Effect of dietary supplementation of essential oils, eugenol or trans-cinnamaldehyde, on enteric colonization of Campylobacter in broiler chickens

Authors: ARSI, KOMALA - University Of Arkansas; Donoghue, Ann - Annie; METCALF, JOEL - University Of Arkansas; DONOGHUE, DAN - University Of Arkansas

Submitted to: International Journal of Advances in Science Engineering and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/19/2019
Publication Date: 6/18/2019
Citation: Arsi, K., Donoghue, A.M., Metcalf, J.H., Donoghue, D.J. 2019. Effect of dietary supplementation of essential oils, eugenol or trans-cinnamaldehyde, on enteric colonization of campylobacter in broiler chickens. International Journal of Advances in Science Engineering and Technology. 7:(1-2):30-32.

Interpretive Summary: Campylobacter, a known human pathogen, is a major cause of bacterial diarrhea, and poultry has been identified as a significant reservoir of Campylobacter. Campylobacter is commonly found in poultry flocks in the United States and other parts of the world and it is difficult to prevent contamination and spread among poultry flocks. A reduction in intestinal Campylobacter counts in preharvest poultry would reduce the likelihood of producing contaminated poultry products, which could drastically reduce the incidence of human illness caused by this pathogen. In an effort to reduce enteric cecal Campylobacter concentrations in preharvest poultry, two essential oil extracts were evaluated for their inhibitory effect on Campylobacter: eugenol, a clove extract, and trans-cinnamaldehyde, an extract of cinnamon. In three replicate trials (n=90/trial), day of hatch chicks were allocated into nine treatment groups and received either 0% or 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.8% eugenol or trans-cinnamaldehyde in feed for 14 days prior to necropsy (n=10/group/trial). Chicks were challenged in all trials with C. jejuni 72 h after the start of experiment and sacrificed on day 14 to measure cecal Campylobacter counts. Enteric Campylobacter counts were reduced in the 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.4% eugenol or 0.4% trans-cinnamaldehyde treatment groups in 2 out of 3 trials when compared to the positive controls. In conclusion, in-feed supplementation of select doses of eugenol or trans-cinnamaldehyde had inconsistent effects when used to prophylactically reduce Campylobacter colonization in 14 d broiler chicks. Further research is necessary to determine the exact mechanism by which in vivo conditions limit the activity of eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde-treated feed against Campylobacter.

Technical Abstract: Campylobacter is a leading cause of foodborne bacterial enteritis in humans. Consumption or mishandling of contaminated poultry products are one of the most significant sources of Campylobacter infection in humans. A reduction in intestinal Campylobacter counts in preharvest poultry would reduce the likelihood of producing contaminated poultry products, which could drastically reduce the incidence of human illness caused by this pathogen. This study evaluated the efficacy of in-feed supplementation of two generally recognized as safe (GRAS) compounds, eugenol (a clove extract) and trans-cinnamaldehyde (an extract of cinnamon), for their ability to reduce enteric colonization of Campylobacter in broiler chickens. In three replicated trials, day of hatch chicks (N=90 birds/trial) were allocated into nine treatment groups and received either 0% or 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.8% eugenol or trans-cinnamaldehyde in feed for 14 days prior to necropsy (n=10 birds/treatment). Chicks were challenged in all trials with C. jejuni 72 h after the start of experiment and ceca were collected on day 14 for enumeration of cecal Campylobacter counts. Enteric Campylobacter counts were reduced for 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.4% eugenol or 0.4% trans-cinnamaldehyde treatment groups in 2 out of 3 trials when compared to the positive controls. Although these treatments demonstrated some efficacy, they did not consistently reduce cecal Campylobacter in all three trials.