Establishment of a reproducible Enterococcus cecorum infection model under farm conditions
- 1Chêne Vert, Rue Auguste Perret, Landivisiau, 29400, France
- 2MG2MIX, ZA la Basse Haye, Chateaubourg, 35220, France
- 3Bio Chêne Vert, Rue Blaise Pascal, Chateaubourg, 35220, France
Abstract
E. cecorum (EC) has emerged as a major pathogen in fast-growing broiler chickens, causing clinical signs that impact animal welfare, performance, economic outcomes and antibiotic use. Developing alternative control strategies requires a robust experimental infection model. This study aimed to select one EC strain, among five isolated in 2023 from Ross 308 broiler lesions, based on its ability to reproduce clinical signs under experimental farm conditions. An authorized experimental farm received 1,536 male Ross 308 chicks on day (D)0, randomly allocated into six groups (four replicates of 64 birds). Five groups were inoculated by intra-crop route with different EC strains (same dose and volume), and one group received saline solution. Infected and non-infected areas were physically separated, each with dedicated feed and water systems. Each group was separated by one-meter walkways and high biosecurity level was maintained. At D7, intestinal colonization was monitored by EC PCR on cloacal swabs. Clinical signs (lameness scored by 3-point gait scoring system, mortality, underweight) and performance were recorded at D21 and D31. Necropsies were performed on lame or underweight birds. EC isolates from lesions were compared with inoculated strains using MALDI-TOF. Two groups reproduced disease in a repeatable way with their inoculated strains. Infection dynamics differed: one strain caused earlier clinical signs (≈20% lameness at D21). This strain was selected for model establishment and reproducibility was confirmed in a second trial with the same protocols. For the 3 other groups, inconsistent colonization at D7 and mismatches between inoculated and re-isolated strains suggested aero diffusion and ability of strains to outcompete others in a defined environment. This EC infection model with the chosen strain reproduced what could be observed on the field in commercial farms. This tool could allow testing alternative solutions to prevent EC clinical signs and reduce the use of antibiotic treatment.
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BibTeX
@article{potier2026establishment,
title = {{Establishment of a reproducible Enterococcus cecorum infection model under farm conditions}},
author = {Paul-Henri Potier and Paul Remiot and Samuel Roulleau and Frédéric Bourgeon and Pierre-Yves Moalic and Elodie Barbier and Pascale Rigomier},
journal = {Poultry science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.psj.2026.107923},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13718781},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Establishment of a reproducible Enterococcus cecorum infection model under farm conditions
AU - Paul-Henri Potier
AU - Paul Remiot
AU - Samuel Roulleau
AU - Frédéric Bourgeon
AU - Pierre-Yves Moalic
AU - Elodie Barbier
AU - Pascale Rigomier
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Poultry science
DO - 10.1016/j.psj.2026.107923
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13718781
AB - E. cecorum (EC) has emerged as a major pathogen in fast-growing broiler chickens, causing clinical signs that impact animal welfare, performance, economic outcomes and antibiotic use. Developing alternative control strategies requires a robust experimental infection model. This study aimed to select one EC strain, among five isolated in 2023 from Ross 308 broiler lesions, based on its ability to reproduce clinical signs under experimental farm conditions. An authorized experimental farm received 1,536 male Ross 308 chicks on day (D)0, randomly allocated into six groups (four replicates of 64 birds). Five groups were inoculated by intra-crop route with different EC strains (same dose and volume), and one group received saline solution. Infected and non-infected areas were physically separated, each with dedicated feed and water systems. Each group was separated by one-meter walkways and high biosecurity level was maintained. At D7, intestinal colonization was monitored by EC PCR on cloacal swabs. Clinical signs (lameness scored by 3-point gait scoring system, mortality, underweight) and performance were recorded at D21 and D31. Necropsies were performed on lame or underweight birds. EC isolates from lesions were compared with inoculated strains using MALDI-TOF. Two groups reproduced disease in a repeatable way with their inoculated strains. Infection dynamics differed: one strain caused earlier clinical signs (≈20% lameness at D21). This strain was selected for model establishment and reproducibility was confirmed in a second trial with the same protocols. For the 3 other groups, inconsistent colonization at D7 and mismatches between inoculated and re-isolated strains suggested aero diffusion and ability of strains to outcompete others in a defined environment. This EC infection model with the chosen strain reproduced what could be observed on the field in commercial farms. This tool could allow testing alternative solutions to prevent EC clinical signs and reduce the use of antibiotic treatment.
SN - 0032-5791
SN - 1525-3171
ER -