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Combating food poisoning through live animals
UK scientists have
discovered a new way to combat food poisoning, by
targeting it in living animals using beneficial
bacteria. (14-4-04)
Probiotics provide fresh hope for destroying food
poisoning bacteria in poultry before it enters the
food chain.Scientists at the Institute of Food
Research (IFR) have
discovered that the probiotic Lactobacillus
johnsonii clears the pathogenic bacterium
Clostridium perfringens from the gut of chicks.
This bacterium can cause lesions in
chicks as well as causing food poisoning in
humans.
"Some poultry feed already contains probiotic
bacteria, but an undefined mixture that gives
inconsistent results. This research is exciting
because we have used a single
strain and shown that it can be targeted to
eliminate a specific pathogen", said Dr Arjan
Narbad, Research Scientist at the Institute of
Food Research (IFR).
The probiotic also reduced colonisation of the
small intestine by E. coli, but did not clear it
completely.
The scientists screened thousands of "commensal"
bacteria from the adult chicken gut to identify
strains that might competitively exclude "bad"
bacteria. Lactobacillus
johnsonii showed particular promise, and the IFR
teamed up with the Veterinary Laboratories Agency
to test its potential.
"For decades we have known that
naturally-occurring bacteria in adult chickens can
prevent pathogens from colonising in younger
birds, whose gut flora is not yet well
developed. But we have not known which bacteria
are most effective", said Dr Narbad. "We are
particularly pleased to have identified a strain
to combat Clostridium
perfringens because it can not only cause food
poisoning in humans, but can cause illness in
chicks".
Clostridium perfringens is naturally present in
the chicken gut, normally without causing disease.
Sometimes the bacteria produce toxins, and
scientists believe these are
what cause the disease necrotic enteritis.
Necrotic enteritis has a number of symptoms in
poultry, including poor weight gain and ulcers. In
humans it causes intense
abdominal cramps and diarrhoea, sometimes
accompanied by vomiting.
British and European farmers are being encouraged
to reduce their use of antibiotics in animal feed,
and this research provides one viable alternative.
Probiotic bacteria could
have additional health benefits for poultry, such
as stimulating the immune system and improving the
rate of growth.
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Pakissan.com; Advisory Point
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