Potentials for Colonization Control of Campylobacter jejuni in the Chicken

Abstract

Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of enteritis in humans. Chicken is the most important vehicle in transmitting the agent to humans in the United States. The organism colonizes the intestinal tract of the chicken and there enters into a non-pathologic, commensal relation. During slaughter and processing the organism can, and does, adulterate the product. Unsuccessful attempts have been made to “clean” the contaminated carcasses or provide pathogen free flocks and rearing facilities. Therefore, the approach to intervene and diminish C. jejuni in the intestinal tract is now being studied. We have been gathering background data on colonization dose, isolate differences regarding colonization, competitive exclusion, expression of outer membrane proteins by the organism, immune response of the chicken to colonization, antibody neutralization of colonization, and how poultry lineage influences susceptibility to colonization. By using this information we hope to diminish colonization of poultry with C. jejuni.