Pilot experiment in chickens challenged with Campylobacter jejuni CCM6191 administered enterocin M-producing probiotic strain Enterococcus faecium CCM8558 to check its protective effect

Abstract

Laukova A., Pogany Simonova M., Kubasova I., Gancarcikova S., Placha I., Scerbova J., Revajova V., Herich R., Levkut Sn. M., Strompfova V. (2017): Pilot experiment in chickens challenged with Campylobacter jejuni CCM6191 administered enterocin M-producing probiotic strain Enterococcus faecium CCM8558 to check its protective effect. Czech J. Anim. Sci., 62, 491-500.Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most common food-borne pathogens and chickens are the main source of these bacteria. Enterococcus faecium AL41, enterocin M-producing strain (deponed to the Czech Culture Collection of Microorganisms, Brno, Czech Republic -CCM8558) is our isolate previously applied e.g. in broiler rabbits with beneficial effect. In this study it was used in a 11-day experiment with chickens (1-day-old, breed Cobb 500, n = 40) challenged with C. jejuni. Birds had free access to feed and water; they were randomly divided into four groups per 10 chicks each: control (CG), E. faecium CCM8558 (EG1), CCM8558 + C. jejuni CCM6191 (EG2), CCM6191 (EG3). E. faecium CCM8558 (10 9 CFU/ml, 200 µl) in Ringer solution was administered daily per os to EG1 and EG2 for 7 days (from day 0-1). EG3 and EG2 were infected individually per os (day 4, CCM6191, 10 8 CFU/ml in Ringer solution, 200 µl). For microbiota evaluation, faecal mixtures (n = 5) were sampled on day 0-1 (1 st sampling), on day 7 (2 nd sampling), and on day 11 (3 rd sampling) (day 7 of CCM8558 application, day 4 post-infection; day 4 of CCM8558 cessation, day 7 post-infection). Five birds from each group were sacrificed. CCM8558 sufficiently colonized chickens. In faeces of EG2 a tendency to reduce Campylobacter spp. (day 7 of application, day 4 of infection) was noted compared to EG2 (day 11, day 4 of cessation, day 7 postinfection; difference 1.21 log cycles), while in EG3 CCM6191 strain was not reduced. Phagocytic activity (PA) values were significantly higher in infected groups compared to CG and EG1. A significant increase in PA was also noted in EG2 and EG3 at the end of experiment compared to CG or EG1. The strain additive did not evoke oxidative stress. Biochemical parameters were influenced to the reference levels.

Effects of Lactobacillus Fermentum Supplementation on Body Weight and Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Expression in Campylobacter Jejuni-Challenged Chickens

“…Fast-growing broiler breeds, such as COBB 500, are widely used commercially. Several investigations have shown that this breed of broiler does indeed mount an important immune response against Campylobacter colonization [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]…”

Susceptibility to Enterocins and Lantibiotic Bacteriocins of Biofilm-Forming Enterococci Isolated from Slovak Fermented Meat Products Available on the Market

“…The presence of enterococci in the gastrointestinal tract of animals [ 7 , 27 ] leads to a high potential for meat contamination at the time of slaughtering [ 5 , 28 ]. However, enterococci not only contaminate raw meats but they can also be active in processed meat, including dry fermented meat products [ 3 ].…”

“…The autochthonous microbiota is dominated by lactic acid bacteria (LAB), with the presence of enterococci being mainly attributed to their phenotypic features (proteolytic/lipolytic activities, carbohydrate metabolism, low acidification ability), which may lead to an improvement in the fermented products’ characteristics [ 3 , 4 ]. On the one hand, enterococci can have beneficial/probiotic properties with their production of bacteriocins [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]; on the other hand, some strains can carry virulence factors and they can contribute to the spoilage of products under certain conditions [ 4 ]. So far, 59 enterococcal species have been validated; Tanasupawet et al [ 10 ] and Franz et al [ 5 ] reported an enterococcal species group based on 16S rRNA gene similarity, although up to now, not all validated species have been grouped this way.…”

Optimal Criteria for the Selection of Probiotics, Based on their Mode of Action

“…The term "probiotic' is reserved for formulas/products that keep some strictly de- [35,36,39,56,57,58,61]. The antimicrobial effect was evaluated in the pilot experiment with the application of enterocin M-producing strain Enterococcus faecium CCM8558 to infected chickens with Campylobacter jejuni CCM6191, while a significant increase in phagocytic activity was also noted in experimentally infected groups treated with the probiotic strain mentioned above [34].…”

“…Research has demonstrated that the administration of probiotics to the normal gut microbiota by stimulating the gastrointestinal immune response (antibody production and increasing phagocytic activity) can support the animal's defence systems against invading pathogens [6,34].…”