Heterophil Phagocytic Activity Stimulated by L61 and L55 Supplementation in Broilers with Infection

Newborn chicks are susceptible to Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Lactobacillus probiotic isolated from chicken feces on heterophil phagocytosis in broiler chicks. A total of 150 newborn broiler chicks were divided into 5 groups (30 chicks per group) as follows: group 1 (normal control), given feed and water only, group 2 (positive control) given feed, water and SE infection, group 3 (L61 treated) given feed, water, SE infection followed by Lactobacillus salivarius L61 treatment, group 4 (L55 treated) given feed, water, SE infection followed by L. salivarius L55 treatment, and group 5 given feed, water, SE infection followed by L. salivarius L61 + L55 combination treatment. After SE infection, L. salivarius treatment lasted for 7 days. The results showed that L. salivarius L61 and L. salivarius L55 treatment, either alone or combination of both, increased the survival rate after SE infection, and upregulated heterophil phagocytosis and phagocytic index (PI). Conversely, chick groups treated with Lactobacillus showed lower SE recovery rate from cecal tonsils than that of the positive control group. The PI values of the chicken group with SE infection, followed by the combination of L. salivarius L61 and L. salivarius L55 were the highest as compared to either positive control or normal control group. Two Lactobacillus strains supplementation group showed significantly (p<0.05) higher PI value at 48 h than 24 h after treatment

Is water at farms a source of Campylobacter spp. contamination in live chickens in Khon Kaen Province of Thailand?

This study is the first to quantify the Campylobacter contamination in chicken farm waters. Water samples from 10 broiler chicken farms in Khon Kaen, Thailand, were collected during winter, summer, and rainy season. Four types of water i.e. 3 drinking water, 1 main tank water, 1 evaporative pond water, and 1 environmental water sample were collected at each farm twice during 1-15, and 16-35 days of rearing. In total, 360 water samples were sampled. The overall occurrence rate of contamination was 0.3% (1/360). Only 1 environmental water sample (1.7%, 1/60) was found contaminated with Campylobacter species. Water collected during the later stage of rearing (16-35 days) was positive for Campylobacter spp. contamination. The extent of contamination was greater than 230 MPN/100 ml. However, drinking and main tank water were free of Campylobacter spp. contamination