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Woyda R, Oladeinde A, Endale D, Strickland T, Plumblee Lawrence J, Abdo Z. Virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Campylobacter isolates recovered from consecutively reused broiler litter. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0323623. [PMID: 37882583 PMCID: PMC10871742 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03236-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Campylobacter is a leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States due to consumption of contaminated or mishandled food products, often associated with chicken meat. Campylobacter is common in the microbiota of avian and mammalian gut; however, acquisition of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factors (VFs) may result in strains that pose significant threat to public health. Although there are studies investigating the genetic diversity of Campylobacter strains isolated from post-harvest chicken samples, there are limited data on the genome characteristics of isolates recovered from preharvest broiler production. Here, we show that Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli differ in their carriage of antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors may also differ in their ability to persist in litter during consecutive grow-out of broiler flocks. We found that presence/absence of virulence factors needed for evasion of host defense mechanisms and gut colonization played an integral role in differentiating Campylobacter strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reed Woyda
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
- Program of Cell and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Dinku Endale
- Southeast Watershed Research Laboratory, USDA, Tifton, Georgia, USA
| | | | | | - Zaid Abdo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
- Program of Cell and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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Woyda R, Oladeinde A, Endale D, Strickland T, Lawrence JP, Abdo Z. Broiler house environment and litter management practices impose selective pressures on antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors of Campylobacter. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.02.526821. [PMID: 36778422 PMCID: PMC9915665 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.02.526821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Campylobacter infections are a leading cause of bacterial diarrhea in humans globally. Infections are due to consumption of contaminated food products and are highly associated with chicken meat, with chickens being an important reservoir for Campylobacter. Here, we characterized the genetic diversity of Campylobacter species detected in broiler chicken litter over three consecutive flocks and determined their antimicrobial resistance and virulence factor profiles. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole genome sequencing were performed on Campylobacter jejuni (n = 39) and Campylobacter coli (n = 5) isolates. All C. jejuni isolates were susceptible to all antibiotics tested while C. coli (n =4) were resistant to only tetracycline and harbored the tetracycline-resistant ribosomal protection protein (TetO). Virulence factors differed within and across grow houses but were explained by the isolates' flock cohort, species and multilocus sequence type. Virulence factors involved in the ability to invade and colonize host tissues and evade host defenses were absent from flock cohort 3 C. jejuni isolates as compared to flock 1 and 2 isolates. Our results show that virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance genes differed by the isolates' multilocus sequence type and by the flock cohort they were present in. These data suggest that the house environment and litter management practices performed imposed selective pressures on antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors. In particular, the absence of key virulence factors within the final flock cohort 3 isolates suggests litter reuse selected for Campylobacter strains that are less likely to colonize the chicken host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reed Woyda
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
- Program of Cell and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Dinku Endale
- Southeast Watershed Research Laboratory, USDA, Tifton, GA, 31793
| | | | | | - Zaid Abdo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
- Program of Cell and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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Buhr RJ, Bourassa DV, Hinton A, Fairchild BD, Ritz CW. Impact of litter Salmonella status during feed withdrawal on Salmonella recovery from the broiler crop and ceca. Poult Sci 2017; 96:4361-4369. [DOI: 10.3382/ps/pex231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Ahmed MFM, Schulz J, Hartung J. Survival of Campylobacter jejuni in naturally and artificially contaminated laying hen feces. Poult Sci 2013; 92:364-9. [PMID: 23300302 DOI: 10.3382/ps.2012-02496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Infected laying hens regularly excrete large amounts of Campylobacter jejuni with their feces, which represent a reservoir of infection within the flock and for animals in the region. However, the knowledge about survival times of C. jejuni in these feces is still scarce. Therefore, orienting laboratory experiments were carried out under controlled conditions to estimate the survival times of C. jejuni both in artificially and naturally contaminated laying hen feces. In 6 different laying hen flocks (3 Campylobacter-free and 3 Campylobacter-positive flocks), fresh excreta were randomly collected and pooled in 20-g samples per flock. In the laboratory, each of the 3 pooled samples from the Campylobacter-free barns were homogenized and mixed with 10 mL of a freshly prepared C. jejuni suspension (3 × 10(8) cfu/mL). The other 3 samples were homogenized only. The 6 samples were stored at 20 ± 1°C and 40 to 60% RH in 2 different incubators. Specimens of 2 g were taken from all 6 samples 1 h after storage and daily at the same time during the next 10 consecutive days and investigated on culturable C. jejuni. The survival times of culturable C. jejuni ranged from 72 to 96 h in artificially inoculated feces and varied from 120 to 144 h in naturally colonized flocks. The flaA typing by RFLP confirmed that the isolates from the artificially contaminated feces were identical with the added strain. A total of 5 different flaA types were identified from the naturally contaminated feces, and survival of these isolates was dependent on flaA type. The demonstrated survival times indicate that contaminated fresh feces are an important reservoir of C. jejuni, representing a permanent source of infection over at least 6 d after excretion. It shows the considerable potential of fresh feces in transmitting the agent within and between flocks during that period. This 6-d span should be considered when poultry manure is applied to land as organic fertilizer.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F M Ahmed
- Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behavior, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17p, 30559 Hannover, Germany
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Willis W, Reid L. Investigating the Effects of Dietary Probiotic Feeding Regimens on Broiler Chicken Production and Campylobacter jejuni Presence. Poult Sci 2008; 87:606-11. [DOI: 10.3382/ps.2006-00458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Biswas D, Fernando UM, Reiman CD, Willson PJ, Townsend HGG, Potter AA, Allan BJ. Correlation Between In Vitro Secretion of Virulence-Associated Proteins of Campylobacter jejuni and Colonization of Chickens. Curr Microbiol 2007; 54:207-12. [PMID: 17294330 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-006-0295-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2006] [Accepted: 07/28/2006] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms used by Campylobacter jejuni to colonize the (chicken) intestinal tract have not been defined. In this study, we obtained evidence that in the presence of chicken serum and mucus, C. jejuni secreted proteins that may play a role in the colonization of chicken gut (Campylobacter invasion antigen = Cia). C. jejuni strains NCTC11168V1 and 81-176, as well as an NCTC11168V1 flaA mutant, were found to colonize intestinal tract and secrete proteins in the presence of chicken mucus, chicken serum, or fetal bovine serum in cell culture-conditioned medium. C. jejuni strain NCTC11168V26, which was observed to be a poor colonizer compared with the other C. jejuni isolates, did not secrete Cia proteins. Secreted proteins were also recognized by Western immunoblot using sera from birds that had been colonized by C. jejuni. These data suggest that C. jejuni secretes Cia proteins during colonization of chicken gut and that these Cia proteins play an important role in colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Biswas
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, Saskatoon. Saskatchewan, S7N 5E3 Canada
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Line JE. Influence of relative humidity on transmission of Campylobacter jejuni in broiler chickens. Poult Sci 2006; 85:1145-50. [PMID: 16830853 DOI: 10.1093/ps/85.7.1145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Horizontal transmission of Campylobacter jejuni among broiler chickens has been documented; however, the influence of RH on transmission rates is an important factor that has not been extensively studied. The purpose of our experiments was to determine the rate of C. jejuni colonization among groups of broilers raised in microbiological isolation under high (approximately 80%) and low (approximately 30%) RH conditions. Day-of-hatch chicks (n = 100 per group) were placed on wood shavings in high and low humidity-controlled pens and challenged with C. jejuni by introducing 2 seeder birds orally inoculated with C. jejuni into each group. The rate of colonization was monitored by analyzing ceca from 10 chicks from each group at d 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7. After 3 wk, the remaining chickens were removed, and 100 newly hatched chicks were placed on the contaminated litter. A second trial was conducted with the litter as the only inoculum source. Trials were repeated in this manner with the time between removing birds and placing newly hatched chicks on the litter extended to 6 h, 24 h, and 1 wk. Significant differences in Campylobacter colonization rates were observed between chickens raised under the high and low RH conditions. A delay in colonization was observed in birds raised under the low RH conditions, which increased with the increased time between removal of birds and placement of newly hatched chicks. These experiments demonstrate the importance of humidity in the transmission of Campylobacter from litter, and they could lead to practical applications to help reduce Campylobacter colonization in broilers.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Line
- Agricultural Research Service, Poultry Microbiological Safety Research Unit, Russell Research Center, USDA, Athens, GA 30605-2720, USA.
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Sahin O, Morishita TY, Zhang Q. Campylobacter colonization in poultry: sources of infection and modes of transmission. Anim Health Res Rev 2002; 3:95-105. [PMID: 12665109 DOI: 10.1079/ahrr200244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Since its recognition as a human pathogen in the early 1970s, Campylobacter jejuni has now emerged as the leading bacterial cause of food-borne gastroenteritis in developed countries. Poultry, particularly chickens, account for the majority of human infections caused by Campylobacter. Reduction or elimination of this pathogen in the poultry reservoir is an essential step in minimizing the public health problem; however, farm-based intervention measures are still not available because of the lack of understanding of the ecological aspects of C. jejuni on poultry farms. Although Campylobacter is highly prevalent in poultry production systems, how poultry flocks become infected with this organism is still unknown. Many investigations indicate that horizontal transmission from environmental sources is the primary route of flock infections by Campylobacter. However, some recent studies also suggest the possibility of vertical transmission from breeder to progeny flocks. The transmission of the organism is not well understood, but it is likely to be through both vertical and horizontal transmission and may be affected by the immune status of the poultry host and the environmental conditions in the production system. Intervention strategies for Campylobacter infection in poultry should consider the complex nature of its transmission and may require the use of multiple approaches that target different segments of the poultry production system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orhan Sahin
- Food Animal Health Research Program, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
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