Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Campylobacter Species with Particular Focus on the Growth Promoting, Immunostimulant and Anti-Campylobacter jejuni Activities of Eugenol and Trans-Cinnamaldehyde Mixture in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Campylobacter species (spp.) are one of the most important causes of human bacterial gastroenteritis in foods of animal origin. Recently, with the spread of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Campylobacter spp., natural alternative therapeutic methods are urgently required. Phytogenic active principles have gained considerable attention due to their proficiency to enhance gut health and, thereby, performance of broiler chickens. Thus, the current study aims to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter spp. of different chicken sources in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt, and to assess the growth-promoting, immunostimulant and antimicrobial effects of a mixture of eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde in an in vivo approach. A total of 101 (67.3%) campylobacter isolates was identified, according to both phenotypic and genotypic techniques. Moreover, all of the campylobacter isolates were resistant to erythromycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and ampicillin (100% each). Of note, a dietary supplementation of the mixture of eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde led to a significant improvement of the feed conversion ratio and body weight gain and a decrease in the cecal C. jejuni loads in the broilers challenged with XDR C. jejuni. Additionally, eugenol and the trans-cinnamaldehyde mixture had protective activities via the down-regulation of XDR C. jejuni (flaA, virB11 and wlaN) virulence genes and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8), and the up-regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Thus, we recommend the usage of a mixture of eugenol and trans-cinnamaldehyde as an alternative to antimicrobials for the control and treatment of campylobacter infections.

Exploring the Interactive Effects of Thymol and Thymoquinone: Moving towards an Enhanced Performance, Gross Margin, Immunity and Aeromonas sobria Resistance of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

“…Cytokines have fundamental regulatory activities on the inflammatory reactions of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Following microbial invasion, cytokines are secreted by the GIT’s immune cells because of their important activities in the host immune defense against microbial infection [ 31 ]. Balancing between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines is important for sustaining their functions in fish.…”

“…These beneficial characteristics are attributed to the presence of multiple bioactive constituents such as essential oils (EOs), steroids, terpenoids, tannins, saponins, phenolics, glycosides, alkaloids and flavonoids [ 29 ]. Thus, they have been used recently as safe and effective natural replacements for antibiotics for the control and treatment of various diseases [ 30 , 31 ]. Recently, several studies have utilized eco-friendly natural feed supplements, which promote the health and growth of fish, ameliorate the negative effects of bacterial infections, especially Aeromonas spp.…”

Nigella sativa Extract Potentially Inhibited Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Induced Infection in Rabbits: Potential Immunomodulatory and Growth Promoting Properties

“…Therefore, natural bioactive antimicrobials are strictly required as immune boosters for rabbits aiming at higher production efficiency. Moreover, World Health Organization recommendations suggested the need to have research alternatives to antibiotics to overcome the drawbacks of antibiotics abuse and microbial resistance [ 8 , 9 ] such as in the case of MRSA, which became endemic worldwide [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Bovine Mycoplasma Species in Egypt

“…Therefore, antimicrobial usage must be controlled in the cattle industry [ 12 ]. Moreover, it is fundamental to utilize alternative drugs from medicinal plants to control resistant pathogens [ 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 ].…”