Research Note: Gut instincts: Salmonella contamination based on monitoring systems in the broiler sector.

Salmonellosis is the second most important zoonosis in Europe, with consumption of contaminated broiler meat and its derivative products as an important source of infection. One of the many measures to prevent Salmonella contamination of poultry meat at the slaughterhouses is logistic slaughter, this means that per day the contaminated flocks are slaughtered after the Salmonella free flocks. However, this principle relies on a monitoring system at farm level that is prone to false negatives.

Exploring Feed Digestibility and Broiler Performance in Response to Dietary Supplementation of .

This study evaluated the feed digestibility of diets including autotrophic in 252 male broilers (Ross 308), comparing unprocessed biomass (trial 1) and pulsed electric field (PEF) processed biomass (trial 2) at inclusion levels up to 20%. In trial 2, performance and meat color were also evaluated. Each trial included seven treatments (0%, 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% (%/ on dry matter (DM)) ) with six replicates (three birds per replicate) per treatment.

Awareness of Poultry Farmers of Interconnected Health Risks: A Cross-Sectional Study on Mycotoxins, Biosecurity, and Salmonellosis in Jimma, Ethiopia.

Poultry farming in Ethiopia is crucial for food security and income, but it faces significant challenges due to gaps in farmer awareness. A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Biocheck.UGent™ biosecurity scoring system and a questionnaire to evaluate poultry farmers' basic and practical knowledge concerning salmonellosis and mycotoxins.

Clostridium perfringens chitinases, key enzymes during early stages of necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens.

The interaction between bacteria and the intestinal mucus is crucial during the early pathogenesis of many enteric diseases in mammals. A critical step in this process employed by both commensal and pathogenic bacteria focuses on the breakdown of the protective layer presented by the intestinal mucus by mucolytic enzymes. C.

Oral vaccination of young broilers with a live Typhimurium vaccine reduces caecal and internal organ colonization following a Infantis challenge in a seeder-bird model.

Poultry products are an important source of foodborne infections in humans. Amongst these, the prevalence of Infantis is rising. In this study, the protection efficacy of an authorized live-attenuated Typhimurium vaccine against Infantis, was examined using a seeder-bird model in broilers.

The Genetic Landscape of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Broiler Isolates.

is associated with bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) in broilers. Prophylactic treatment with antimicrobials is common in the poultry industry, and, in the case of outbreaks, antimicrobial treatment is needed. In this study, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and epidemiological cutoff (ECOFF) values (CO) for ten antimicrobials were determined in a collection of strains.

Endotoxin Translocation Is Increased in Broiler Chickens Fed a Mycotoxin-Contaminated Diet.

Broiler chickens in livestock production face numerous challenges that can impact their health and welfare, including mycotoxin contamination and heat stress. In this study, we aimed to investigate the combined effects of two mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisins (FBs), along with short-term heat stress conditions, on broiler gut health and endotoxin translocation. An experiment was conducted to assess the impacts of mycotoxin exposure on broilers, focusing on intestinal endotoxin activity, gene expression related to gut barrier function and inflammation, and the plasma concentration of the endotoxin marker 3-OH C14:0 either at thermoneutral conditions or short-term heat stress conditions.

Prevalence and serotype of poultry salmonellosis in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Salmonellosis represents a significant economic and public health concern for the poultry industry in Africa, leading to substantial economic losses due to mortality, reduced productivity, and food safety problems. However, comprehensive information on the burden of poultry salmonellosis at the continental level is scarce. To address this gap, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to consolidate information on the prevalence and circulating serotypes of poultry salmonellosis in African countries.

Pulsed electric field (PEF) processing of microalga Chlorella vulgaris and its digestibility in broiler feed.

Microalgae have potentially beneficial effects on animal health and nutritional value when added to feed. Crucial hereby is that intracellular bio-active molecules are released in the intestinal tract. Digestibility of Chlorella vulgaris and its impact on total digestibility of broiler feed is a first step in assessing its characteristics as feed supplement.

Modulation of Broiler Intestinal Changes Induced by and Deoxynivalenol through Probiotic, Paraprobiotic, and Postbiotic Supplementation.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a predisposing factor for necrotic enteritis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a DON and (CP) challenge on the intestinal morphology, morphometry, oxidative stress, and immune response of broilers. Additionally, we evaluated the potential of a spp.

Berberine-microbiota interplay: orchestrating gut health through modulation of the gut microbiota and metabolic transformation into bioactive metabolites.

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid found in plants. It presents a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, despite a low oral bioavailability. Growing evidence suggests that the gut microbiota is the target of berberine, and that the microbiota metabolizes berberine to active metabolites, although little evidence exists in the specific species involved in its therapeutic effects.

and are the dominant bacterial families translocating to femur heads in broiler chicks.

Large number of bacteria isolated from femoral heads of clinically healthy broilers.The prevailing taxa in femoral heads were and spp.Continuous presence of bacteria in blood and liver of clinically healthy broilers.

Digital PCR: a tool in clostridial mutant selection and detection.

The ClosTron mutagenesis system has enabled researchers to efficiently edit the clostridial genome. Since site-specific insertion of the mobile ClosTron insert may cause errors, validation is key. In this paper we describe the use of digital PCR (dPCR) as an alternative tool in selecting clostridial mutant strains.

The fecal biomarker ovotransferrin associates with broiler performance under field conditions.

Broilers often suffer from subclinical intestinal health problems of ill-defined etiology, which have a negative impact on performance. Macroscopic and microscopic evaluations can be used to monitor intestinal health, but because these are subjective and time-consuming, respectively, objective and easy-to-measure biomarkers are urgently needed. Fecal biomarkers can potentially be used as noninvasive, objective measures to evaluate gut health in broilers.

Guar gum as galactomannan source induces dysbiosis and reduces performance in broiler chickens and dietary β-mannanase restores the gut homeostasis.

Galactomannans are abundant nonstarch polysaccharides in broiler feed ingredients. In broilers, diets with high levels of galactomannans have been associated with innate immune response stimulation, poor zootechnical performance, nutrient and lipid absorption, and excessive digesta viscosity. However, data about its effects on the gut microbiome are scarce.

Poultry gut health and beyond.

Intestinal health is critically important for the digestion and absorption of nutrients and thus is a key factor in determining performance. Intestinal health issues are very common in high performing poultry lines due to the high feed intake, which puts pressure on the physiology of the digestive system. Excess nutrients which are not digested and absorbed in the small intestine may trigger dysbiosis, i.

Broiler performance correlates with gut morphology and intestinal inflammation under field conditions.

Maintaining optimal gut health is a key driver for a well-performing broiler flock. Histology of intestinal sections and quantification of villus structure can be used to evaluate gut health. While these measurements have been used in experimental models to evaluate gut health, less is known about the associations of these parameters with performance in commercial broiler farms.

Iohexol is an intestinal permeability marker in broilers under coccidiosis challenge.

Intestinal integrity losses have been identified as a main driver for poor performance in broilers. The oral administration of markers such as iohexol is a major asset for measuring intestinal permeability (IP) alterations. The aim of the current study was to evaluate oral iohexol administration and serum levels as a quantitative measure for IP in Ross 308 broilers and to identify possible associations with histologic measurements.

Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis related Enterococcus cecorum isolates are genetically distinct from the commensal population and are more virulent in an embryo mortality model.

Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) is a common cause of broiler lameness. Bacteria that are found in BCO lesions are intestinal bacteria that are proposed to have translocated through the intestinal epithelium and have spread systemically. One of the specific bacterial species frequently isolated in BCO cases is Enterococcus cecorum.

Clostridium perfringens strains proliferate to high counts in the broiler small intestinal tract, in accordance with necrotic lesion severity, and sporulate in the distal intestine.

Clostridium (C.) perfringens is the causative agent of necrotic enteritis (NE), an important enteric disease in poultry. Although a variety of virulence factors have been identified and as such the pathogenesis is well studied, data on colonization and sporulation during passage in the intestinal tract are scarce.

A High Dose of Dietary Berberine Improves Gut Wall Morphology, Despite an Expansion of and a Reduction in Beneficial Microbiota in Broiler Chickens.

Phytogenic products are embraced as alternatives to antimicrobials, and some are known to mitigate intestinal inflammation and ensure optimal gut health and performance in broiler chickens. Dietary inclusion of berberine, a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid found in plants, is believed to exert gut health-promoting effects through modulation of the gut microbiota; however, there are only a few studies investigating its effects in chickens. The aim of this study was to investigate the interplay between dietary supplementation of a high concentration of berberine, the gastrointestinal microbiota, and histomorphological parameters in the gut.

Hemorrhagic bowel syndrome in dairy cattle: Gross, histological, and microbiological characterization.

Hemorrhagic bowel syndrome (HBS) is a sporadic and fatal disease of predominantly lactating dairy cattle, characterized by segmental hemorrhage and luminal clot formation in the small intestine. Although, and have been associated with HBS, the pathogenesis and cause are currently unknown. In this study, 18 naturally occurring cases of HBS (7 necropsied immediately following euthanasia, 11 with 12-48 hour postmortem intervals) were investigated to characterize the pathology and the intestinal microbiome.

Development of a duplex qPCR for the differentiation of a live attenuated Escherichia coli aroA mutant vaccine strain from field isolates in chickens.

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) can cause colibacillosis in poultry, characterised by localised or systemic infections. Colibacillosis is considered one of the leading causes of economic losses in the poultry industry due to reduced performance, increased mortality, treatment costs and carcass condemnations. A live attenuated Escherichia coli O78 aroA gene mutant is widely used to prevent disease.

The in vitro effect of lactose on Clostridium perfringens alpha toxin production and the implications of lactose consumption for in vivo anti-alpha toxin antibody production.

Necro-hemorrhagic enteritis in calves, caused by Clostridium perfringens type A, is a fatal disease, mostly affecting calves in intensive rearing systems. The lack of development of active immunity against α toxin, an essential virulence factor in the pathogenesis, has been proposed as a main trigger. In this experimental study, the effect of a set of milk replacer components on α toxin production, and the effect of lactose on in vivo antibody production, were investigated.

Effects of the dietary zinc source and vitamin E level on live weight and carcass yield and meat quality in male broilers reared under chronic cyclic heat stress conditions in the finisher phase.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the interaction of the zinc source (ZnSO vs. zinc amino acid complex) and vitamin E level (50 IU/kg vs. 100 IU/kg) on meat yield and quality in broilers subjected to chronic cyclic heat stress in the finisher phase.