Two graduate students were recognized at the Arkansas Association for Food Protection Conference for their poster presentations.

The students conducted the research through the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, a unit of the U of A System Division of Agriculture and the U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. The center represents the three land grant mission areas of teaching — carried out through Bumpers College — and research and extension through the Division of Agriculture's Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service.

Ruvindu Perera, cell and molecular biology graduate student, placed first in the Foodborne Pathogens and Contaminants in Animal-Based Products poster category. His research focused on bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness in the broiler industry. This disease causes leg bones to deteriorate and ultimately causes lameness in birds. Generally, this disease can be worsened by a pathogen called Staphylococcus. There is currently not an approved vaccine to prevent BCO lameness.

"BCO lameness significantly affects the broiler industry, leading to average annual revenue losses of tens of millions of dollars," Perera said. "The average annual lameness incidence is between 3-5 percent but may increase to over 25 percent in outbreaks."

Perera's research investigates the potential uses of electron-beam technology in preventing BCO lameness.

"Electron-beam (eBeam) technology is popular in food preservation for preventing microbial activity and multiplication by irreversibly shredding microbial DNA," Perera said. "However, the microbes would retain the ability for immune response, so eBeam is also used in whole-cell vaccine development. Our objective was to evaluate the efficiency of an eBeam-treated, multi-strain Staphylococcus vaccine to reduce BCO lameness."

In his research, 1,080 chicks were immunized with different types of vaccines, including eBeam-treated vaccines.

"Only the eBeam vaccine significantly reduced lameness by more than 50 percent and prevented Staphylococcus colonization in the bones of the treated birds," Perera said. "We concluded that this technology would be beneficial for the welfare of broilers and the sustainability of the broiler industry."

He presented this research at the conference in September, and he was awarded for his efforts.

"I was excited about the public's interest in my field of research and its importance in the improvement of animal welfare and food safety," Perera said. "I was honored and eager to see the potential use of eBeam technology to develop vaccines against a variety of pathogens. I am grateful to my advisers for their limitless guidance, support and motivation."

Palmy Jesudhasan, research microbiologist, is one of Perera's advisers and mentors.

"This recognition is a great accomplishment," Jesudhasan said. "Ruvindu's research is focused on a key issue in the poultry industry, and his results could result in a vaccine development for this disease. That would be a breakthrough for the industry."

Probiotics approach

Amanda Anthney, poultry science graduate student, placed third in the Foodborne Pathogens and Contaminants in Animal Based Products poster category. Her research focused on probiotics to find preventative measures for BCO lameness.

"My study aimed to test the effect of using GALLIPRO® Hatch and GALLIPRO® Fit with and without a multivariant eBeam vaccine on broiler chickens' incidence of BCO lameness," Anthney said. "We mimicked the aerosol transmission of the bacteria in commercial poultry houses during our study. We found that both the GALLIPRO® Hatch and GALLIPRO® Fit and the multivalent vaccine successfully mitigate lameness incidence."

She was proud to have a part in this groundbreaking research that has the potential to solve some of the biggest issues in the poultry industry.

"It is rewarding to have the opportunity to aid in developing a potential solution for the ever-present issue of BCO lameness," Anthney said. "This study, alongside the findings of my peers, presets a bright future in bettering the welfare of commercial broilers. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my adviser and fellow lab mates for their guidance and dedication during this project."

Adnan Alrubaye, assistant professor in poultry science and associate director of the Cell and Molecular Biology Program, advised Perera and Anthney.

"These accomplishments reflect the exceptional talent and dedication of our students, as well as our institution's commitment to advancing research in food safety and animal welfare," Alrubaye said. "I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Ruvindu and Amanda for their outstanding achievements and look forward to their continued contributions to the field."

The poster presentation and competition section of the Arkansas Association for Food Protection conference was held Sept. 24 at the Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences. The group is the Arkansas Chapter of the International Association for Food Protection, representing a broad range of members who focus on protecting the global food supply.

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About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the Division of Agriculture: The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation's historic land grant education system. The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.