Microbial surveillance provides insights into bacterial interactions leading to coinfections in broilers

PathKinex is a DNA-based microbial surveillance tool that provides a snapshot of the microbes present in a sample at the time of collection. The DNA of all microbes in the sample is preserved regardless of their fragility, viability, or laboratory growth requirements and can be tested for gene sequences from a wide variety of microbial species. Moreover, the surveillance tool can identify microbial issues by quantifying specific virulence genes carried by pathogenic strains and serotypes of different species, including avian pathogenic E. coli, toxigenic Clostridium species, or Salmonella, providing insight into the disease processes affecting growth performance and health. We talk with Beth Galbraith, MSC, Research Manager – Animal Health, Microbial Discovery Group, and Brian Dirks, Ph.D., Sr. Manager, Poultry Research & Technical Services, United Animal Health, to find out more.