Colonizing capability of Campylobacter jejuni genotypes from low-prevalence avian species in broiler chickens

Genetic variations in Campylobacter jejuni or host factors result in low prevalence rates among nonchicken poultry species. The objective of this study was to determine the colonizing potential, in broiler chickens, of C. jejuni that was recovered from low-prevalence avian species. Twenty-day-old Campylobacter-negative broiler chicks were inoculated by oral gavage with genetically different primary isolates of C. jejuni recovered from squab, duck, or chicken. Serial sampling and microbiologic testing of ceca were used to determine the level of colonization and the prevalence of positive chickens. All isolates were recovered from chickens by 10 days postinoculation. The C. jejuni strains recovered from challenged birds were genetically identical to the inoculated strains. By 10 days postinoculation, treatment groups inoculated with duck or control chicken isolates were 100% positive. The level of colonization by the squab isolate on day 2 postinoculation was significantly less than the duck or chicken isolates and had not colonized all birds by day 10 postinoculation.