Study on the epidemiology and control of Campylobacter jejuni in poultry broiler flocks

• Published in: Applied and Environmental Microbiology 1992-06, Vol.58 (6), p.1913-1917
• Main Authors: VAN DE GIESSEN, A, MAZURIER, S.-I, JACOBS-REITSMA, W. J, JANSEN, W, BERKERS, P, RITMEESTER, W, WERNARS, K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteria; Bacterial Typing Techniques; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Biology; broiler chickens; campylobacter; Campylobacter Infections - epidemiology; Campylobacter Infections - prevention & control; Campylobacter Infections - veterinary; Campylobacter jejuni; Campylobacter jejuni - classification; Campylobacter jejuni - genetics; Campylobacter jejuni - isolation & purification; Chickens - microbiology; control de enfermedades; controle de maladies; disease control; disease transmission; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; epidemiologia; epidemiologie; epidemiology; Food Microbiology; Foodborne Diseases - prevention & control; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenteritis - prevention & control; hatos; herds; Humans; Life Sciences; Longitudinal Studies; Microbiology; Pathogenicity, virulence, toxins, bacteriocins, pyrogens, host-bacteria relations, miscellaneous strains; pollo de engorde; poulet de chair; Poultry; Poultry Diseases - epidemiology; Poultry Diseases - prevention & control; Poultry Diseases - transmission; serotipos; serotype; serotypes; Serotyping; transmision de enfermedades; transmission des maladies; troupeau
• ISSN: 0099-2240; 1098-5336
• DOI: 10.1128/aem.58.6.1913-1917.1992

Broiler flocks are frequently infected with Campylobacter jejuni. The origin of the infection is still unclear. The question of whether colonization of flocks results from transmission of C. jejuni from breeder flocks to progeny (vertical transmission) or from environmental sources horizontal transmission) remains to be answered. Therefore, in this study samples were taken from successive broiler flocks in two broiler houses (house A on farm A and house B1 on farm B) as well as from the environment of the houses. All C. jejuni isolates were typed by using the Penner serotyping system, and part of the isolates from farm B were typed by using a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-typing system. In poultry house A, C. jejuni was isolated from the first flock but not from subsequent flocks. In poultry house B1, C. jejuni strains of the same Penner serotypes and exhibiting identical DNA profiles were isolated from successive flocks. Infection of the flocks from a common source via horizontal pathways is suspected, while a vertical route of infection is not likely to exist. Application of measures to control horizontal transmission of C. jejuni on farm B was successful.