THE MICROBIOLOGIC ECOLOGY OF THE TURKEY POULT JEJUNUM

Microbial succession in the jejunum of the commercial turkey poult was elucidated from poults at three different ranches and from successive flocks on a fourth ranch. The microbial ecology of the jejunum appears to consist of Gram-positive organisms in the first few days. The bacterial ecology then primarily becomes a Gram-negative flora. After 3 weeks of age, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus spp. and Campylobacter jejuni dominate the jejunum and this observation is not affected by the time of year of sample collections. It is speculated that this progression and colonization of a dominant jejunal flora is a natural way for poults to prevent pathogenic bacteria from pining a foothold.