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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #307439
Title: Seroprevalence in chickens against Campylobacter jejuni flagellar capping protein (FliD) in selected areas of the United States

Author
item Yeh, Hung Yueh
item Hiett, Kelli
item Line, John
item JAGNE, JARRA - Cornell University
item LAUER, DALE - University Of Minnesota

Submitted to: Zoonoses and Public Health
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/17/2015
Publication Date: 11/25/2015
Citation: Yeh, H., Hiett, K.L., Line, J.E., Jagne, J.F., Lauer, D.C. 2015. Seroprevalence in chickens against Campylobacter jejuni flagellar capping protein (FliD) in selected areas of the United States. Zoonoses and Public Health. 63(4):265-70. doi: 10.1111/zph.12237. epub 2015 Nov 25.

Interpretive Summary: Campylobacter jejuni is a causative pathogen of human acute bacterial gastroenteritis. Poultry products are regarded as a major source for infection. In this study we used the FliD protein to survey the prevalence of C. jejuni antibodies in chickens from two areas in U.S. A total of 394 samples was tested. Positive samples ranged from 7 to 100%, suggesting anti-FliD antibodies were prevalent in the poultry population, and chickens had been exposed to C. jejuni.

Technical Abstract: Campylobacter jejuni, a Gram-negative rod, is a zoonotic pathogen associated with human acute bacterial gastroenteritis. Poultry products are regarded as a major source for human infection with this microorganism. We have demonstrated that the flagellar capping protein (FliD) of C. jejuni is highly homologous among strains/isolates of this microorganism, and is antigenic as analyzed by immunoblot in broiler chickens. In this study we used the FliD protein as a probe to survey the prevalence of antibodies against C. jejuni in chickens, broilers and layers, from two areas in the U.S. A total of 394 serum samples was tested by immunoblot analysis. Positive serum samples ranged from 7 to 100%. Sera from layer breeders, 44-52 weeks of age, from the north Atlantic area, tested 100% positive, while four to six-week broilers, originating from 22 premises in the upper Midwest showed 7-100% positive. These results indicate that the anti-Campylobacter FliD antibodies in chickens were prevalent in the poultry population, suggesting that chickens had been exposed to C. jejuni (but not just as a commensal in chicken guts) and developed antibodies against this microorganism. Further, these results provide a rationale for evaluating whether this flagellar capping protein might be an efficacious vaccine candidate for the reduction of Campylobacter spp. in poultry, thus providing safer poultry products for human consumption.