Food Standards Agency
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Listen to this siteTuesday 26 July 2005
This research project is a systematic literature review to identify naturally occurring bacteria in the gut flora of chickens that have a protective effect against colonisation by campylobacter species.
Study Duration : December 2004 to May 2005
Contractor : University of Bristol
A possible approach to controlling campylobacter colonisation in free range and organic birds is the use of probiotic feed additives containing naturally occurring bacteria present in the chicken gut. A systematic literature review will collate available information on 'competitive exclusion' and probiotic organisms, that is, those that compete with campylobacter for nutrients and available niches in the chicken gut.
The approaches consist of:
The literature review identified a number of Lactobacillius spp. from the lactic acid group of bacteria as possible probiotic candidates for further investigation - Lact. reuteri , Lact. acidophilus , Lact. brevis , Lact. crispatus , Lact. fermentum P93 , Lact. johnsoni , Lactococcus lactis and Lact. salivarius . Spores of Bacillus subtilis strains reduced colonisation of campylobacter in broiler chickens, and may be an effective agent for controlling poultry pathogens. Substances called bacteriocins which kill other bacteria, produced by Paenibacillus polymyxa , and B. circulans and Lact. salivarius , have all shown anti-campylobacter activity in vitro and in vivo. The yeast Saccharomyces boulardii has been shown to significantly, if inconsistently, to reduce C. jejuni levels in the chicken gut. Prebiotics facilitate the growth of probiotic organisms. For example supplementing the diet with Palm Kernel Meal had a protective effect against campylobacter colonisation. The use of Palm Kernel Meal was associated with an increase of bifidobacteria and lactobacilii that both occur naturally in the chicken gut.
The final report is available from the Agency's Information Centre.
To obtain a copy, please contact the Enquiry Desk, Information Services, Food Standards Agency (tel: 020 7276 8181/8182 or email:
infocentre@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
)
Contact
: For any enquiries concerning this research project, please contact the relevant Programme contact or email:
science@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
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