In-Feed Supplementation of trans -Cinnamaldehyde Reduces Layer-Chicken Egg-Borne Transmission of Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis

Abstract

c Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis is a major foodborne pathogen in the United States, causing gastroenteritis in humans, primarily through consumption of contaminated eggs. Chickens are the reservoir host of S. Enteritidis. In layer hens, S. Enteritidis colonizes the intestine and migrates to various organs, including the oviduct, leading to egg contamination. This study investigated the efficacy of in-feed supplementation with trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC), a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) plant compound obtained from cinnamon, in reducing S. Enteritidis cecal colonization and systemic spread in layers. Additionally, the effect of TC on S. Enteritidis virulence factors critical for macrophage survival and oviduct colonization was investigated in vitro. The consumer acceptability of eggs was also determined by a triangle test. Supplementation of TC in feed for 66 days at 1 or 1.5% (vol/wt) for 40-or 25-week-old layer chickens decreased the amounts of S. Enteritidis on eggshell and in yolk (P < 0.001). Additionally, S. Enteritidis persistence in the cecum, liver, and oviduct in TC-supplemented birds was decreased compared to that in controls (P < 0.001). No significant differences in feed intake, body weight, or egg production in birds or in consumer acceptability of eggs were observed (P > 0.05). In vitro cell culture assays revealed that TC reduced S. Enteritidis adhesion to and invasion of primary chicken oviduct epithelial cells and reduced S. Enteritidis survival in chicken macrophages (P < 0.001). Follow-up gene expression analysis using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) showed that TC downregulated the expression of S. Enteritidis virulence genes critical for chicken oviduct colonization (P < 0.001). The results suggest that TC may potentially be used as a feed additive to reduce egg-borne transmission of S. Enteritidis. Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis is one of the major foodborne pathogens in the United States responsible for causing enteric illnesses in humans (1). Eggs are the primary source of S. Enteritidis infection of humans (1, 2). Approximately 90 billion eggs are produced and 67.5 billion shell eggs consumed annually in the United States (3). Thus, the microbiological safety of eggs is a major concern to the government, the poultry industry, and consumers due to the potential impacts on public health and the economy. Chickens act as asymptomatic carriers of S. Enteritidis, resulting in its environmental dissemination and potential infection of humans. Humans contract S. Enteritidis infection via consumption of contaminated, raw, or undercooked eggs, and several epidemiological studies have confirmed this association between human salmonellosis and egg consumption (4, 5).Despite the implementation of various pre-and postharvest control measures, S. Enteritidis remains a major cause of eggborne disease outbreaks in the United States (1). Recently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the incidence of foodborne salmonellosis did not decrease signi...

Gene Expression Response of Salmonella enterica Serotype Enteritidis Phage Type 8 to Subinhibitory Concentrations of the Plant-Derived Compounds Trans-Cinnamaldehyde and Eugenol

“…The increase in the number of outbreaks over the last few decades, where poultry and poultry products were implicated, has led to several pre- and post-harvest strategies to control the pathogen. We previously reported that supplementation of TC and EG in broilers (Kollanoor Johny et al, 2012a , b ) and TC in layers (Upadhyaya et al, 2015 ) significantly reduced S . Enteritidis colonization in birds.…”

“…Further, we observed that in-feed supplementation of TC in layers significantly reduced S . Enteritidis colonization in the internal organs of birds and egg-borne transmission of the bacterium (Upadhyaya et al, 2015 ). Tran s-cinnamaldehyde, an aromatic aldehyde extracted from the bark of cinnamon ( Cinnamomum zeylandicum ), has well-known antimicrobial properties (Friedman et al, 2002 , reviewed by Burt, 2004 ).…”

Effect of trans-Cinnamaldehyde on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation: Metabolic Activity Assessment and Analysis of the Biofilm-Associated Genes Expression

“…Essential for the antibacterial activity of TC is the presence of the acrolein group (α,β-unsaturated carbonyl moiety) [19]. TC as an antimicrobial agent shows low toxicity in a low dose, and is classified as safe for the addition to foods by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) [20]. Ribeiro et al [21], by using a fibroblast cell line, showed that TC did not compromise fibroblast cell viability.…”

Antimicrobial Resistance: Its Surveillance, Impact, and Alternative Management Strategies in Dairy Animals

“…To name a few, extacts from 18 herbal plants considerably limited the growth of MDR Acinetobacter baumannii under in vitro conditions ( 135 ). Recently, phytocompounds have been reported to display potent antibacterial activity against MRSA ( 136 ) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing bacteria ( 137 , 138 ). Interest toward adopting plant-based compounds as therapeutics is gaining interest.…”