Premium
Development of a feed additive to reduce caecal C ampylobacter jejuni in broilers at slaughter age: from in vitro to in vivo , a proof of concept
Author(s) -
Grilli E.,
Vitari F.,
Domeneghini C.,
Palmonari A.,
Tosi G.,
Fantinati P.,
Massi P.,
Piva A.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/jam.12053
Subject(s) - humanities , library science , art , computer science
Abstract Aim In vitro and in vivo challenge studies were undertaken to develop an in‐feed additive of microencapsulated propionic, sorbic acids and pure botanicals to control C ampylobacter jejuni in broilers at slaughter age. Methods and Results Organic acids ( OA ) and pure botanicals were tested in vitro against C amp. jejuni , whereas in vivo , chickens were fed either a control diet, or increasing doses of the additive for 42 days (experiment 1); in the second experiment, chickens received the additive at 0·1 or 0·3% from day 0 to 21 or from day 22 to 42. The additive consistently reduced C amp. jejuni caecal counts at any given dose (exp. 1) or inclusion plan (exp. 2). Moreover, it was able to reduce the number of goblet cells and modify mucin glycoconjugates biosynthesis pattern. Conclusions We developed an additive that was effective in reducing C amp. jejuni in slaughter‐age chickens even at low doses (0·1%). That efficacy was the result of the synergistic action between OA and botanicals. Significance and Impact of the Study This study provides a strategy to reduce C amp. jejuni in broilers and, as a consequence, to improve the safety of the food chain. Moreover, data suggest that a treatment limited to the last weeks before slaughter would allow to save on inclusion of the additive throughout the whole production cycle.