Cecal carriage of Clostridium perfringens in broiler chickens given Mucosal Starter Culture (TM)

Day-of-hatch broiler chicks housed in isolation units were each given, by o ral gavage, 0.1 mi of Mucosal Starter Culture(TM) (MSC) or saline control. Each of the treated and control chicks was subsequently given a composite c ulture of three strains of bacitracin-resistant Clostridium perfringens (Cp ) previously isolated from chickens with symptoms of necrotic enteritis. So me chicks were maintained on a corn-based diet provided ad libitum. Others were given the feed supplemented with 50% rye (a predisposing factor for ne crotic enteritis). At 7, 14, and 21 days after receiving Cp, chicks were eu thanatized, and cecal contents were diluted and plated on selective agar co ntaining bacitracin. For chicks on corn feed, Cp numbers were similar in co ntrol birds and birds given MSC in three of four trials. In two of the tria ls that demonstrated no effect of MSG on Cp numbers, enterotoxin presence w as determined. The number of birds with detectable Cp enterotoxin in their small intestine and the mean toxin levels were lower in the MSG-treated bir ds. In a fourth trial with birds on corn-based feed, mean Cp numbers and th e number of Cp-positive birds were lower in the MSG-treated birds. For the two trials involving chickens on rye-supplemented feed, Cp numbers and the percentage of Cp-positive birds were significantly reduced in MSG-created b irds compared with control birds. Enterotoxin in birds receiving the 50% ry e diet was at low levels or not detected in central and MSG-treated birds. Results suggest that MSG may reduce intestinal proliferation of Cp, a causa tive agent of necrotic enteritis in poultry and of foodborne disease in hum ans.