Campylobacter jejunitransmission and colonisation in broiler chickens is inhibited by Faecal Microbiota Transplantation

Abstract

BACKGROUNDCampylobacter jejuni, the most frequent cause of foodborne bacterial infection, is found on around 70% of retail chicken. As such there is a need for effective controls in chicken production. Microbial-based controls such as probiotics are attractive to the poultry industry, but of limited efficacy. Furthermore, as commercially-produced chickens have no maternal contact, their pioneer microbiome is likely to come from the hatchery environment. Early delivery of microbials that lead to a more ‘natural avian’ microbiome may, therefore, improve bird health and reduce susceptibility to C.jejuni colonisation.A faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) was used to transfer a mature cecal microbiome to newly-hatched broiler chicks and its effects on C.jejuni challenge assessed. We used both a seeder-bird infection model that mimics natural bird-to-bird infection alongside a direct-challenge model. We used a 16S rRNA gene sequencing-based approach to characterize the transplant material itself alongside changes to the chicken microbiome following FMT.RESULTSFMT changes the composition of the chicken intestinal microbiome. We observed little change in species richness following FMT compared to untreated samples, but there is an increase in phylogenetic diversity within those species. The most significant difference in the ceca is an increase in Lactobacilli, although not a major component of the transplant material, suggesting the FMT results in a change in the intestinal milieu as much as a direct change to the microbiome.Upon direct challenge, FMT resulted in lower initial intestinal colonisation with C.jejuni. More significantly, in a seeder-bird challenge of infection transmission, FMT reduced transmission and intestinal colonisation until common UK retail age of slaughter. In a repeat experiment, transmission was completely blocked following FMT treatment. Delayed FMT administration at 7 days of-age had limited effect on colonisation and transmission.CONCLUSIONSWe show that transfer of a whole mature microbiome to newly-hatched chicks reduces transmission and colonisation of C.jejuni. This indicates that modification of the broiler chick microbiome can reduce intestinal colonisation of C.jejuni to levels projected to lead to lower the human infection rate. We believe these findings offer a way to identify key taxa or consortia that are effective in reducing C.jejuni colonisation and improving broiler gut health.

Role of Cecal Microbiota in the Differential Resistance of Inbred Chicken Lines to Colonization by Campylobacter jejuni

“…A similar separation of caecal microbial communities by the recipient line was detected ( Figure 6), which was significantly different at the latter two time-points, possibly owing to the higher number of birds analysed. As we only examined C. jejuni colonization of the caeca of lines 6 1 and N for parity with preceding studies (6, 7), we cannot preclude the possibility that microbial transplants may have affected faecal excretion of Campylobacter and bird-to-bird transmission, as was reported to be significantly impaired following faecal microbiota transplantation in a seeder-bird challenge model up to a typical slaughter age of broiler chickens (19).…”

“…Recent evidence in mice (41) highlights variability in the effect of the transplant when using recipient mice of different ages. Indeed, it has been reported that while faecal microbiota transfer reduced C. jejuni colonization and transmission when given to neonatal chicks, it had little impact when administration was delayed to day 7 of age (19). The observations of these authors indicates that the concept of microbiota transplantation has merit, however, while they found the microbiota of recipients to be affected by the transplant, they too observed expansion of OTUs that were not a major component of the transplanted material days post-infection and significant differences were identified using a one-way two-sided ANOVA (Minitab, UK).…”

“…Furthermore, faecal microbiota transplants are now accepted treatments for acute and recurrent Clostridium difficile infections in humans, even in cases where antibiotic treatment failed (17; 18). The rationale for our study is given further impetus by the recent observation that introduction of adult microbiota into flocks of neonatal chicks has a mild protective effect against Campylobacter colonization and altered the gut microbiome (19).…”

“…(e.g. Lactobacilli;19). This may indicate that the transplant changes the gut environment to favour other microbes, as much as transfer them directly.…”

Evaluation of Glycosylated FlpA and SodB as Subunit Vaccines Against Campylobacter jejuni Colonisation in Chickens

“…Studies using contaminated litter or involving indirect challenge via the introduction of 'seeder' birds colonised by C. jejuni would have merit because they simulate field exposure. Indeed, in a study on the effect of faecal microbiota transplants on C. jejuni colonisation in chickens, the protective effect was greater in a seeder-bird challenge model than following oral gavage with C. jejuni [48].…”