Epidemiology ofCampylobacterspp. at two Dutch broiler farms

Abstract

SUMMARYBroiler flocks on two Dutch poultry farms were screened weekly for the presence of campylobacter in fresh caecal droppings during eight consecutive production cycles. Hatchery and fresh litter samples were taken at the start of each new cycle. Water, feed, insects, and faeces of domestic animals, present on the farms were also included in the sampling. Penner serotyping of isolates was used to identify epidemiological factors that contribute to campylobacter colonization in the broiler flocks. Generally, broiler flocks became colonized with campylobacter at about 3-4 weeks of age with isolation percentages of 100 %, and stayed colonized up to slaughter. A similar pattern of serotypes was found within the various broiler houses on one farm during one production cycle. New flocks generally showed also a new pattern of serotypes. Most serotypes isolated from the laying hens, pigs, sheep and cattle were different from those isolated from the broilers at the same time. Campylobacter serotypes from darkling beetles inside the broiler houses were identical to the ones isolated from the broilers. No campylobacter was isolated from any of the hatchery, water, feed or fresh litter samples. Conclusive evidence of transmission routes was not found, but results certainly point towards horizontal transmission from the environment. Horizontal transmission from one broiler flock to the next one via a persistent contamination within the broiler house, as well as vertical transmission from breeder flocks via the hatchery to progeny, did not seem to be very likely.

Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) Salmonella enteritidis in Poultry and Backyard Chicken from Tiruchirappalli, India

“…This probably might have a role for the horizontal gene transfer mechanism for evolution and colonization of multidrug resistant Salmonella in the intestine of poultry chicken. There have been a number of studies showing transmission of MDR strains from retail chicken meat (Maripandi and Al-Salamah, 2010) environment (Jacobs-Reitsma et al, 1995), drinking water (Solomon and Hoover, 1999) and vertical transmission (Genigegorgis et al, 1986;Pearson et al, 1996) as possible sources of flock colonization. Transport vehicles and crates may be an additional source of contamination between batches of birds and farms (Mead et al, 1994).…”

Aspects of epidemiology ofcampylobacterin poultry

“…were observed in at least two different studies (11,15 Overall, the prevalence of Campylobacter on the two farms was 56 and 91%, and Campylobacter generally was isolated for the first time in birds between 3 and 4 weeks of age. No campylobacters were ever detected before the birds were 2 weeks old.…”

“…Both oral dosing or challenge by seeder birds led to colonization of dayold chicks and Campylobacter could be isolated from faecal samples within 2 days, even when challenge doses were low (4,32). Once Campylobacter was isolated from a flock, all broilers in the particular broiler house became colonized within 1 week and isolation rates in the flocks remained at 100% up to slaughter (15). Similar findings of rapid horizontal spread and high isolation rates in broiler flocks have been reported in several other studies (6,27).…”

Detection of Thermophilic Campylobacter from Sparrows by Multiplex PCR: The Role of Sparrows as a Source of Contamination of Broilers with Campylobacter.

“…The Campylobater-positive rate of broilers turn to increase at ages of 3 to 5 weeks [2]. Vertical transmission from breeders to broiler chickens was considered to be unlikely [6,17]. Also, studies of C. jejuni contamination through egg shells suggested improbability of the vertical transmission [8,23].…”