Morphology and adhesion of Campylobacter jejuni to chicken skin under varying conditions.
The adhesion of Campylobacter jejuni to chicken skin, along with the associated morphological changes under aerobic conditions at 4, 25, and 37 degrees C and microaerobic (O2 5%, CO2 10%, N2 85%) conditions, were investigated using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), flow cytometry, and plate counting. The morphological change of C. jejuni from a spiral shape to a coccoid form or VBNC form (viable but nonculturable form) progressed rapidly under aerobic conditions at 25, 37, and 4 degrees C. As regards adhesion, the C. jejuni cells were mostly located in the crevices and feather follicles of the chicken skin, where the cells in the feather follicles floated freely in the entrapped water, even after the skin was rinsed quite thoroughly. CLSM also revealed the penetration of some spiral-shaped C. jejuni cells into the chicken skin. Even after changing their shape at various temperatures, coccoid-form C. jejuni cells were still found in the crevices and feather follicles of the chicken skin.
Jang
Keum-Il
KI
Department of Food Science and Technology and Research Center for Bioresources and Health, Chungbuk National University, Cheongfu 361-763, Korea.
Kim
Min-Gon
MG
Ha
Sang-Do
SD
Kim
Keun-Sung
KS
Lee
Kyu-Ho
KH
Chung
Duck-Hwa
DH
Kim
Cheorl-Ho
CH
Kim
Kwang-Yup
KY
D000332:Aerobiosis; D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology*; D005511:Food Handling; D005516:Food Microbiology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D013696:Temperature