Chasing Chickens: 40 Years of Pecking and Scratching Nelson A. Cox USDA-ARS ARS-PMSRU Russell Research Center, Athens GA 30607
Education (LSU) B. S. (1966) Bacteriology M. S. (1968) Food Science (Microbiology of crawfish) Ph. D (1971) Poultry Science (Salmonella in eggs)
Experience Russell Research Center (1971-Present) USDA-ARS ARS-PMSRU Athens, GA 30605
Poultry Processing Research 1971-1980 1980 1. Pasteurize the chicken 2. Hot water 3. Edible acids 4. Many other attempts 5. Whole chicken-appearance was important
Rapid Methods 1980-1996 1996 1. Co-founder Rapid Methods Workshop in Manhattan, KS (Fung s Workshop) 2. Tools to aid in identifying food and feed isolates
Feed Research 1980-1985 1985 1. Erwin (1955) 2. Assessed and intervened 3. Not the answer
Hatcheries and Live Birds Salmonella (1985-1998) 1998) 1. Hatcheries and Breeder flocks were primary sources 2. Chemically treat fertile eggs ASAP 3. External contamination
Campylobacter jejuni
Hatcheries and Live Birds Campylobacter (1998-Present) a) Campylobacter researchers had a 20 year head start Bias b) Bias c) Hatchery samples were negative
Hatcheries and Live Birds Campylobacter (1998-Present) d) Had to take a different approach e) If I was right then reproductive tracts should be naturally contaminated f) Mature and immature follicles g) Internal organs
SEM of Campylobacter Attached to Avian Sperm
- Immature Follicles are White - Mature Follicles are Yellow - Yellow Color is Due to Yolk Proteins and Lipids - Synthesized in Liver and Transported in Bloodstream to Ovary - Campylobacter is known to colonize in the Liver
Recovery of Naturally Occurring Campylobacter from Mature and Immature Reproductive Follicles and Ceca of Late-Life Life Broiler Hens Replication Mature Follicle Immature Follicle Ceca 1 2/12 1/12 3/12 2 1/4 0/11 8/11 3 1/8 0/8 8/8 4 5/11 4/12 11/12 5 3/12 2/12 11/12 Total 12/47 7/55 41/55 Cox, N. A., et al. 2003. USDA/ARS/PMS and UGA, Poultry Science Department. Athens, GA
Mature Follicles 26% + Magnum 33% + Isthmus 17% + Shell Gland 58% + Vagina 83% + Cloaca 100% +
Isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from various lymphoid-like like organs 1 hr, 1 day, and 1 week after oral inoculation Sample Site 1 hour 1 day 1 week Thymus 2/15 2/15 0/10 Spleen 1/15 2/15 0/10 Liver/Gallbladder 2/15 1/15 1/10 Bursa 1/15 3/15 6/10 Ceca 4/15 5/15 7/10 Total 10/75 13/75 14/50
Isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from various lymphoid-like like organs 1 hr, 1 day, and 1 week after intracloacal inoculation Sample Site 1 hour 1 day 1 week Thymus 1/15 1/15 0/10 Spleen 0/15 1/15 0/10 Liver/Gallbladder 0/15 2/15 0/10 Bursa 14/15 1/15 3/10 Ceca 9/15 1/15 5/10 Total 24/75 8/75 8/50
Unabsorbed Yolks
Conclusion Better Culture Methods of Campylobacter has Lead to Better Recovery Campylobacter Can Colonize in the Reproductive Tracts of Breeder Roosters and Hens This Could Lead to Vertical Transmission to Broilers for Food Consumption Slow or Cease Vertical and Horizontal Transmission = Safer Food Supply and Decrease Economic Loses
Campylobacter Transmission Primary Breeders Breeders Vertical Hatchery Horizontal Broiler farms Processing plant Consumer
Horizontal Transmission Sources: Domestic and Farm Animals Insects and Rodents Human Contact Wild Birds Water, Feed, Litter, & Coops Bird s Themselves
Vertical transmission Recent Studies Debate Cox and others (2002) Campylobacter isolates from breeder flock and from broiler flocks where clonal in origin Hiett and others (2002, 2004) Showed through utilization of PCR that Campylobacter DNA could be recovered in hatchery samples and developing embryos. Vast majority still question the role of vertical transmission in i contamination. Reason Unable to culture Campylobacter on a routine basis from dry stressed samples (hatchery samples) or from newly hatched chicks. Poor Culture Methods
FUTURE WORK Future work will be to introduce Campylobacter to day-old breeder chicks and study the carrier state and development of reservoirs throughout hout their 65-week life cycle Determine if this ultimately contributes to broiler flock contamination. Determine trend in breeder flock contamination In addition, we will try to determine the mechanisms involved in the rapid movement of Campylobacter spp. to these internal organs. From an assortment of body openings. Macrophage engulfment Bursal lymphocytes
Outlook Until you have accurately identified all the critical sources, effective intervention (elimination or significant reduction) is unachievable. Determining how and when Campylobacter spp. infects these internal organs could provide important information in determining intervention strategies for reducing Campylobacter spp. in broiler and broiler breeder flocks.
Outlook Whether long-term reservoirs are established and ultimately contribute to contamination of intestinal and reproductive tracts via these routes has not yet been determined. Elimination or reduction of Campylobacter from poultry at the farm continuum prior to processing is potentially a cost effective solution for management of this public health problem.
Publications 40 years - 700 publications - 7 patents - Books / Book Chapters - Middle age - Old age
Bureau of Animal Industry Established 1884- becomes an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Daniel Elmer Salmon (1850-1914), 1914), Chief of the Veterinary Division of the Bureau of Animal Industry
Cause of Death Overview Death per 1,000,000 / yr Heart disease 2800 All cancers 2050 Pneumonia 320 Diabetes 230 Motor vehicle accidents 160 Homicide 80 Falls 50 Foodborne bacteria 36 Accidental poisoning 30 Fires or drowning 15 Electric current 2 Lightning 0.2 Falling aircraft 0.06 Hurricane 0.04