title: Disinfection by hydrogen peroxide nebulization increases susceptibility to avian pathogenic Escherichia coli.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) are the major cause of economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide. Traditionally, antibiotics are used to treat and prevent colibacillosis in broilers. Due to resistance development other ways of preventing/treating the disease have to be found. Therefore during this study the nebulization of low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was tested in the presence of chickens to lower pathogenicity of APEC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly higher total lesion scores and higher E. coli concentrations were found in the spleen of chickens exposed to 2% H2O2 compared to those exposed to 1% H2O2 and control chickens which had been exposed to nebulization with distilled water. Higher total lesions scores and E. coli concentrations in the spleen were found in chickens exposed to 1% H2O2 in comparison to control chickens (not significant).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  H2O2 is rendering animals more prone to APEC infection contraindicating H2O2 nebulization in the presence of chickens.
authors: Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001, Louvain, Belgium. leon.oosterik@gmail.com.|Department of General Bacteriology, CODA-CERVA, Groeselenberg 99, 1180, Brussels, Belgium. leon.oosterik@gmail.com.
authors: Leon H
authors: LH
authors: Oosterik
authors: Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001, Louvain, Belgium. hntuntufye@gmail.com.|Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. 16 Box 3019, Chuo Kikuu, 67125, Morogoro, Tanzania. hntuntufye@gmail.com.
authors: Huruma N
authors: HN
authors: Tuntufye
authors: Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001, Louvain, Belgium. steven.janssens@webmail.kuleuven.be.
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: Janssens
authors: Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. pbutaye@rossvet.edu.kn.|Department of Biosciences, Ross University, P.O. Box 335, Basseterre, St Kitts, West Indies. pbutaye@rossvet.edu.kn.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Butaye
authors: Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001, Louvain, Belgium. bruno.goddeeris@kuleuven.be.|Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. bruno.goddeeris@kuleuven.be.
authors: Bruno M
authors: BM
authors: Goddeeris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers
chemical_list: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide