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Virginia Tech

Bacterial profiles and ex vivo effects of Salmonella Heidelberg on leukocyte function in turkey purebred lines

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Escalating product recalls as a consequence of Salmonella-contaminated poultry products have resulted in detrimental economic impacts. One long-term alternative to Salmonella prevention, receiving increased attention, is selection to improve genetic resistance. This study evaluated the effects of an oral Salmonella Heidelberg (SH) challenge on bacterial colonization, and the ex vivo effects of SH on phagocytic and bactericidal leukocyte function in turkeys from six pedigree lines (A-F). Data were analyzed using JMP Pro (SAS) and differences were determined using Student’s t-test following ANOVA with significance reported at P ≤ 0.05. Interaction effects of treatment X gender X genetic line were significant on bacterial colonization in the ceca. Cumulatively, females exhibited higher phagocytosis potential than males. The main effect of genetic line was significant bactericidal activity of PBMCs. Microbial profiling of cecal DNA was performed to examine differences in colonization of Salmonella, E. coli, and Enterococcus species among the genetic lines. Results indicated line E having the highest Enterococcus but lowest Salmonella colonization than all other lines, while line A birds displayed the highest Salmonella colonization. These results suggest that gender and genetic line have a marked effect on susceptibility to Salmonella colonization, while genetic line X gender has a more eminent effect on Enterococcus cecal colonization. If able to determine genetic markers associated with these immune responses to Salmonella, genetic selection for increased resistance could be feasible in turkeys.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Animal and Poultry Sciences
Department dc:contributor.department
Animal and Poultry Sciences
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2014

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Potter, Tiffany Dawn
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Dalloul, Rami A.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • McElroy, Audrey P.
  • Pierson, Frank W.

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:4052
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/70867

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Potter, Tiffany Dawn. Bacterial profiles and ex vivo effects of Salmonella Heidelberg on leukocyte function in turkey purebred lines. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/70867