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<OL> <LI> Utilize a newly-developed in vitro screening technique for selection of enteric microorganisms with marked therapeutic ability to exclude foodborne pathogens, in vitro. <LI> Evaluate combinations of individual monocultures for compatibility and synergism as prophylactic or therapeutic cultures in vivo.<LI> Identify and preserve individual momocultures with prophylactic and therapeutic efficiency for competitive exclusion cultures.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Foodborne illness is a significant worldwide public health problem. It is essential that practical and cost-effective intervention stragegies be investigated, identified and implemented. The purposes of the present project are to select defined therapeutic enteric competitive exclusion cultures for poultry using a novel selection approach.
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APPROACH: Increase the probability of identification of highly efficacious cultures, ceca from approximately 100 adult chickens will be collected and frozen from at least 6 different commericial and University flocks. Chicks will be treated with the identified CE candidate bacteria on the day of hatch followed by Salmonella challenge 48 hours post-hatch. Retained frozen isolates will be sorted according to genus and species for the candidate bacteria demonstrating in vivo efficacy.
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PROGRESS: 2001/07 TO 2006/09<BR>
Significant progress was made during the life of this project. Using novel laboratory screening techniques, numerous enteric microflora were screened for ability to out-compete important food borne pathogens such as Salmonella and Campylobacter. These organisms were selected on the basis of efficacy, safety, tolerance to preservation, tolerance to exposure to air, and low cost of production. When selected organisms were combined and administered to day-of-hatch chickens or turkeys, markedly reduced prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter were observed. A number of publications and presentations and one full patent application was under review. Several solicitations for grant funding were also successful.
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IMPACT: 2001/07 TO 2006/09<BR>
These studies demonstrate that it is possible to select defined therapeutic enteric competitive exclusion cultures using a novel selection approach and reduce foodborne pathogen colonization in poultry. This may reduce the prevalence of food borne disease in humans. Furthermore, this may also reduce the dependence upon antibiotic usage and development of antibiotic resistant disease organisms.