Salmonella carriage and change in serovar distribution in broiler giblets at slaughterhouse level in Turkiye: first report using ISO 6579-1:2017 and ISO 6579-3:2014.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and serovar distribution of salmonellae in liver, heart, and spleen (LHS) and gizzard (G) of slaughtered broilers. For this, a total of 60 sample units, comprised of 30 LHS and 30 G collected from 3 slaughterhouses, were analysed by reference methods for detection and serotyping as revised ISO 6579-1:2017 and ISO 6579-3:2014, respectively. Also, Salmonella-specific real-time PCR (Salm-PCR) was used for species confirmation, while Salmonella Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) and Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) specific real-time PCR (SE/ST-PCR) was evaluated to determine its efficiency for rapid detection of the serovars mandated in current legal regulations compared to standard serotyping. All LHS (100%-30/30) and 90% (27/30) of G samples harbored Salmonella with an overall prevalence of 95% (57/60) in samples examined, where all isolates were confirmed as Salmonella by Salm-PCR. The most prevalent serovar in broiler giblets was S. Virchow (80.70%-46/57) followed by S. Enteritidis (19.30%-11/57). SE/ST-PCR (%17.54-10/57) could not detect one G isolate, which was serotyped as S. Enteritidis by standard serotyping. High relative accuracy (98.25%), sensitivity (100%) and specificity (100%), and agreement between methods (κ: 0.94) verified SE/ST-PCR's potential to be used as an alternative in rapid detection of S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium. Data on high Salmonella prevalence in broiler giblets of slaughterhouse origin, and detection of the pathogen by the implementation of all requirements indicated in the revised ISO 6579-1:2017 standard method, enabling the determination of actual prevalence in the samples with high sensitivity and specificity is of significance for public health. Additionally, identification of S. Virchow as the dominant serovar followed by S. Enteritidis with a relatively lower prevalence, and absence of S. Typhimurium in broiler giblets are important findings for Turkiye. This up to date data, obtained by strict application of ISO 6579-3:2014 procedures, indicated a shift in circulating serovars in the broiler industry. The objective findings in this study would bring awareness to national/international literature, and may be of use in future improvements in legal regulations.

Colonization, spread and persistence of Salmonella (Typhimurium, Infantis and Reading) in internal organs of broilers.

Transfer of Salmonella to internal organs of broilers over a 35 d grow-out period was evaluated. A total of 360 one-day old chicks were placed in 18 floor pens of 3 groups with 6 replicate pens each. On d 0, broilers were orally challenged with a cocktail of Salmonella (equal population of marked serovars; nalidixic acid-resistant S. Typhimurium, rifampicin-resistant S. Infantis, and kanamycin-resistant S. Reading) to have 3 groups: L (low; ∼2 log CFU/bird); M (medium; ∼5 log CFU/bird); and H (High; ∼8 log CFU/bird). On d 2, 7 and 35, 4 birds/pen were euthanized and ceca, liver, and spleen samples were collected aseptically. Gizzard samples (4/pen) were collected on d 35. The concentration of Salmonella in liver and spleen were transformed to binary outcomes (positive and negative) and fitted in glm function of R using cecal Salmonella concentrations (log CFU/g) and inoculation doses (L, M, and H) as inputs. On d 2, H group showed greater (P ≤ 0.05) cecal colonization of all 3 serovars compared to L and M groups. However, M group showed greater (P ≤ 0.05) colonization of all 3 serovars in the liver and spleen compared to L group. Salmonella colonization increased linearly in the ceca and quadratically in the liver and spleen with increasing challenge dose (P ≤ 0.05). On d 35, L group had greater (P ≤ 0.05) S. Infantis colonization in the ceca and liver compared to M and H groups (P ≤ 0.05). Moreover, within each group on d 35, the concentration of S. Reading was greater than those of S. Typhimurium and S. Infantis for all 3 doses in the ceca and high dose in the liver and gizzard (P ≤ 0.05). Salmonella colonization diminished in the ceca, liver, and spleen during grow-out from d 0 to d 35 (P ≤ 0.05). On d 35, birds challenged with different doses of Salmonella cocktail showed a similar total Salmonella spp. population in the ceca (ca. 3.14 log CFU/g), liver (ca. 0.54 log CFU/g), spleen (ca. 0.31 log CFU/g), and gizzard (ca. 0.42 log CFU/g). Estimates from the fitted logistic model showed that one log CFU/g increase in cecal Salmonella concentration will result in an increase in relative risk of liver and spleen being Salmonella-positive by 4.02 and 3.40 times (P ≤ 0.01), respectively. Broilers from H or M group had a lower risk (28 and 23%) of being Salmonella-positive in the liver compared to the L group when the cecal Salmonella concentration is the same (P ≤ 0.05). Oral challenge of broilers with Salmonella spp. with various doses resulted in linear or quadratic increases in Salmonella colonization in the internal organs during early age and these populations decreased during grow-out (d 35). This research can provide guidance on practices to effectively mitigate the risk of Salmonella from chicken parts and enhance public health.

Bioconservation of iron and enhancement of antioxidant and antibacterial properties of chicken gizzard protein hydrolysate fermented by Pediococcus acidilactici ATTC 8042.

BACKGROUND: The poultry industry is one of the fastest growing sectors, and it generates considerable quantities of chicken gizzards (CG) every day. However, due to their hard texture and high microbial load, and due to cultural beliefs, they are not preferred by consumers. Chicken gizzards are a substantial source of proteins, iron, and other nutrients, which can be used effectively to produce nutraceuticals, rich in peptides (antioxidants and antibacterial), bio-iron, essential free amino acids, and fatty acids vital for human health. RESULTS: Lactic acid fermentation of CG by Pediococcus acidilactici ATTC 8042 increased the antioxidant activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiaziline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) by up to 26 times compared with unfermented CG (P < 0.05). The amount of hydrolysis and solvents (ethanol and water) used for extracting protein hydrolysates significantly affected the antioxidant properties. Moreover, fermented CG showed a negligible reduction in bio-iron (2-3%) compared with heat-processed CG (85 °C for 15 min), in which bio-iron was reduced by up to 20.3% (P < 0.05). The presence of unsaturated fatty acids such as C20:4 and C22:4 n-6 indicated a low level of lipid oxidation. CONCLUSION: Fermented CG, with its reasonably high antioxidant and antibacterial activity, together with a substantial amount of bio-iron and other nutritional components can serve as a functional food or feed additive to reduce oxidative stress and to treat iron deficiency. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Molecular characterization of megaplasmids encoding the type VI secretion system in Campylobacter jejuni isolated from chicken livers and gizzards.

Megaplasmids in Campylobacter spp. likely play important roles in antibiotic resistance, virulence, and horizontal gene transfer. In this study, megaplasmids pCJDM202 (119 kb) and pCJDM67L (116 kb) from C. jejuni strains WP2-202 and OD2-67, respectively, were sequenced and characterized. These megaplasmids contained genes for tetracycline resistance [tet(O)], the Type IV secretion system, conjugative transfer and the Type VI secretion system (T6SS). The T6SS genes in Campylobacter plasmids encoded genes and proteins that were similar to those identified in Campylobacter chromosomal DNA. When the megaplasmid pCJDM202 from C. jejuni WP2-202 was transferred via conjugation to C. jejuni NCTC11168 Nal+, transconconjugants acquired tetracycline resistance and enhanced cytotoxicity towards red blood cells. A T6SS mutant of strain WP2-202 was generated and designated Δhcp3; the mutant was significantly impaired in its ability to lyse red blood cells and survive in defibrinated blood. The cytotoxicity of Campylobacter strains towards the human embryonic kidney cell line HEK 293 was not impacted by the T6SS. In summary, the T6SS encoded by Campylobacter megaplasmids mediates lysis of RBCs and likely contributes to survival on retail meats where blood cells are abundant.

Feed-borne Bacillus cereus exacerbates respiratory distress in chickens infected with Chlamydia psittaci by inducing haemorrhagic pneumonia.

Chlamydia psittaci is an important zoonotic pathogen and its oral route of infection plays an important role in the transmission and persistence. Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) strain, a common contaminant of animal feed and feedstuffs, can cause severe diarrhoea and malnutrition in poultry. In our previous study, a B. cereus strain (Dawu C), isolated from the haemorrhagic lungs of infected chickens, was shown to harbour two virulence genes (hblC and cytk) and was able to induce haemorrhagic lesions in the lungs, as well as gizzard erosion and ulceration (GEU) syndrome in broilers. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that B. cereus-induced GEU would aggravate C. psittaci infection. Our results showed that SPF chickens exposed to B. cereus developed a severe GEU syndrome. More interestingly, prior infection with B. cereus facilitated C. psittaci infection, and aggravated GEU and respiratory distress, which were accompanied by high chlamydial loads in the lungs and severe lesions in respiratory organs. Moreover, levels of local inflammatory cytokines were elevated and T cell responses were impaired in the infected birds. In conclusion, GEU caused by B. cereus may facilitate chlamydial transmission from the ventriculus to the lungs.RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Bacillus cereus contributes to the gizzard erosion and ulceration syndrome in chickens.Exposure to Bacillus cereus exacerbates pneumonia in birds following chlamydial infection.Bacillus cereus facilitates persistent chlamydial infection and exacerbates immune responses.

Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae Tissue Tropism in Worker Honey Bees (Apis mellifera).

The microsporidia Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae are major honey bee pathogens that possess different characteristics in terms of the signs they produce, as well as disease development and transmission. Although the ventricular epithelium is generally considered the target tissue, indirect observations led to speculation that N. ceranae may also target other structures, possibly explaining at least some of the differences between these 2 species. To investigate the tropism of Nosema for honey bee tissues, we performed controlled laboratory infections by orally administering doses of 50 000 or 100 000 fresh mature spores of either species. The fat body was isolated from the infected bees, as well as organs from the digestive (esophagus, ventriculus, ileum, rectum), excretory (Malpighian tubules), circulatory (aorta, heart), respiratory (thoracic tracheas), exocrine (hypopharyngeal, mandibular and labial, cephalic, thoracic salivary glands), and sensory/nervous (brain, eyes and associated nerve structures, thoracic nerve ganglia) systems. Tissues were examined by light and electron microscopy at 7, 10, and 15 days postinfection. Both Nosema species were found to infect epithelial cells and clusters of regenerative cells in the ventriculus, and while the ileum and rectum contained spores of the microsporidia in the lumen, these structures did not show overt lesions. No stages of the parasites or cellular lesions were detected in the other organs tested, confirming the high tropism of both species for the ventricular epithelium cells. Thus, these direct histopathological observations indicate that neither of these 2 Nosema species exhibit tropism for honey bee organs other than the ventriculus.

Contaminated feed-borne Bacillus cereus aggravates respiratory distress post avian influenza virus H9N2 infection by inducing pneumonia.

Avian influenza virus subtype H9N2 is identified in chickens with respiratory disease while Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) has been frequently isolated from chicken feed in China. However, the roles of co-infection with these two pathogens remain unclear. In the present study, SPF chicks were intragastrically administered with 108 CFU/mL of B. cereus for 7 days and then inoculated intranasally with 100 EID50 of H9N2 three days later. Alternatively, chickens were initially inoculated with H9N2 and then with B. cereus for one week. Post administration, typical respiratory distress persisted for 5 days in both co-infection groups. Gizzard erosions developed in the groups B. cereus/H9N2 and B. cereus group on 7th day while in group H9N2/B. cereus on 14th day. More importantly, both air-sac lesions and lung damage increased significantly in the co-infection group. Significant inflammatory changes were observed in the B. cereus group from day 7 to day 21. Moreover, higher loads of H9N2 virus were found in the co-infected groups than in the H9N2 group. Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) specific antibodies were decreased significantly in the H9N2/B. cereus group compared to the B. cereus and the B. cereus/H9N2 groups. Nonspecific IgA titers were reduced significantly in the B. cereus group and the H9N2/B. cereus group compared to the control group. In addition to this, lower lymphocyte proliferation was found in the con-infection groups and the H9N2 group. Hence, feed-borne B. cereus contamination potentially exacerbates gizzard ulceration and aggravates H9N2-induced respiratory distress by inhibiting antibody-mediated immunity and pathogen clearance. Thus controlling the B. cereus contamination in poultry feed is immediately needed.

Heat stress as a predisposing factor for necrotic enteritis in broiler chicks.

Heat stress is a physical environmental stressor, which can affect performance, health and welfare of poultry. The present study investigates the effect of cyclic acute heat stress as a predisposing factor for necrotic enteritis in broiler chicks in an experimental challenge model. Two hundred and forty broiler chicks were randomly allocated to four treatment groups, as follows: group A served as negative control (25°C), group B birds were subjected to cyclic acute heat stress (35°C), group C birds were challenged and group D birds were both subjected to heat stress and challenged. From each bird, the intestine, gizzard and liver were collected and scored for gross lesions. The intestinal digesta was collected for pH and viscosity determination. One caecum from each bird was taken for microbiological analysis. The statistical analysis and evaluation of data revealed that the heat stress in challenged birds showed a relative trend to increase the severity and the incidence of necrotic enteritis lesions, although it was not considered as statistically significant (Ρ = 0.077). Additionally, the heat stress induced necrotic enteritis outbreak in unchallenged birds; the challenge of birds as well as its combination with the heat stress affected significantly (Ρ ≤ 0.05) the pH and viscosity of intestinal digesta and the caecal Clostridium perfringens counts. The study provides evidence that cyclic acute heat stress is an environmental stressor, which can significantly affect necrotic enteritis and gut health, and thus should be taken into account in warmer areas of the world where poultry farming becomes a major industry.

The foregut and its manipulation via feeding practices in the chicken.

The digestive system of a chicken is simple, short, and extremely efficient. In the upper gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) or foregut, in particular when feed is not continuously available, moistening of feed occurs in the crop followed by chemical and physical digestion in the proventriculus and gizzard, respectively, as a preparation for nutrient absorption which occurs in the distal portions of the GIT-duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and to a lower extent in the ceca and colon. Broiler husbandry practices in the past have focused on achieving high intakes of readily digestible nutrients and largely failed to consider the ancestral purpose of the foregut. Besides holding important digestive functions, the rich bacterial communities in both the crop and the gizzard transform these organs in barriers preventing the invasion of the GIT by pathogens. However, the amount of time feed spends in the foregut-and therefore the environment in this gut segment-is extremely variable and can be manipulated by different feeding practices, such as feed structure and composition, frequency of feeding, and/or light regimes.With further progress in terms of performance and health of broiler chickens being sought, and following decades of research focusing on distal GIT segments, it is about time to explore how the foregut can contribute to achieve these goals. This review revisits morphological, physiological, and microbiological characteristics of the foregut; explores the importance of this GIT portion as feed intake regulator; and discusses how husbandry and feeding practices such as lighting regimes and feed structure may be adapted to activate the crop and the gizzard, which results in performance and health improvements. Finally, interactions of these feeding practices with exogenous enzymes are discussed and suggestions for further research are made.

Comparison of gizzard and intestinal microbiota of wild neotropical birds.

Gut bacterial communities have been shown to be influenced by diet, host phylogeny and anatomy, but most of these studies have been done in captive animals. Here we compare the bacterial communities in the digestive tract of wild birds. We characterized the gizzard and intestinal microbiota among 8 wild Neotropical bird species, granivorous or frugivorous species of the orders Columbiformes and Passeriformes. We sequenced the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene in 94 collected samples from 32 wild birds from 5 localities, and compared bacterial communities by foraging guild, organ, locality and bird taxonomy. 16S rRNA gene-based sequencing data were examined using QIIME with linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) and metabolic pathways were predicted using PICRUSt algorism. We identified 8 bacterial phyla, dominated by Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria. Beta diversity analyses indicated significant separation of gut communities by bird orders (Columbiformes vs. Passerifomes) and between bird species (p<0.01). In lower intestine, PICRUSt shows a predominance of carbohydrate metabolism in granivorous birds and xenobiotics biodegradation pathways in frugivorous birds. Gizzard microbiota was significantly richer in granivorous, in relation to frugivorous birds (Chao 1; non-parametric t-test, p<0.05), suggesting a microbial gizzard function, beyond grinding food. The results suggest that the most important factor separating the bacterial community structure was bird taxonomy, followed by foraging guild. However, variation between localities is also likely to be important, but this could not been assessed with our study design.

Characterization of the bacteriocin BacJ1 and its effectiveness for the inactivation of Salmonella typhimurium during turkey escalope storage.

During a screening programme for bacteriocin producers, a new lactic acid bacterium called J1, isolated from chicken gizzard, was noted to produce a bacteriocin (BacJ1) that inhibited Gram-positive and Gram-negative food-borne pathogens, especially Salmonella typhimurium, and it was, therefore, selected for identification and further study. The results, from 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequencing (1583 pb accession no HE861352) and phylogenetic analysis, suggested that the new isolate be assigned as Weissella paramesenteroides J1. BacJ1 was purified from the culture supernatant of the J1 strain using heat treatment (15 min at 90 °C), 80% ammonium sulfate precipitation, and gel filtration (Sephadex G25). MALDI-TOF analyses revealed that BacJ1 had an exact molecular mass of 1881.036 Da. The analysis of the N-terminal sequence (GPAGPFGKLY) of this active peptide revealed no significant similarity to currently available antimicrobial peptides. The addition of pre-purified BacJ1, at a final concentration of 400 AU per gramme, may open new promising opportunities for the prevention of contamination from and growth of pathogenic bacteria, particularly S. typhimurium, during turkey escalope storage at 4 °C.

Detection of Salmonella typhimurium in retail chicken meat and chicken giblets.

OBJECTIVE: To detect Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium), one of the most frequently isolated serovars from food borne outbreaks throughout the world, in retail raw chicken meat and giblets. METHODS: One hundred samples of retail raw chicken meat and giblets (Liver, heart and gizzard) which were collected from Assiut city markets for detection of the organism and by using Duplex PCR amplification of DNA using rfbJ and fliC genes. RESULTS: S. typhimurium was detected at rate of 44%, 40% and 48% in chicken meat, liver and heart, respectively, but not detected in gizzard. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed high incidence of S. typhimurium in the examined samples and greater emphasis should be applied on prevention and control of contamination during processing for reducing food-borne risks to consumers.

Prevalence and quantification of Listeria monocytogenes in chicken offal at the retail level in Malaysia.

A total of 216 chicken offal samples (chicken liver = 72; chicken heart = 72; chicken gizzard = 72) from wet markets and hypermarkets in Selangor, Malaysia, were examined for the presence and density of Listeria monocytogenes by using a combination of the most probable number and PCR method. The prevalence of L. monocytogenes in 216 chicken offal samples examined was 26.39%, and among the positive samples, the chicken gizzard showed the highest percentage at 33.33% compared with chicken liver (25.00%) and chicken heart (20.83%). The microbial load of L. monocytogenes in chicken offal samples ranged from <3 to 93.0 most probable number per gram. The presence of L. monocytogenes in chicken offal samples may indicate that chicken offal can act as a possible vehicle for the occurrence of foodborne listeriosis. Hence, there is a need to investigate the biosafety level of chicken offal in Malaysia.

The role of an attenuated anticoccidial vaccine on the intestinal ecosystem and on the pathogenesis of experimental necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of an attenuated anticoccidial vaccination on the intestinal ecosystem and on the pathogenesis of experimental necrotic enteritis (NE) in broiler chickens. Two hundred and forty 1-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chickens were randomly allocated to four treatment groups according to the following experimental design: control Group N; Group PN, where birds were vaccinated with anticoccidial vaccine; Group M, where birds were challenged with Clostridium perfringens and with Eimeria maxima; and Group PM, where birds were both vaccinated and challenged. From each bird, the intestine, gizzard and liver were scored for gross NE lesions. Intestinal digesta were collected for pH and viscosity determination. Samples from the gastrointestinal tract and liver were taken for microbiological analysis. Evaluation of the experimental data revealed that Group M had significantly higher overall mean NE intestinal lesions compared with Group PM. Viscosity values of jejunum digesta as well as pH values of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum digesta in Group M were significantly lower compared with Group PM. C. perfringens counts in the caeca of Group PM were significantly lower compared with Group M. The milder decrease of pH and viscosity values of intestinal content and the reduction of C. perfringens counts in the caeca in challenged and vaccinated birds may explain the lower score of NE gross intestinal lesions and may suggest a positive effect on intestinal ecosystem and a significant protective effect of attenuated anticoccidial vaccination against NE in a subclinical experimental model.

Incidence and antimicrobial resistance profiling of Campylobacter in retail chicken livers and gizzards.

Campylobacter species are one of the leading causes of foodborne disease in the United States. Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the two main species that are of concern to human health, and they cause approximately 95% of human infections. The number of studies investigating Campylobacter in chicken livers and gizzards is very limited in the literature. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in retail chicken livers and gizzards purchased from grocery stores in the Tulsa, Oklahoma, area and to further characterize the isolates obtained through antimicrobial susceptibility testing. A total of 202 retail chilled chicken livers and gizzards (159 livers and 43 gizzards) were purchased on a weekly basis from several grocery stores. The overall prevalence of Campylobacter in chicken livers and gizzards was 136/202 (67%), where 69/202 (34%) of the samples were contaminated with Campylobacter jejuni and 66/202 (33%) with Campylobacter coli. While the prevalence of Campylobacter in chicken livers was 77%, its prevalence in chicken gizzards was lower at 33%. The prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni was slightly higher in chicken livers (36%) than gizzards (26%), while the prevalence of Campylobacter coli was significantly higher in the chicken livers (40%) than chicken gizzards (7%). The prevalence of resistance among C. jejuni and C. coli isolates recovered against 16 antimicrobials were as follows: amoxicillin (98%, 99%), ampicillin (32%, 55%), azithromycin (10%, 25%), cephalothin (92%, 99%), chloramphenicol (4%, 12%), ciprofloxacin (58%, 48%), clindamycin (5%, 19%), doxycycline (39%, 66%), erythromycin (6%, 32%), gentamicin (9%, 43%), kanamycin (11%, 43%), nalidixic acid (50%, 43%), oxytetracycline (99%, 100%), streptomycin (3%, 18%), tetracycline (37%, 60%), and tilmicosin (9%, 16%). Multidrug resistance was higher among Campylobacter coli than Campylobacter jejuni isolates.

Incidence of Salmonella Enteritidis in chicken layer flocks in Turkey: results by real-time polymerase chain reaction and International Organization for Standardization culture methods.

This study presents Salmonella Enteritidis incidence in chicken layer flocks in Turkey determined by real-time PCR (rPCR) and by International Organization for Standardization (ISO) method 6579:2002/Amd 1:2007. A total of 259 samples, composed of 1,036 individual samples each pooled into 4, including 175 cloacal swab, 14 intestine, 35 gizzard swab, and 35 cecal swab samples, belonging to 6 major companies, were collected from 50 layer flocks and tested by rPCR and ISO culture methods. Overall incidence of Salmonella in layer flocks by rPCR and culture was 61.0 and 55.6%, respectively, where 70.1% of these Salmonella isolates were determined as Salmonella Enteritidis. Incidences of Salmonella Enteritidis in culture-positive samples were 65.3% in cloacal swabs, 50.0% in intestines, 73.9% in gizzard swabs, and 87.5% in cecal swabs. The rPCR results were in 100% agreement (100% sensitivity and specificity) with culture results when cecal swabs were selected as the sample type. The relative accuracy of rPCR was 92.4, 91.4, and 84% for intestine, gizzard, and cloacal swab samples, respectively. As a result, by using rPCR and ISO culture, we determined that the Salmonella Enteritidis incidence in layer flocks in Turkey was high and that the use of cecal swab and intestine samples in Salmonella detection would yield reliable results. To reduce this high Salmonella Enteritidis incidence in layer flocks, Salmonella Enteritidis-specific vaccination should be implemented properly in conjunction with a well-designed biosecurity plan, including verifiable corrective actions.

Enzootic outbreak of necrotic gastritis associated with Clostridium perfringens in broiler chickens.

Clinical morphological investigations were carried out in a flock of 22,000 Ross 308 broiler chickens at the age of 38 days that experienced a sudden increase in mortality rates. Morbidity and mortality rates were followed and gross anatomical examination of 150 bodies (7%) of all 1541 dead chickens was performed. In all necropsied birds, without exception, the typical macroscopic lesions were observed only in the gizzard. Focal or diffuse pseudomembranous deposits were found subcuticularly and on the gizzard mucous coat. Microscopically, hyalinization, desquamated epithelial cells and single foci of microorganisms were present among the formed pseudomembranes. Among the fibrin networks of coagulated exudate, a single bacilli were detected. Clostridium perfringens was isolated from all gastric samples investigated. Polymerase chain reactions were positive for alpha-toxin and negative for beta-toxin and beta(2)-toxin.

Examination of the source and extended virulence genotypes of Escherichia coli contaminating retail poultry meat.

Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) are major players in human urinary tract infections, neonatal bacterial meningitis, and sepsis. Recently, it has been suggested that there might be a zoonotic component to these infections. To determine whether the E. coli contaminating retail poultry are possible extraintestinal pathogens, and to ascertain the source of these contaminants, they were assessed for their genetic similarities to E. coli incriminated in colibacillosis (avian pathogenic E. coli [APEC]), E. coli isolated from multiple locations of apparently healthy birds at slaughter, and human ExPEC. It was anticipated that the retail poultry isolates would most closely resemble avian fecal E. coli since only apparently healthy birds are slaughtered, and fecal contamination of carcasses is the presumed source of meat contamination. Surprisingly, this supposition proved incorrect, as the retail poultry isolates exhibited gene profiles more similar to APEC than to fecal isolates. These isolates contained a number of ExPEC-associated genes, including those associated with ColV virulence plasmids, and many belonged to the B2 phylogenetic group, known to be virulent in human hosts. Additionally, E. coli isolated from the crops and gizzards of apparently healthy birds at slaughter also contained a higher proportion of ExPEC-associated genes than did the avian fecal isolates examined. Such similarities suggest that the widely held beliefs about the sources of poultry contamination may need to be reassessed. Also, the presence of ExPEC-like clones on retail poultry meat means that we cannot yet rule out poultry as a source of ExPEC human disease.

Influence of housing system, grain type, and particle size on Salmonella colonization and shedding of broilers fed triticale or corn-soybean meal diets.

Salmonella colonization in poultry may be influenced by grain type and particle size. Broilers reared either in nonlitter cage-based housing or in a conventionally floored litter house from 0 to 42 d were assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments: 1) ground corn-soybean meal (C, 560 microm), 2) coarsely ground corn-soybean meal (CC, >1,700 microm), 3) ground triticale-soybean meal (T, 560 microm), or 4) whole triticale-soybean meal (WT). A 4-strain cocktail of Salmonella enterica was orally gavaged into each chick at placement. Growth performance, cecal and fecal Salmonella populations, gizzard and proventriculus pH, intestinal size, jejunum histomorphometry, and carcass yields were measured. Broilers responded differently to the dietary treatments according to the housing system used. At 42 d, birds reared on litter and fed ground grain had greater BW than those fed coarse grain (2.87 vs. 2.71 kg), whereas cage-reared broilers fed ground triticale were heavier than those fed corn (2.75 vs. 2.64 kg). Broilers raised on litter had a better feed conversion ratio than those raised in cages (1.71 vs. 1.81 g/g). Independent of the housing system, relative eviscerated carcass weights of birds fed T and C were heavier than those of CC- and WT-fed broilers (762 vs. 752 g/kg). Generally, the jejunum villus area and mucosal depth were larger, whereas the small intestine was lighter and shorter in broilers raised on litter. Relative gizzard weights of broilers raised on litter and fed the coarser diets were heavier than those of broilers reared in cages and fed finely ground diets. Feeding whole or coarsely ground grains decreased cecal Salmonella populations in 42-d-old broilers (3.8, 3.9, 4.4, and 4.4 log most probable number/g for CC, WT, C, and T, respectively). Additionally, 42-d-old broilers reared on litter had lower cecal Salmonella populations than those in cages (3.8 vs. 4.4 log most probable number/g). In conclusion, as a feed ingredient, triticale is a good alternative to corn, resulting in improved BW and reduced Salmonella colonization. Broilers raised on litter may have achieved lower cecal Salmonella populations than caged birds because access to litter may have modulated the intestinal microflora by increasing competitive exclusion microorganisms, which discouraged Salmonella colonization.

Association between gizzard lesions and increased caecal Clostridium perfringens counts in broiler chickens.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between mucosal gizzard lesions and caecal Clostridium perfringens counts. Gross pathological changes in the gizzard and small intestine, and caecal C. perfringens counts from 1217 meat-type chickens were recorded during the course of six experiments and were statistically analysed. C. perfringens counts increased significantly (P < 0.001) with the severity of mucosal gizzard lesions. Mucosal gizzard lesions were more prevalent than necrotic enteritis. Correcting for the pen and necrotic enteritis within experiment, mucosal gizzard lesions explained 31.8% of the variation in C. perfringens counts. Mucosal gizzard lesions and age together explained 59.1% of the variation in C. perfringens counts. The mean ages of birds with moderate and severe mucosal gizzard lesions were 1.7 and 0.8 days lower than the mean age of birds with necrotic enteritis, respectively. The association between mucosal gizzard lesions and high C. perfringens counts might be of importance when attempting to improve production efficiency, health and the welfare of the chickens.