Publikationsdatenbank

VBNC-Campylobacter in the environment:
findings from the field and experimental studies (2024)

Art

Vortrag

Autoren

Reichelt, Benjamin (WE 10)

Stingl, Kerstin

Szott, Vanessa (WE 10)

Roesler, Uwe (WE 10)

Friese, Anika (WE 10)

Kongress

The 21th International Society for Animal Hygiene Conference

Chiang Mai, Thailand, 18. – 20.09.2024

Quelle

The 21th International Society for Animal Hygiene Conference : The 21st International Society for Animal Hygiene Conference : one health in action – innovations in health, welfare and environment for a sustainable animal production : conference proceedings 18-20 September 2024 — International Society for Animal Hygiene (Hrsg.)

— S. 93

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

URL (Volltext): https://designrr.s3.amazonaws.com/vphcap.res_at_gmail.com_172238/vphcapresgmailcom_ISAH2024-proceedings_FINAL-09271727420633.pdf

Kontakt

Institut für Tier- und Umwelthygiene

Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13
14169 Berlin
+49 30 838 51845
tierhygiene@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Objective: Chicken meat is the most important source of infection for campylobacteriosis in humans. However, the pathways in which Campylobacter colonize new chicken flocks can often not be clearly described. The barn environment is a critical reservoir for Campylobacter at broiler farms. It has been repeatedly discussed that exposure to environmental stressors can induce a transition to a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state.
In this study, we investigated the occurrence of culturable Campylobacter and VBNC-Campylobacter at three broiler farms and their environments. In addition, the formation and persistence of VBNC-Campylobacter in chicken manure, soil and water were analyzed in an experimental approach.
Methods & Results: The detection rate in environmental samples of Campylobacter-positive flocks, mainly sock swabs, was 14% (12/86) for VBNC-Campylobacter, while the pathogen was cultivable in one environmental water sample (1.2%). Interestingly, Campylobacter DNA was detectable in all 28 environmental air samples. In the experimental approach, no cultivable Campylobacter (C.) jejuni was detected in chicken manure after 24 hours following the removal of a Campylobacter-positive group of broiler chickens. In contrast, the detection of VBNC-Campylobacter was still possible after 72 hours (last sampling time point). Laboratory studies with soil and water samples artificially contaminated with cultivable C. jejuni showed that the VBNC state was induced after three to 15 days (depending on temperature and humidity). VBNC could still be detected up to the last sampling time point, i.e. 28 days in soil and 63 days in water.
Conclusion: In summary, the isolation of CFU and VBNC-Campylobacter from environmental samples remains methodologically challenging. The studies do provide important insights into the subject. For example, the potential for prolonged persistence of VBNCs in the environment, which remains potentially infectious, was demonstrated.