and that ABF flocks may become readily colonized by MDR strains from non-ABF flocks at the same farm.