Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #140762

Title: TRANSLOCATION OF CAMPYLOBACTER, SALMONELLA AND CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS TO SEVERAL LYMPHOID ORGANS FOLLOWING ORAL OR INTRACLOACAL INOCULATION OF BROILER CHICKS

Author
item Cox Jr, Nelson
item HOFACRE, C - UGA
item Bailey, Joseph
item Buhr, Richard - Jeff
item WILSON, J - UGA
item Cosby, Douglas
item Musgrove, Michael
item Richardson, Larry
item Tankson, Jeanetta
item VIZZIER, Y - MISSISSIPPI ST UNIV

Submitted to: Southern Poultry Science Society Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/4/2004
Publication Date: 7/27/2004
Citation: Cox, Jr., N.A., Hofacre, C.L., Bailey, J.S., Buhr, R.J., Wilson, J.L., Cosby, D.E., Musgrove, M.T., Richardson, L.J., Tankson, J.D., Vizzier, Y.L. 2004. Translocation of Campylobacter, Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens to several lymphoid organs following oral or intracloacal inoculation of broiler chicks [abstract]. Southern Poultry Science Society Meeting Abstracts. 82(suppl.1):113.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Day old broiler chicks were either orally or intracloacally inoculated with a 100ul suspension containing 106-109 cells of one of three marker strains of either Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella spp. or Clostridium perfringens. At one hour, one day and one week following inoculation, five birds from each group were euthanized by cervical dislocation. The bursa of Fabricius, ceca, liver/gallbladder, spleen and thymus were aseptically removed and individually cultured for the appropriate bacterial species. Each of the inoculation routes for the three bacteria was replicated twice. Regardless of route of inoculation, after one hour Salmonella and Clostridium were isolated from all allocated sample sites, while Campylobacter were only isolated from the ceca, bursa and spleen. By 24 hours, all three bacteria were isolated from all five-sample sites. Seven days post inoculation Clostridium perfringens were no longer isolated from any samples and the presence of Campylobacter was approximately the same as it was after 24 hours. However, Salmonella was isolated from a majority (75%) of all tissues. Results indicate that Salmonella translocated more often via the intracloacal route, while Campylobacter were more likely to appear in the liver, spleen or thymus via the oral route. No differences between routes were observed for Clostridium perfringens. This study demonstrated that Salmonella, Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens could rapidly invade and colonize lymphoid organs of the baby chick. Whether or not these bacteria develop long-term reservoirs in breeders and ultimately contribute to broiler flock contamination is not yet known.