Chicken skin microbiota

Microbiota of chicken skin is dominated by different species belonging to genus Lactobacillus. In addition, Ruminococcus torque, Clostridium disporicum, Bifidobacterium or E. coli can be detected as skin microbiota members in young chickens. In older hens, Romboutsia or Turicibacter, both common to small intestine, can be recorded though skin contamination by faecal material rather then permanent skin colonisation cannot be excluded in these bacterial species. Common, but not dominant species colonising chicken skin include also representatives of genera Enterococcus, Staphylococcus or Pseudomonas.