Campylobacteriosis is an infectious disease that can affect mammals and birds, including ducks and chickens. This clinical illness is being transmitted from animals to humans through contaminated food, and meat, and carcasses during slaughtering.
It is caused by Campylobacter, a spiral, gram-negative, and uniflagellate bacteria. These bacteria live in the intestines of healthy chickens and are one of the most sources of diarrhea in the US. The frequency of Campylobacter outbreaks is quite increasing over the years.
Aside from diarrhea, infected humans and chickens can also suffer from fever, abdominal pain, and severe dehydration. And because the bacteria stay inside a chicken’s intestine for a long time, the bird is very much likely to suffer from a gut injury in the infected tissue.
This can result in leg paralysis, difficulty in breathing, and even death. The infection can also be transmitted from one chicken to another through the ingestion of contaminated food and water.
How To Prevent Campylobacter in Chickens
For chickens, the best preventive measure is by providing them clean water, strict control of the entry of rodents and wildlife animals, and effective disinfection of poultry. You can also use mosquito nets to protect your chickens from flying insects. To help maintain proper nutrition, you can add organic acids to your feeds.
For human protection, the best way to prevent this disease is to dispose of tainted animal meat properly, cook food correctly, and observe proper hygiene. If you are working in poultry or owning one, wash your hands thoroughly right after you made contact with chickens.
