Chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis in broilers: further defining a bacterial challenge model using standard litter flooring and protection with probiotics

Abstract

This report demonstrates that high levels of lameness can be induced by a limited bacterial challenge in drinking water for birds raised on litter flooring, comparable with lameness induced by the gold standard for inducing lameness, growth on suspended wire flooring. The bacterium used in the challenge was cultured from lesions in birds induced for bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis ( BCO ) in the wire-flooring model so the epidemiology appears similar. The litter-flooring model could better approximate broiler operations. Furthermore, the work demonstrates that 2 commercial probiotics (GalliProTect and GalliProMax) can reduce lameness in the bacterial challenge litter-flooring model. Lameness attributable to BCO is one of the most significant animal welfare issues for broiler production. The wire-flooring and litter-flooring models afford alternatives for understanding the etiology, and epidemiology of BCO, and development of management strategies to reduce lameness. Probiotics afford a promising management strategy. The results suggest that the probiotic protection may extend beyond just intestinal health and intestinal barrier function.

Chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis in broilers: further defining lameness-inducing models with wire or litter flooring to evaluate protection with organic trace minerals

“…These data extend the range of products that can be used to reduce BCO lameness, highlight the importance of organic trace minerals in improving animal well-being, and provide further validation of the 2 models we have developed to investigate treatments and management strategies for reducing BCO lameness in broiler operations. Our recent work demonstrating that certain probiotics can also reduce BCO lameness ( Alrubaye et al., 2020 ) strongly supports investigations pairing probiotics with Availa-ZMC to determine whether the protective effects are overlapping, additive, or synergistic. The litter flooring model with the bacterial challenge provides an excellent system for evaluation of these interactions.…”

“…In our previous research publications, we had reported that S. agnetis 908 can induce 80 to 90% lameness when administered to birds raised on wire flooring ( Al-Rubaye et al., 2015 ; Al-Rubaye et al., 2017 ). We also demonstrated that S. agnetis 908 can induce 50 to 80% lameness when administered in drinking water to birds raised on litter flooring ( Alrubaye et al., 2020 ). Furthermore, the lameness can be transmitted from the birds challenged with bacteria to unchallenged birds within the same broiler house.…”

“…Furthermore, the lameness can be transmitted from the birds challenged with bacteria to unchallenged birds within the same broiler house. We also demonstrated that specific probiotics in the feed can protect broilers when raised on wire flooring ( Wideman et al., 2012 ; Al-Rubaye et al., 2017 ), but different probiotics in the feed can protect the unchallenged birds in the litter flooring model with the bacterial challenge ( Alrubaye et al., 2020 ). The combination of organic zinc, manganese, and copper has been reported to improve poultry health, reduce bacterial pathogen colonization, and reduce femoral head necrosis ( Sirri et al., 2016 ; McKnight et al., 2020 ).…”

“…Growth on wire flooring increases translocation of bacteria into the blood relative to growth on litter flooring ( Al-Rubaye et al., 2017 ). The litter flooring model with the bacterial challenge involves noncontact spread of the infection from the source population, and we have speculated on whether the infection is through the pulmonary or gastrointestinal path ( Alrubaye et al., 2020 ). The adherent peripheral blood monocyte phagocytosis results suggest that the Availa-ZMC reduces lameness in part by enhanced killing of bacteria that translocate into the blood on either type of flooring ( Al-Rubaye et al., 2017 ).…”

“…The predominant isolates from BCO lesions of birds grown on wire flooring on our research farm are Staphylococcus agnetis , and the BCO lameness is sometimes associated with significant bacteremia ( Al-Rubaye et al., 2015 ). The type strain, S. agnetis 908, when administered in drinking water can induce high levels of lameness in birds grown on wire or on litter ( Al-Rubaye et al., 2015 ; Alrubaye et al., 2020 ). The BCO lameness model has demonstrated the following: 1) translocation of bacteria into blood in birds grown on litter, with higher translocation in birds grown on wire flooring ( Al-Rubaye et al., 2017 ); 2) transmission of BCO-inducing pathogens within a flock ( Al-Rubaye et al., 2017 ) or within a facility ( Alrubaye et al., 2020 ); and 3) protection against BCO-inducing pathogens by probiotics and prebiotics ( Wideman et al., 2012 ; Wideman et al., 2015 ; Wideman, 2016 ; Alrubaye et al., 2020 ).…”