Transplanting gut microbes from chickens that are relatively resistant to Campylobacter bacteria into those that are susceptible does not improve resistance, a study shows.
The findings were labelled ‘unexpected’, as they contradicted previous studies in mice, scientists at the UK’s Roslin Institute found.
Campylobacter is a leading cause of food poisoning in people and is commonly found in chickens.
Infections are a serious problem in people, resulting in diarrhoea and severe complications in some cases.
Up to 80 percent of cases are caused by consumers handling and eating contaminated chicken meat.
Each year, it is estimated that more than half a million people in the UK are infected with Campylobacter and the disease costs the country approximately £50 million.
FoodWorld 