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<p>This study evaluated the naturally occurring microorganisms within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and yolk sacs of day-old commercial broiler chicks. Across 6 independent trials, day-old chicks (<i>n</i> = 10 per trial) were obtained from various commercial hatcheries, humanely euthanized, and necropsied. The entire intestine (duodenum to colon) and the yolk sac were isolated, homogenized, serially diluted, and plated onto selective media to enumerate total aerobes, <i>Clostridium</i> spp., <i>Clostridium perfringens</i>,<i> Staphylococcus aureus</i>, Gram-negative bacteria, <i>Escherichia coli</i>, total coliforms, and yeast and molds. Intestinal microbial loads were consistently high, with counts for both total aerobes and <i>Clostridium</i> spp. (8.14 and 8.11 log<sub>10</sub> cfu/mL, respectively). High counts for intestinal <i>S. aureus</i>, Gram-negative bacteria, <i>E. coli</i>, and total coliforms were also observed (6.57, 7.44, 6.57, and 7.60 log<sub>10</sub> cfu/mL, respectively). Intestinal yeast and mold counts averaged 5.49 log<sub>10</sub> cfu/mL. Intestinal <i>C. perfringens</i> counts were uniformly low, averaging 2.06 log<sub>10</sub> cfu/mL across all trials. In comparison, yolk sac microbial counts were lower, averaging 3.70, 3.67, and 1.52 log<sub>10</sub> cfu/mL for total aerobes, <i>Clostridium</i> spp., and <i>C. perfringens</i>, respectively. These results demonstrate that commercial broiler chicks harbor dense aerobic and anaerobic intestinal populations immediately upon hatch, whereas the yolk sac maintains substantially lower microbial loads. The discrepancy suggests that colonization occurs via trans-shell migration of eggshell microorganisms during incubation. Conversely, the high intestinal microbial loads appear to be primarily driven by the ingestion of environmental microorganisms circulating within the commercial hatchery environment at the time of hatch.</p>

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Enumeration of organisms occurring in the intestinal tract and yolk sac of day-old chicks from commercial hatcheries

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月5日

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  • Karely Cantu,
  • Craig Coufal,
  • Michael Rothrock,
  • Steven C. Ricke

摘要

This study evaluated the naturally occurring microorganisms within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and yolk sacs of day-old commercial broiler chicks. Across 6 independent trials, day-old chicks (n = 10 per trial) were obtained from various commercial hatcheries, humanely euthanized, and necropsied. The entire intestine (duodenum to colon) and the yolk sac were isolated, homogenized, serially diluted, and plated onto selective media to enumerate total aerobes, Clostridium spp., Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli, total coliforms, and yeast and molds. Intestinal microbial loads were consistently high, with counts for both total aerobes and Clostridium spp. (8.14 and 8.11 log10 cfu/mL, respectively). High counts for intestinal S. aureus, Gram-negative bacteria, E. coli, and total coliforms were also observed (6.57, 7.44, 6.57, and 7.60 log10 cfu/mL, respectively). Intestinal yeast and mold counts averaged 5.49 log10 cfu/mL. Intestinal C. perfringens counts were uniformly low, averaging 2.06 log10 cfu/mL across all trials. In comparison, yolk sac microbial counts were lower, averaging 3.70, 3.67, and 1.52 log10 cfu/mL for total aerobes, Clostridium spp., and C. perfringens, respectively. These results demonstrate that commercial broiler chicks harbor dense aerobic and anaerobic intestinal populations immediately upon hatch, whereas the yolk sac maintains substantially lower microbial loads. The discrepancy suggests that colonization occurs via trans-shell migration of eggshell microorganisms during incubation. Conversely, the high intestinal microbial loads appear to be primarily driven by the ingestion of environmental microorganisms circulating within the commercial hatchery environment at the time of hatch.