Electron-Beam-Killed <i>Staphylococcus</i> Vaccine Reduced Lameness in Broiler Chickens
Anna L. F. V. Assumpcao,
Komala Arsi,
Andi Asnayanti,
Khawla S. Alharbi,
Anh D. T. Do,
Quentin D. Read,
Ruvindu Perera,
Abdulkarim Shwani,
Amer Hasan,
Suresh D. Pillai,
Robin C. Anderson,
Annie M. Donoghue,
Douglas D. Rhoads,
Palmy R. R. Jesudhasan,
Adnan A. K. Alrubaye
Affiliations
Anna L. F. V. Assumpcao
Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Komala Arsi
Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Andi Asnayanti
Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Khawla S. Alharbi
Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Anh D. T. Do
Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Quentin D. Read
United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Southeast Area, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
Ruvindu Perera
Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Abdulkarim Shwani
Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, U.S. National Poultry Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Athens, GA 30605, USA
Amer Hasan
Cell and Molecular Biology Program, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72703, USA
Suresh D. Pillai
National Center for Electron Beam Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
Robin C. Anderson
Food and Feed Safety Research, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), College Station, TX 77843, USA
Annie M. Donoghue
Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Douglas D. Rhoads
Cell and Molecular Biology Program, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72703, USA
Palmy R. R. Jesudhasan
Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Adnan A. K. Alrubaye
Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Broiler chicken lameness caused by bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) is presently amongst the most important economic and animal welfare issues faced by the poultry industry, and the estimated economic loss is around USD 150 million. BCO lameness is associated with multiple opportunistic bacterial pathogens inhabiting the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. In cases of immune deficiency resulting from stress, injury, or inflammation of the tissue, opportunistic pathogens, mainly Staphylococcus spp., can infiltrate the respiratory or gastrointestinal mucosa and migrate through the bloodstream to eventually colonize the growth plates of long bones, causing necrosis that leads to lameness. This is the first report of developing a Staphylococcus vaccine against BCO lameness disease in broiler chickens. Electron beam (eBeam) technology causes irreparable DNA damage, preventing bacterial multiplication, while keeping the epitopes of the cell membrane intact, helping the immune system generate a more effective response. Our results show a 50% reduction of lameness incidence in the eBeam-vaccinated chicken group compared to the control. Additionally, the eBeam-vaccinated chickens present higher titer of anti-Staphylococcus IgA, signifying the development of an efficient and more specific humoral immune response. Our data establish the eBeam-killed Staphylococcus vaccine as an effective approach to reducing the incidence of lameness in broiler chickens.
