title: Seasonality of thermophilic Campylobacter populations in chickens.
abstract: The small intestines and caeca of chickens were monitored for seasonal variation of thermophilic campylobacters over a 12-month period. There was a significant seasonal fluctuation in the carriage rate which correlated with the following environmental parameters: sunshine hours (P = 0.0003) and minimum (P = 0.007) and maximum temperatures (P = 0.003). The number of campylobacters in the small intestine and caeca also showed significant seasonal variation (P = 0.0008); however, the periodicity in the caeca was significantly different from that in the small intestine (P = 0.007). The numbers of Campylobacter in the caeca were significantly higher than those in the small intestine (P = 0.001). No significant correlation was found between the numbers of campylobacters in the caeca and small intestines and the environmental parameters monitored.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, IEBS, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Diggle
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002645:Chickens; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D012621:Seasons; D013472:Sunlight