ARS | Publication request: Inactivation of Salmonella Enteritidis and Campylobacter jejuni in Poultry Drinking Water by trans-cinnamaldehyde

Submitted to: Annual Meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 14, 2008
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Salmonella Enteritidis and Campylobacter jejuni are two major food-borne pathogens in the US, accounting to more than 3 million cases of human illness annually. Chickens are the natural hosts of these bacteria. Poultry drinking water can be a potential source of S. Enteritidis and C.jejuni, resulting in their colonization in birds. In this study, trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC), a natural, GRAS ingredient in cinnamon oil was evaluated for its efficacy to inactivate S. Enteritidis and C.jejuni in chicken drinking water. Well water containing 0, 0.016, 0.03 and 0.06% TC were inoculated with a five-strain mixture of S. Enteritidis or C. jejuni (~ 6 log CFU/ml). Water samples containing 1% poultry feces or feed were also included. The samples were incubated at 12.5 or 25C for 7 days, and analyzed for bacterial population on days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7. Duplicate samples of treatments and control were included, and the study was replicated thrice. Trans-cinnamaldehyde at 0.06% inactivated Salmonella completely after 24 h in water with 1% feces at both temperatures, relative to controls. In water containing 1% feed, TC (0.06%) reduced S. Enteritidis to undetectable levels after 3 days at 12.5C or 7 days at 25C. Presence of feed or feces in water reduced the antibacterial effect (P < 0.01) of TC. The effect of TC on C. jejuni was more pronounced than that on S. Enteritidis. TC at 0.06% completely inactivated the pathogen after one day of incubation at both temperatures. The presence of feces or feed did not have any effect (P < 0.01) on the antibacterial property of TC on C. jejuni. Results indicate that TC is effective in killing S. Enteritidis and C.jejuni in poultry drinking water, and could potentially be used to control these pathogens in poultry drinking water on farms.