Chitosan Supplementation Reduces Enteric Colonization of Campylobacter jejuni in Broiler Chickens and Down-Regulates Expression of Colonization Genes.
Campylobacter is prevalent in most poultry flocks and a reduction of Campylobacter in poultry
would greatly reduce the risk of campylobacteriosis in humans. Unfortunately, efforts to reduce
Campylobacter in pre-harvest poultry have been met with limited success. Preliminary studies
with the natural compound, chitosan, demonstrate its ability to kill Campylobacter, in vitro. The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of feed supplemented chitosan to reduce enteric Campylobacter colonization in broiler chickens. Additionally, the effect of chitosan on expression of Campylobacter’s chicken colonization genes.
It is possible this will enhance the efficacy of chitosan as proposed by Qin and co-workers.39 Acidifying water lines is already being performed in some poultry operations, which can reduce another foodborne pathogen, Salmonella; thereby, this aids in the reduction of Campylobacter
as well in the water lines and during feed withdrawal prior to processing, without altering the gut epithelium. Thus, acidifying water in poultry houses could have a number of positive effects on bird health and reduce the potential zoonotic transfer of pathogens to humans. This possibility is currently under investigation.
Acidifying water lines is already being performed in some poultry operations, which can reduce another foodborne pathogen, Salmonella;22 thereby, this aids in the reduction of Campylobacter
as well in the water lines and during feed withdrawal prior to processing, without altering the gut epithelium. Thus, acidifying water in poultry houses could have a number of positive effects on bird health and reduce the potential zoonotic transfer of pathogens to humans. This possibility is currently under investigation.
Adv Food Technol Nutr Sci Open J. 2015; 1(5): 104-111. doi:10.17140/AFTNSOJ-1-119
