Influence of the gut microbiota composition on Campylobacter jejuni colonization in chickens
2017
Han, Zifeng | Willer, Thomas | Li, Li | Pielsticker, Colin | Rychlik, Ivan | Velge, Philippe | Kaspers, Bernd | Rautenschlein, Silke | Clinic for Poultry (TIHO) ; University of Veterinary Medicine [Hannover] | Veterinary Research Institute | Infectiologie et Santé Publique (UMR ISP) ; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université de Tours (UT) | Ludwig-Maximilians University [Munich] (LMU) | EMIDA ERANet, DIFAGH (Development of immune function and avian gut health); Federal Ministry of Education and Research (031A097A to S.R.); Chinese Scholar Council; AdmireVet project CZ.1.05/2.1.00/ 01.0006 – ED0006/01/01 from the Czech Ministry of Education
International audience
Show more [+] Less [-]English. The <em>Campylobacter jejuni</em>-host interaction may be affected by the host's gut microbiota through competitive exclusion, metabolites, or modification of the immune response. To understand this interaction, <em>C. jejuni</em> colonization and local immune responses were compared in chickens with different gut microbiota compositions. Birds were treated with an antibiotic cocktail (AT) (experiments 1 and 2) or raised under germfree (GF) conditions (experiment 3). At 18 days posthatch (dph), they were orally inoculated either with 104 CFU of <em>C. jejuni</em> or with diluent. Cecal as well as systemic<em> C. jejuni</em> colonization, T- and B-cell numbers in the gut, and gut-associated tissue were compared between the different groups. Significantly higher numbers of CFU of <em>C. jejuni</em> were detected in the cecal contents of AT and GF birds, with higher colonization rates in spleen, liver, and ileum, than in birds with a conventional gut microbiota (P < 0.05). Significant upregulation of T and B lymphocyte numbers was detected in cecum, cecal tonsils, and bursa of Fabricius of AT or GF birds after <em>C. jejuni</em> inoculation compared to the respective controls (P < 0.05). This difference was less clear in birds with a conventional gut microbiota. Histopathological gut lesions were observed only in <em>C. jejuni</em>-inoculated AT and GF birds but not in microbiota-colonized <em>C. jejuni</em>-inoculated hatchmates. These results demonstrate that the gut microbiota may contribute to the control of <em>C. jejuni</em> colonization and prevent lesion development. Further studies are needed to identify key players of the gut microbiota and the mechanisms behind their protective role.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by Institut national de la recherche agronomique