Navigation

P2-54 Prevalence and Characterization of Antimicrobial-resistant Campylobacter Isolated from Eggshells in Different Commercial Laying Hen Housing Systems

Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Exhibit Hall (Tampa Convention Center)
Estefania Novoa Rama , Purdue University , West Lafayette , IN
Matthew Bailey , Purdue University , West Lafayette , IN
Deana Jones , U.S. Department of Agriculture–ARS , Athens , GA
Richard Gast , USDA/U.S. National Poultry Research Center , Athens , GA
Kenneth Anderson , North Carolina State University, Prestage Department of Poultry Science , Raleigh , NC
Jagpinder Brar , Purdue University , West Lafayette , IN
Rhonda Taylor , Purdue University , West Lafayette , IN
Haley Oliver , Purdue University , West Lafayette , IN
Manpreet Singh , University of Georgia , Athens , GA
Introduction:  Antimicrobial resistant Campylobacter is one of the major threats to public health in the United States, with 310,000 hospitalizations reported by the CDC annually. Campylobacter related illnesses have an associated annual cost of $1.9 billion, and over half is due to the neurological disease known as Guillain-Barré syndrome. High prevalence of Campylobacter in the internal organs of laying hens has been reported in recent years, thus, concerns with egg safety are on the rise.

Purpose:  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different layer housing systems on the prevalence, persistence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter isolated from commercial laying hens.

Methods:  Over 10 months, 355 samples were collected from five different housing types. A total of 123 isolates recovered from environmental and eggshell samples were presumptively identified as Campylobacter spp. by serological tests. Subsequent biochemical identification and real-time PCR assays were performed for confirmation of Campylobacter. Antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter was determined using the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) protocol and genetic variability was assessed by PFGE.

Results:  Following PCR, 58% of isolates were confirmed as Campylobacter spp., with 91.7% being Campylobacter jejuni and 8.3% being Campylobacter coli. Samples taken from conventional cages had the highest Campylobacter prevalence (23.21%) while those recovered from enrichable cages had the lowest (13.33%). Results demonstrated a high resistance to tetracycline (58%) followed by resistance to nalidixic acid (1.4%); both important antimicrobials for human medicine. The PFGE fingerprinting of Campylobacter isolates showed nine types with one leading PFGE type comprising 39% of isolates. Results showed no correlation (P>0.05) between Campylobacter prevalence and antimicrobial resistance among the housing types studied.

Significance:  Findings from this study are concerning and illustrate the need for appropriate interventions to prevent drug-resistant Campylobacter spread among laying hens.

Back to: Poster Session 2 – Food Chemical Hazards and Food Allergens, Food Toxicology, Meat, Poultry and Eggs, Epidemiology, Retail and Food Service Safety, Communication Outreach and Education, Molecular Analytics, Genomics and Microbiome, Laboratory and Detection Methods, and Dairy
<< Previous Abstract | Next Abstract >>