Integrated Investigation of Enterococcus cecorum Prevalence, Transmission Routes, Predisposition Factors, Pathogenic Mechanisms, and Mitigation Strategies in Broilers

Summary

Enterococcus
cecorum (EC) is recognised as an emerging pathogen in poultry, specifically in
broiler and layer chickens. It has been associated with various clinical
conditions and diseases, primarily affecting birds’ skeletal and
musculoskeletal systems. Commensal intestinal strains can become pathogenic
under certain conditions. This pathogen causes several clinical conditions in
poultry resulting in leg problems, lameness, and joint infections. EC is now
recognised emerging pathogen in both broiler and layer chickens. Improving the
diagnosis, treatment and management of EC outbreaks is urgent unmet need.
Preliminary data
suggests that Enterococcus is:
· more prevalent in breeders and male
birds
· likely originates from the
environment, it is 10 times more prevalent in the oesophagus than in other gut
sections. This indicates that it may enter breeding stock through the
environment (range, feed) and vertically transmit to offspring
·

Program

Chicken Meat

Research Organisation

Central Queensland University

Objective Summary

EC disease outbreaks are a major issue for the broiler industry and animal welfare. Preliminary data clearly shows, for the first time, that these outbreaks are much more complex than a single pathogen outbreak and that EC is operating in a coinfection mode. Due to the limitations of classic 16S amplicon-based microbiota analysis, this classic microbiota methodology is useless in this study as it cannot identify taxonomy at species or strain levels. This project will use state-of-the-art microbial genomics methodology, with AI-assisted prediction and analysis models, to thoroughly interpret every aspect of EC outbreaks.

This application proposes a deep epidemiological study with the help of significant broiler industry stakeholders, gathering data from dozens of commercial EC outbreaks, identifying and confirming coinfection patterns and mechanisms, mapping virulence factors, achieving a deep understanding of disease pathogenesis, identifying primary spreading sources and triggers, and discovering the ways to minimise damage to the host. The outcome of the study will be of immediate use to the broiler industry and will feed high-quality, high-power data to other industry stakeholders involved in vaccine, diagnostics, biomarker and treatment development.