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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, September 2005, p. 5560-5571, Vol. 71, No. 9
0099-2240/05/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/AEM.71.9.5560-5571.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland BT52 1SA,1 Veterinary Sciences Division, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Stoney Rd., Belfast, Northern Ireland BT43SD2
Received 30 April 2004/ Accepted 22 March 2005
The failure to reduce the Campylobacter contamination of intensively reared poultry may be partially due to Campylobacter resisting disinfection in water after their internalization by waterborne protozoa. Campylobacter jejuni and a variety of waterborne protozoa, including ciliates, flagellates, and alveolates, were detected in the drinking water of intensively reared poultry by a combination of culture and molecular techniques. An in vitro assay showed that C. jejuni remained viable when internalized by Tetrahymena pyriformis and Acanthamoeba castellanii for significantly longer (up to 36 h) than when they were in purely a planktonic state. The internalized Campylobacter were also significantly more resistant to disinfection than planktonic organisms. Collectively, our results strongly suggest that protozoa in broiler drinking water systems can delay the decline of Campylobacter viability and increase Campylobacter disinfection resistance, thus increasing the potential of Campylobacter to colonize broilers.
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