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Title: RECOVERY OF CAMPYLOBACTER JEJUNI IN THE FECES AND SEMEN OF CAGED BROILER BREEDER ROOSTERS FOLLOWING THREE ROUTES OF INOCULATION

Author
item Buhr, Richard - Jeff
item Musgrove, Michael
item Richardson, Richard
item Cox Jr, Nelson
item WILSON, J - UGA
item Bailey, Joseph
item Cosby, Douglas
item Bourassa, Dianna

Submitted to: Poultry Science Association
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2002
Publication Date: 8/11/2002
Citation: Buhr, R.J., Wilson, J.L., Cox Jr, N.A., Musgrove, M.T., Richardson, L.J. 2002. Recovery of campylobacter jejuni in the feces, ceca, and semen from broiler breeder roosters following three routes of inoculation. [abstract] Poultry Science. 81(suppl.1):82.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We previously reported the recovery of Campylobacter (naturally colonized) from the ductus deferens of 5/101 roosters at 65 wk-of-age, and that 4 of those 5 positive roosters had previously produced Campylobacter-positive semen samples. These results prompted further evaluation with more refined sampling techniques. Individual caged roosters, that had been confirmed to be feces and semen-negative for Campylobacter, were challenged with a marker strain of Campylobacter jejuni either orally (1.0 mL suspension 4.7x10x6), by dropping 0.1 mL (suspension 4.7x10x7) on the everted phallus (immediately after semen collection), or by dip coating a 1-cm diameter ultrasound probe (dip suspension 4.7x10x7) that was inserted into the cloaca 12 cm beyond the lips of the vent. Five days postinoculation individual feces and semen samples were again collected and cultured. On Day 7, roosters were electrocuted and exsanguinated while suspended by their feet in a processing shackle, and then externally sprayed with 70% ethanol. The abdominal and breast skin-and-feathers were removed toward the head, the rib cage separated at the sternal-vertebral rib junctions, and the breast pulled toward the head exposing the abdominal viscera. One cecum was aseptically collected. A testis was encircled with a suture loop, tied at the hilus, and then lifted out of the abdominal cavity while cutting loose the ductus deferens from the overlying peritoneum. The cut ends of the ductus and testis were ligated, flamed, the external surface sanitized, and then the sample was suspended 1:3 (w/v) in Bolton's enrichment broth for the culture of Campylobacter. For all 15 roosters, Campylobacter was recovered after challenge from feces (log10 5.3 cfu / g sample), semen (log10 3.3 cfu / mL) and a cecum (log10 6.6 cfu / g sample). Campylobacter was not isolated from any testis samples and from only one ductus deferens sample (log10 0.7 cfu / mL sample volume). Campylobacter administered orally, on the phallus, or by ultrasound probe readily colonized the cecum and resulted in positive semen and feces samples from challenged roosters. Although Campylobacter did not colonize the ductus deferens and testes, the production of Campylobacter-positive semen could enable transmission from the rooster to the hen.