title: Reducing Colonization and Eggborne Transmission of Salmonella Enteritidis in Layer Chickens by In-Feed Supplementation of Caprylic Acid.
abstract: Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) is a major foodborne pathogen responsible for causing gastrointestinal infections in humans, predominantly due to the consumption of contaminated eggs. In layer hens, SE colonizes the intestine and migrates to various organs, including the oviduct, thereby leading to egg yolk and shell contamination. This study investigated the efficacy of caprylic acid (CA), a medium-chain fatty acid, in reducing SE colonization and egg contamination in layers. Caprylic acid was supplemented in the feed at 0%, 0.7%, or 1% (vol/wt) from day 1 of the experiment. Birds were challenged with 10(10) log colony-forming units (CFU)/mL of SE by crop gavage on day 10, and re-inoculated (10(10) log CFU/mL) on day 35. After 7 days post first inoculation, eggs were collected daily and tested for SE on the shell and in the yolk separately. The birds were sacrificed on day 66 to determine SE colonization in the ceca, liver, and oviduct. The consumer acceptability of eggs was also determined by triangle test. The experiment was replicated twice. In-feed supplementation of CA (0.7% and 1%) to birds consistently decreased SE on eggshell and in the yolk (p<0.05). Supplementation of CA at 1.0% decreased SE population to ≈14% on the shell and ≈10% in yolk, when compared to control birds, which yielded ≈60% positive samples on shell and ≈43% in yolk. Additionally, SE populations in the cecum and liver were reduced in treated birds compared to control (p<0.05). No significant difference in egg production, body weight, or sensory properties of eggs was observed (p>0.05). The results suggest that CA could potentially be used as a feed additive to reduce eggborne transmission of SE.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut , Storrs, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Indu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Upadhyaya
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut , Storrs, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Abhinav
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Upadhyay
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut , Storrs, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Hsin-Bai
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut , Storrs, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Meera S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut , Storrs, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Varun K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Bhattaram
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut , Storrs, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Deepti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karumathil
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut , Storrs, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Anup
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kollanoor-Johny
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut , Storrs, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Mazhar I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut , Storrs, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Darre
authors.affiliation: 3 Auburn University Food Systems Institute, Auburn University , Auburn, Alabama.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut , Storrs, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Kumar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Venkitanarayanan
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002210:Caprylates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002432:Cecum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004531:Eggs / Q000382:microbiology*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013649:Taste
chemical_list: D002210:Caprylates; C031492:octanoic acid