The Prevalence of Campylobacter amongst a Free-Range Broiler Breeder Flock Was Primarily Affected by Flock Age

Abstract

Campylobacter successfully colonizes broiler chickens, but little is known about the longer term natural history of colonization, since most flocks are slaughtered at an immature age. In this study, the prevalence and genetic diversity of Campylobacter colonizing a single free-range broiler breeder flock was investigated over the course of a year. The age of the flock was the most important factor in determining both the prevalence and diversity of Campylobacter over time. There was no correlation with season, temperature, the amount of rain and sunshine, or the dynamics of colonization amongst geographically and temporally matched broiler flocks. The higher prevalence rates coincided with the age at which broiler chickens are typically slaughtered, but then in the absence of bio-security or other intervention methods, and despite changes in flock management, the prevalence fell to significantly lower levels for the remainder of the study. The genetic diversity of Campylobacter increased as the flock aged, implying that genotypes were accumulated within the flock and may persist for a long time. A better understanding of the ecology of Campylobacter within commercial chicken flocks will allow the design of more effective farm-based interventions.

Cryptic ecology among host generalist Campylobacter jejuni in domestic animals

“…The absence of recombination between coexisting host generalists living in the same hosts is surprising as they appear to share identical ecological strategies being routinely isolated from the same cattle herd ( Sproston et al. 2011 ), or chicken flock ( Colles et al. 2011 ; Jorgensen et al.…”

MLST Genotypes and Antibiotic Resistance ofCampylobacterspp. Isolated from Poultry in Grenada

“…Predominant STs at a particular farm have been reported in several studies [29–31], and experimentally some strains are able to become dominant within a confined host-species population [32]. One study identified age of flock broilers as the most important factor correlated with increasing genetic diversity of Campylobacter , implying that genetic clones can accumulate within the flock and persist [33]. It is unlikely that the greater MLST diversity on Farm A compared to Farm B observed in this study reflects any difference in age of flock broilers or length of time these farms have been in production.…”

Infection, colonization and shedding of Campylobacter and Salmonella in animals and their contribution to human disease: A review

“…The proportion of birds shedding Campylobacter in faeces depends on the age and specie of the bird. A study conducted in broilers under semi‐intensive systems reported an increase in Campylobacter prevalence from 20% in week 5 to 88% in week 11 of age, after that the prevalence averaged 40% until week 63 (Colles, McCarthy, Layton, & Maiden, ). In free‐range ducks, the opposite was observed whereby faecal shedding was reported to be significantly higher in adult ducks than in ducklings (Nonga & Muhairwa, ).…”