Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 11: 607 - 611. Published October 31 2008.
Evaluation of embryonated eggs as an alternative model for studying pathogenicity and virulence of Campylobacter species isolates
Akwuobu CA.*^, Oboegbulem SI.**, Ofukwu RA***, and Chah KF.****
*Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; **2Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; ***Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria; ****Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
^Corresponding author e–mail:chineduakwuobu@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To evaluate the pathogenicity potential and relative virulence of Campylobacter species isolates using fertile chicken eggs as the model.
Methodology and results: Four bacterial isolates, comprising of 4 Campylobacter species from chicken were evaluated using 15-day-old embryonated chicken eggs and yolk sac inoculation technique. The four species, Campylobacter jejuni subsp. jejuni, Campylobacter jejuni subsp. doylei, Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter lari were pathogenic and they killed the embryos, except C. j. subsp. doylei. Embryos inoculated with C. j. subsp. doylei hatched after 6 days post-infection with persistently soiled vent. Respective species/subspecies of Campylobacter were re-isolated from at least 75% of the dead embryos and hatched chicks. Ranked in order of virulence (based on the post-infection time needed to cause death of embryos), the order was Campylobacter lari > Campylobacter jejuni subsp. Jejuni > C. coli > Campylobacter jejuni subsp. doylei.
Conclusions and application of findings: The study demonstrated the potential of using embryonated eggs as a model for studies of pathogenicity and relative virulence of Campylobacter isolates in Nigeria or other similar situations where laboratory facilities may not be easily available.
Key words
Embryonated egg, model, pathogenicity, virulence, Campylobacter species
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