Monitoring of Campylobacter jejuni in a chicken infection model by measuring specific volatile organic compounds and by qPCR

Abstract

Campylobacter is one of the leading bacterial foodborne pathogens worldwide. Poultry is the host species with this pathogen with the highest clinical impact. Flocks become colonised with Campylobacter, which leads to contamination of product entering the food-chain. Rapid and reliable Campylobacter detection methods could support controls to minimize the risks of contamination within the food-chain, which would easier enable the implementation of a logistical slaughter schedule or other control options. The present study evaluates current and emerging C. jejuni detection technologies on air samples in a unique study set-up of pre-defined C. jejuni prevalences. Both non-invasive detection technologies on air samples by subsequent measuring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or by qPCR detected the C. jejuni presence and could additionally distinguish between the number of present C. jejuni-positive birds in the study set-up. Nevertheless, electrostatic air samplers diagnosed fewer birds as C. jejuni-positive compared to the cultivation-based method. By measuring the VOCs, it was possible to detect the presence of two positive birds in the room. This apparent high sensitivity still needs to be verified in field studies. Techniques, such as these promising methods, that can facilitate C. jejuni surveillance in poultry flocks are desirable to reduce the risk of infection for humans.

Avian campylobacteriosis, prevalence, sources, hazards, antibiotic resistance, poultry meat contamination, and control measures: a comprehensive review

“…Reducing Campylobacter contamination in avian goods is seen as an effective technique for reducing the public health burden of campylobacteriosis in people, as chicken is the primary source of sporadic campylobacteriosis ( Hankel et al, 2022 ). The success of countries like Iceland and New Zealand in drastically reducing campylobacteriosis rates shows that this disease is complex and requires a wide range of approaches ( Sears et al, 2011 ; Tustin et al, 2011 ).…”

“…The success of countries like Iceland and New Zealand in drastically reducing campylobacteriosis rates shows that this disease is complex and requires a wide range of approaches ( Sears et al, 2011 ; Tustin et al, 2011 ). There was a nationwide outbreak of campylobacteriosis in Iceland in 1998, just 1 yr after the disease was made reportable ( Tustin et al, 2011 ; Hankel et al, 2022 ).…”

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Campylobacter Species and Associated Factors Among Under-Five Children with Diarrhea at Randomly Selected Public Health Facilities in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia

“… 12 Campylobacter jejuni is the most commonly isolated Campylobacter species, which causes human gastroenteritis. 13 , 14 …”

“…12 Campylobacter jejuni is the most commonly isolated Campylobacter species, which causes human gastroenteritis. 13,14 Campylobacter is an animal pathogen that commonly inhabits the intestine of numerous animal species. Campylobacter infection is mostly a foodborne illness that leads to inflammation of the human intestine.…”

Rapid Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION Sequencing Workflow for Campylobacter jejuni Identification in Broilers on Site—A Proof-of-Concept Study

“…The use of prevalence target C. jejuni models to assess the quantitative microbiological risk estimated that establishing targets of 25% and 5% between broiler flocks’ prevalence would lower the risk of human infection by chicken consumption to 50% and 90%, respectively [ 5 , 6 ]. Consequently, there is a need for more practical, suitable, and cost-effective techniques for routine diagnosis to determine the status of the flocks in a short turnaround time and with the highest sensitivity, respectively [ 7 , 8 ], to maintain the control of zoonotic agents that can contaminate food of animal origin, posing a risk to consumers’ health. In addition, it is important to choose the best moment to assess the Campylobacter status of the flock.…”