Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Identification of Campylobacter infection in chickens from volatile faecal emissions

Garner, Catherine E.; Smith, Stephen; Elviss, Nicola C.; Humphrey, Tom J.; White, Paul; Ratcliffe, Norman M.; Probert, Christopher S.

Authors

Catherine E. Garner

Stephen Smith

Nicola C. Elviss

Tom J. Humphrey

Paul White Paul.White@uwe.ac.uk
Professor in Applied Statistics

Norman Ratcliffe Norman.Ratcliffe@uwe.ac.uk
Professor in Materials & Sensors Science

Christopher S. Probert



Abstract

Volatile organic compounds from chicken faeces were investigated as biomarkers for Campylobacter infection. Campylobacter are major poultry-borne zoonotic pathogens, colonizing the avian intestinal tract. Chicken faeces are the principal source of contamination of carcasses. Fresh faeces were collected on farm sites, and Campylobacter status established microbiologically. Volatile organic compounds were pre-concentrated from the headspace above 71 separate faecal samples using solid-phase microextraction and separated and identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. A Campylobacter-specific profile was identified using six of the extracted volatile organic compounds. The model developed reliably identified the presence or absence of Campylobacter in >95% of chickens. The volatile biomarker identification approach for assessing avian infection is a novel approach to enhancing biosecurity in the poultry industry and should reduce the risk of disease transmission to humans.

Citation

Garner, C. E., Smith, S., Elviss, N. C., Humphrey, T. J., White, P., Ratcliffe, N. M., & Probert, C. S. (2008). Identification of Campylobacter infection in chickens from volatile faecal emissions. Biomarkers, 13(4), 413-421. https://doi.org/10.1080/13547500801966443

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jun 1, 2008
Journal Biomarkers
Print ISSN 1354-750X
Electronic ISSN 1366-5804
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 13
Issue 4
Pages 413-421
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/13547500801966443
Keywords Campylobacterinfection, chickens
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1018680
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13547500801966443