Progress 10/01/99 to 09/30/05
Outputs
Estimates of lesser mealworm population density were determined for turkey brooder and finishing facilities and broiler production facilities. Based on population sampling the largest numbers of lesser mealworm adults occurred in min-January with 246,850 estimated to be present in a turkey brood house. Highest numbers of beetle larvae were found in the brooder house during the last week of September with a total larval population of 11,235,359. The reservoir competence of the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) was established for Campylobacter jejuni. The bacteria were detected on the exterior of larval beetles for 12 hours and from the interior of larvae for 72 hours and from the feces of larval beetles for 12 hours after exposure by feeding on inoculated chicken feed. Ninety percent of the birds that consumed a single adult or larval beetle became Campylobacter-positive and 100 percent of the broiler chicks that consumed 10 adults became positive.In
commercial broiler houses Campylobacter jejuni was detected from the interior of adult and larval beetles in 10.2% and 10.0% of the samples, respectively. Beetles from commercial broiler houses had no Campylobacter detected on the exterior surface of adult beetles but was detected on the surface of larval beetles in 2% of the samples. Campylobacter was detected in 11 day old broiler feces and was detected in 100% of the broiler fecal samples by the end of each flock grow out. In beetles collected from commercial broiler houses Salmonella was detected in the interior of 18.6% of the adult beetles and 6% of the larval beetle samples. Salmonella was detected from the exterior surface of 2% of the larval beetles collected. Of 1,113 beetle samples consisting of 30 beetles each, 23.9% were Salmonella-positive and 26.7% of 965 broiler fecal samples were positive. Salmonella was detected in samples of beetles collected from the houses between flock grow outs while no Campylobacter was
detected in the beetles collected between flock grow outs. In samples collected from open areas of broiler houses highest numbers of adult beetles were associated with litter moisture of 25-33%, pH of 6-8, and temperature of 12-21 C. Larval numbers in the open areas were highest when litter moisture was 29037%, pH was 7-9 and temperature was 21-24 while beetle numbers under the feeders were highest at a moisture content of 13-21%, pH of 6.5-7.5 and temperature of 30-39C. A molecular assay for the detection of the protozoan parasite of turkeys Cochlosoma anatis was developed using polymerase chain reaction diagnostics for detection of pathogen DNA. Using this technique we determined that over 3 years 9.1% of house flies collected on 5 turkey farms were positive for the protozoan and 1.1% of H. aenescens were positive.
Impacts
The data indicates the role of the lesser mealworm, house flies and a black garbage fly, Hydrotaea aenescens in the spread of pathogens (Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7 and the protozoan parasite Cocholosoma anatis) on turkey and broiler chicken production farms. In addition, the data indicates the importance of lesser mealworm and filth fly monitoring on weekly intervals during the poultry production cycles and shows the importance of establishing integrated beetle and filth fly management programs.
Publications
- Strother, Keith O., C. Dayton Steelman, and E. E. Gbur. 2005. Reservoir competence of lesser mealworm (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) for Campylobacter jejuni (Campylobacterales: Campylobacteraceae). J. Med. Entomol. (42: 42-47).
- McElroy, Sheri M. 2005. Role of filth flies in the epidemiology of turkey enteritis with special emphasis on Cochlosoma anatis, Campylobacter jejuni, and Escherichia coli O157:H7. M.S. Thesis. University of Arkansas. Fayetteville, AR.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/30/04
Outputs
The reservoir competence of the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) was established for Campylobacter jejuni. The bacteria was detected on the exterior of larval beetles for 12 hours and from the interior of larvae for 72 hours and from the feces of larval beetles for 12 hours after exposure by feeding on inoculated chicken feed. Ninety percent of the birds that consumed a single adult or larval beetle became Campylobacter-positive and 100 percent of the broiler chicks that consumed 10 adults became positive. A molecular assay for the detection of the protozoan parasite of turkeys, Cochlosoma anatis, was developed using polymerase chain reaction. Using this technique of molecular diagnostics we identified the protozoan from the intestines of six poults and from six fecal samples collected from poults having laboratory infections. Using this technique we determined that 44 percent of adult house flies collected from a commercial turkey farm were found to
contain the protozoan.
Impacts
The data indicates the importance of lesser mealworm management when attempting to halt the incidence of Campylobacter in broiler production flocks. The data indicates the importance of the house fly and other filth flies in the distribution of the protozoan parasite, Cocholosoma anatis within and among turkey production farms.
Publications
- Strother, Keith O., C. Dayton Steelman, and E. E. Gbur. 2004. Reservoir competence of lesser mealworm (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) for Campylobacter jejuni (Campylobacterales: Campylobacteraceae). J. Med. Entomol. (In Press).
- McElroy, Sheri M., Allen L. Szalanski, Tanja McKay, Alex J. Bermudez, Carrie B. Owens, C. Dayton Steelman. 2004. Molecular assay for the detection of Cochlosoma anatis in house flies and turkey specimens by polymerase chain reaction. Vet. Parasitol. (In Press)
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
The incidence of Campylobacter jejuni was monitored weekly in lesser mealworm and broilers during four flock grow-out periods on a commercial broiler farm. Campylobacter was detected when the birds were 11 days old and was detected in 100 percent of the bird fecal samples by the end of each flock grow-out. Beetles were positive for Campylobacter only during times when broilers were present and Campylobacter-positive, indicating that beetles were not the primary source of poultry infection. Beetles did not harbor Campylobacter when broilers were not present in the facilities. Beetle and broiler sampling procedures showed that the initial occurrence of Campylobacter was near the doors leading into the broiler facilities, indicating an external source of introduction. Beetles were competent reservoirs and were involved in the horizontal transmission of Campylobacter among the broiler flocks. Salmonella was detected in the interior of 18.6 percent of the adults and 6
percent of the larval lesser mealworms collected from these broiler facilities. Salmonella was also collected from the exterior of 2 percent of the larval samples. Out of 1,113 beetle samples collected, 23.9 percent were Salmonella-positive while 26.7 percent of the 965 broiler fecal samples were positive. Salmonella was detected in adult and larval beetles during periods when no broilers were in the facilities.
Impacts
The data indicates the importance of lesser mealworm management when attempting to halt the incidence of Salmonella and Campylobacter in broiler production flocks.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
Campylobacter jejuni was detected on the exterior surface of lesser mealworms for 12 hours, from the interior of the beetles for 72 hours, and from the feces of the adult beetles for 12 hours after the beetles had consumed inoculated feed. Ninety percent of 1-day-old broiler chicks that consumed 1 adult or 1 larval beetle infected with Campylobacter became Campylobacter-positive while 100% of the chicks that consumed 10 adults or larvae became positive. In commercial broiler houses Campylobacter jejuni was detected from the interior of adult and larval beetles in 10.2 and 10.0 percent of the samples, respectively. Beetles from commercial broiler houses had no Campylobacter detected on the exterior surface of adult beetles but was detected on the surface of larval beetles in 2 percent of the samples. Campylobacter was detected in 11 day old broiler feces and was detected in 100 percent of the broiler fecal samples by the end of each flock grow out. In beetles collected
from commercial broiler houses Salmonella was detected in the interior of 18.6 percent of the adult beetles and 6 percent of the larval beetle samples. Salmonella was detected from the exterior surface of 2 percent of the larval beetles collected. Of 1,113 beetle samples consisting of 30 beetles each, 23.9 percent were Salmonella-positive and 26.7 percent of 965 broiler fecal samples were positive. Slamonella was detected in samples of beetles collected from the houses between flock grow outs while no Campylobacter was detected in the beetles collected between flock grow outs. A GIS mapping system was used to determine beetle distribution in broiler houses and using the mapping system the fungus Beauveria bassiana was found to reduce adult beetle numbers by 85.7 percent and larval numbers by 97.5 percent.In population density studies, the highest beetle numbers were found associated with litter moisture of 25-33 percent, pH of 6.0-8.0 and temperature of 12-21C. Larval numbers were
highest in open areas when litter moisture was 29-37 spercent, pH was 7.0-9.0 and temperature was 21-24 and 33 -36C, while larval numbers underneath the feeders were highest at a moisture content of 13-21 percent, pH of 6.5-7.5 and a temperature of 30-39C. The beetle population was estimated to be greater than 77 million beetles in a single broiler facility when the population was at its greatest density.
Impacts
The data indicates the importance of lesser mealworm management when attempting to halt the incidence of Salmonella and Campylobacter in broiler production flocks. Using the geographical information system mapping, beetle management tactics such as the fungus, Beavaria bassiana, can be effectively applied to specific areas of broiler houses to reduce the beetle population therefore reducing the incidence of Campylobacter and Salmonella in broiler chickens during flock growouts.
Publications
- Strother, K. O. 2002. Biology and Management of the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), in broiler production facilities and its reservoir competence for Campylobacter and Salmonella. PhD Dissertation. University of Arkansas. Faytetteville.
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
Two commercial broiler farms each having 4 broiler houses were used to determine the effects of lesser mealworm management on the detection of Salmonella and Campylobacter in broilers during and at the end of flock growouts. Campylobacter was detected in homogenized (internally) beetles from the untreated houses during the 1st flock grow-out while none was detected in broiler feces (5th wk of the 1st flock grow-out). This was the first time that Campylobacter has been detected in beetles when no pathogen was detected in broiler feces at the same time. During the 7th and 8th wk of the 1st grow-out of this study period, Campylobacter was again detected in beetles in the untreated control houses but it was also detected in the broiler feces at the same time. Spot treatments with the fungus Beavaria bassiana in houses 2 and 3 reduced beetle numbers by 42 to 87% during the 8-wk grow-out. However, beetle numbers were significantly higher in the 2nd grow-out averaging 52.3
and 268.8 adults and larvae per sample in house 1-4, respectively and 14.3 and 133.2 in house 2-3, respectively. Overall the fungus reduced adults by 70% and the larval beetles by 61%. Salmonella was detected in the beetles during the 8th wk of the 2nd grow-out in untreated houses. Salmonella was not detected in broiler feces during either the 1st or 2nd flock grow-outs. After the beetle population was further reduced by treatment with the fungus at the end of the 1st wk, Salmonella was only detected in House 1 (untreated control house). The combination of treating the houses with Tempo insecticide prior to the start of the 3rd flock grow-out and spot treating with the fungus B. bassiana has reduced the adult and larval beetle population by 93 to 99.7% resulting in no Salmonella detection in weeks 2 and 3. No Campylobacter has been detected in either the beetles or broiler feces during the first 3 weeks of the 3rd flock grow-out. This study will continue through 5 flock grow-outs.
Impacts
Using the geographical information system mapping, beetle management tactics such as the fungus, Beavaria bassiana, can be effectively applied to specific areas of broiler houses to reduce the incidence of Campylobacter and Salmonella in broiler chickens during flock growouts.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
Two commercial broiler farms each having 4 broiler houses were used to determine the effects of lesser mealworm management on the detection of Salmonella and Campylobacter in broilers during and at the end of flock growouts. Campylobacter was detected in homogenized (internally) beetles from the untreated houses during the 1st flock grow-out while none was detected in broiler feces (5th wk of the 1st flock grow-out). This was the first time that Campylobacter has been detected in beetles when no pathogen was detected in broiler feces at the same time. During the 7th and 8th wk of the 1st grow-out, Campylobacter was again detected in beetles in the untreated control houses but it was also detected in the broiler feces at the same time. Spot treatments with the fungus Beavaria bassiana in houses 2 and 3 reduced beetle numbers by 42 to 87% during the 8-wk grow-out. However, beetle numbers were significantly higher in the 2nd grow-out averaging 52.3 and 268.8 adults and
larvae per sample in house 1-4, respectively and 14.3 and 133.2 in house 2-3, respectively. Overall the fungus reduced adults by 70% and the larval beetles by 61%. Salmonella was detected in the beetles during the 8th wk of the 2nd grow-out in untreated houses. Salmonella was not detected in broiler feces during either the 1st or 2nd flock grow-outs. After the beetle population was further reduced by treatment with the fungus at the end of the 1st wk, Salmonella was only detected in House 1 (untreated control house). The combination of treating the houses with Tempo insecticide prior to the start of the 3rd flock grow-out and spot treating with the fungus B. bassiana reduced the adult and larval beetle population by 93 to 99.7% resulting in no Salmonella detection in weeks 2 and 3. No Campylobacter has been detected in either the beetles or broiler feces during the first 3 weeks of the 3rd flock grow-out. This study will continue through 5 flock grow-outs.
Impacts
Using the geographical information system mapping, beetle management tactics such as the fungus, Beavaria bassiana, can be effectively applied to specific areas of broiler houses to reduce the incidence of Campylobacter and Salmonella in broiler chickens during flock growouts.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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