Figure 1.

The APEC O78-based C. jejuni vaccine significantly reduces C. jejuni colonization in broilers. Results from three independent E. coli-based vaccination and C. jejuni strain 81-176 challenge studies are shown. Birds in the negative control group (PBS, Experiment A, B, C; n=5, 4, 5) were non-vaccinated and non-challenged; birds in the positive control group (Cj, n=10, 10, 10) were non-vaccinated but challenged with 1×10⁶CFU of C. jejuni wild type on day 28. Birds in the treatment groups (Vaccine + Cj, n=44, 45, 46) were orally gavaged on days 7 and 21 with 1×10⁸CFU of the attenuated APEC O78-based C. jejuni vaccine and challenged with 1×10⁶CFU of C. jejuni wild type on day 28. Statistically significant differences (Fisher’s exact test, p<0.001) are indicated by an asterisk. PBS, Phosphate-buffered saline; Cj, Campylobacter jejuni.