MICROBIAL INTERACTIONS AND MANAGEMENT APPROACHES TO REDUCE PATHOGENIC BACTERIA IN POULTRY

Objective 1: Identify/characterize management practices and environmental factors that will reduce fitness characteristics of foodborne pathogens in poultry as related to persistent colonization, survival growth, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance. Sub-objective 1A: Determine the effects of vaccine management programs on the viability of pathogenic bacteria in poultry. Sub-objective 1B: Effect of wood extracts on the viability of pathogenic bacteria in poultry litter. Sub-objective 1C: Identify attractants and spatial distribution of the lesser mealworm. Sub-objective 1D: Determine if Bambermycin in animal feed prevents recipient bacteria from accumulating multiple resistance plasmids, and to determine if multidrug resistant Salmonella lose resistance plasmids when there is no selection pressure. Sub-objective 1E: Determine changes in poultry microbial/fungal digestive populations and identify potential protective isolates against human enteropathogen colonization. Objective 2: Develop/evaluate new intervention strategies that prevent or reduce enteric colonization and other fitness characteristics that will be integrated into existing management practices and decrease shedding of foodborne pathogens. Sub-objective 2A: Determine the bacteriocidal effects of chitosan as a feed additive against human foodborne enteropathogen colonization in poultry. Sub-objective 2B: Determine the bacteriocidal and anticoccidial effects of chlorate as a feed additive against human foodborne enteropathogen colonization in poultry. Sub-objective 2C: Determine the bacteriocidal effects of clay montomorillonite and calcium formate as feed additives against human foodborne enteropathogen colonization in poultry. Objective 3: Understand the effect of waste management conditions in poultry (extrinsic and intrinsic) under which foodborne microorganisms exist, and determine the complex interactions among waste management practices on survival and dispersion of pathogens within the poultry facility and the surrounding environment. Sub-objective 3A: Determine the fate and transport into the environment of poultry litter bacteria and the effects of lesser mealworm as a vector. Sub-objective 3B: Modifications of poultry litter composting to increase efficiency and efficacy with respect to reducing pathogen levels. Objective 4: Determine the complex interactions among fungi/protozoa/microbial population within the gastrointestinal tract of poultry and how it affects food safety. Specifically, research will be focused on understanding the interactions and developing strategies that reduce foodborne pathogens, including antimicrobial resistance. Sub-objective 4A: Identify fungi that will reduce or control the growth of Salmonella and Campylobacter. Sub-objective 4B: Define the role of broiler and layer fungal digestive populations in poultry production and protection against colonization by human foodborne enteropathogens.