Fig 9.

Colonization of WT C. jejuni and isogenic ΔvidA and ΔvidB mutants in the avian intestinal tract. Day of hatch chicks were orally infected with approximately 100 CFU of WT C. jejuni, and ΔvidA, ΔvidB, or ΔvidA ΔvidB mutants. Chicks were sacrificed at day 7 post-infection, and the levels of each C. jejuni strain in the ceca were determined (reported as CFU per gram of content). Each circle represents the level of C. jejuni in a single chick. Horizontal bars represent the geometric mean for each group. Statistical significance of difference in colonization capacity of strains to WT C. jejuni was determined using a two-tailed Mann-Whitney U test. *P < 0.05.