Effect of coated and non‐coated fatty acid supplementation on broiler chickens experimentally infected with Campylobacter jejuni

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine whether and to what extent the supplementation of feed with a coated or non-coated mixture of fatty acids (caprylic and capric acid) affects broiler chickens experimentally infected with Campylobacter jejuni. The study was carried out using 48 chickens divided into four experimental groups. Throughout the whole rearing period (1-42 days), the chickens were fed a diet supplemented with 0.25% caprylic and capric acid (1:1), coated or non-coated. At the age of 14 and 28 days, chickens were orally challenged with C. jejuni. At regular time intervals post-inoculation, the shedding of C. jejuni was assayed using quantitative real-time PCR. Both supplements significantly decreased faecal C. jejuni counts by 1.2-4.1 log(10) CFU/g 4 days post-inoculation; after this time period, the effect of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) was less pronounced or absent. Campylobacter jejuni counts in excreta samples were significantly lower in chickens fed coated MCFA than in those fed non-coated MCFA. No effect of MCFA on feed intake or growth of chickens was observed. In conclusion, (i) MCFA are active against C. jejuni and (ii) the encapsulation enhanced the efficacy of the acids. These results allow the recommendation of using MCFA as feed additives in chickens, preferably 2-3 days before slaughter.

Development of a feed additive to reduce caecal Campylobacter jejuni in broilers at slaughter age: from in vitro to in vivo , a proof of concept

“…jejuni by 2 log 10 after 10 days of supplementation in both the coated and noncoated form (Molatová et al . ).…”

Application of medium-chain fatty acids in drinking water increases Campylobacter jejuni colonization threshold in broiler chicks

“…Furthermore, the antibacterial potency of MCFA is believed to exceed that of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA; Hermans et al, 2010). Several recent studies described the evaluation of in-feed SCFA (formic, acetic, propionic, and butyric acid) and MCFA (caproic, caprylic, capric, and lauric acid) to reduce (Hermans et al, 2010;Molatova et al, 2011;Solis de los Santos et al, 2010) or prevent (Sohs de los Santos et al, 2008;Van Deun et al, 2008) cecal Campylobacter colonization in broilers; however, inconsistent results have been reported. Alternatively to their in-feed use, MCFA can be administered through the drinking water as well, but studies using water applications of MCFA are scarce.…”

Field Interventions Against Colonization of Broilers by Campylobacter

“…However, feed intake was suppressed and cecal counts of Campylobacter at 42 days were not reduced. A similar, earlier, study (Molatová et al, 2011) used a capric/caprylic acid mix in feed from 1-day-old and oral challenge (with the same dose and strain as the previous study) at 2 and 4 weeks. This study reported a reduction in cecal Campylobacter counts of around two log 10 units at 6 weeks of age, irrespective of whether the acids were coated with a vegetable oil preparation or not.…”