Study on Antimicrobial Action of Citric Acid on Campylobacter Jejuni in Reared Chicken Carcass

A total of 200 chicken samples (breast and thigh muscles) obtained from retail broilers at different localities in Egypt. All samples were transported as soon as possible to the lab in Animal Reproduction Research Institute and subjected to bacteriological examination for C. jejuni. All samples examined by conventional methods for isolation and identification of Campylobacter. Samples subjected to standard phenotypic identification of C. jejuni by PCR using specific primers of hippuricase gene. The high incidence of C. jejune breast meat samples was (20%) then thigh samples (14%). The high incidence of C. jejune in breast samples in Giza (22 %) followed by Cairo (18%). The high incidence of C. jejune was in Giza (16 %), and Cairo (12%). All 68 C. jejuni isolates yielded the genus specific (16S rRNA) 63 isolates C. jejuni specific 323 bp. Amplicons 555 bp and 495 bp were confirmed to belong to C. jejuni cytolethal distending toxins showed at 555 bp for CdtC and at 495 bp for CdtB. The virulence genes of C. jejuni (FlaA, virB11) detected at 855 bp and 494 bp respectively. PCR analysis of Campylobacter virulence markers can be utilized as a simple and rapid tool especially when used as profile analysis for a control strategy. The effect of the citric acid was Arch Vet Sci Med 2021; 4 (3):55-66 DOI: 10.26502/avsm.025 Archives of Veterinary Science and Medicine 56 correlated with the level of pH, in chicken muscles in BHI broth at 4oC after 4 hours of experiment. C. jejune (55.9%) strains was reduction after 30 min of experiment, (76.5%) after one hour, (89.7%) after 2 hours , (97%) after 3 hours and 100% completely reduction after 4 hours at pH changed from 2.5 to 3.5. at the end of experiment. The experiment of inhibitory effect of citric acid in chicken muscles in brain heart infusion (BHI) broth was done on positive muscle samples and pH measurements. Finally, citric acid and their active may be used as an alternative to use of antibiotic performance. Further research is needed regarding understanding mechanism of action, identifying means to standardize the effects of other plant extract.