ARS | Publication request: Campylobacter: vertical transmission

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: August 10, 2010
Publication Date: October 6, 2010
Citation: Cox Jr, N.A., Berrang, M.E., Richardson, L.J. 2010. Campylobacter: vertical transmission.Proceedings 33rd Annual North Carolina Turkey Industry Days Conference. Oct 6-7, 2010. Section 8:1-5. (P)

Technical Abstract: Campylobacter enteritis is a multi-billion dollar disease and the consumption of poultry is considered to be a primary source for resultant clinical infections in humans. The pathways involved in the infection of poultry flocks with Campylobacter have remained unclear the past two decades. Transmission of Campylobacter from the parent breeder flock through the fertile egg has been universally dismissed as a source of entry into the broiler flocks primarily because Campylobacter was not cultured from hatchery samples or from newly hatched chicks. In the past 10 years, evidence continues to mount and at present there are many published studies that prove that Campylobacter are present in the hatchery, the breeder flocks, the fertile egg and the chicks prior to exposure to any possible environmental sources. It is becoming increasingly obvious that egg passage is a real and serious source of this organism that will always be an issue and needs to be properly addressed to combat Campylobacter contamination of commercial poultry.