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Campylobacteriosis is the most common gastrointestinal bacterial disease in the European Union (EU). Wild birds are one of the natural reservoirs of these pathogens. In this study we tested cloacal swabs of 643 gulls captured on rubbish tip in Zagreb, Croatia for the presence of Campylobacter spp. and found 168 Campylobacter positive samples. We used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to genotype 62 random C. jejuni isolates from gulls, 24 isolates from broiler caeca, 27 isolates from broiler neck skins and 23 human isolates. Altogether, we identified 44 different STs, from which 19 were newly described. Most of the new STs (14) originate from gulls. Although humans and broilers share the majority of STs and isolates from gulls are separated from these, there was one ST present in all three hosts: 45. Additionally antimicrobial susceptibility to six antimicrobials was performed on 123 C. jejuni strains isolated from broiler caeca (n = 22), neck skins of broilers (n = 20), gulls cloacal swabs (n = 50) and human faeces (n = 31) by the broth microdilution method. Results show lower resistance of gull isolates to NAL and CIP, while resistance to TET was as high as in human and broiler isolates.

In order to detect thermotolerant Campylobacter spp., 241 samples of fresh chicken meat, at retail in Croatia, were analysed according to a standard method, followed by biochemical test and molecular polymerase chain reaction/restriction enzyme analysis for exact species determination. Campylobacter spp. prevalence was 73.86 %. Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli were isolated from 53.53 and 15.35 % of the samples, respectively. In 4.98 % of isolates thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. were not determined. The multi locus sequence typing method was used to evaluate genetic diversity of eight Campylobacter jejuni and four Campylobacter coli isolates. To our knowledge, these results of genotyping provided the first data on the presence of sequence types (STs) and clonal complexes (CCs) of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli isolates in Croatia. By applying the multilocus sequence typing, a new allele of tkt gene locus was discovered and marked tkt508. The C. jejuni ST 6182 and C. coli ST 6183 genotypes were described for the fi rst time, and all other identified genotypes were clustered in the previously described sequence types and clonal complexes. These findings provide useful information on the prevalence and epidemiology of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli in Croatia.

Brucellosis in swine was surveyed from 2011 to 2015 in 13 counties in Croatia. A total of 3230 breeding males were tested serologically, and positive reactions were confirmed in 42 (1.3%) males from 17 farms. A total of 641 sows with abortion or reproductive problems were tested, and positive reactions were confirmed in 34 (5.3%). Organs from 68 swine were tested for bacteria, and Brucella spp. was isolated from 47 (69.1%). B. suis was identified in 45 isolates from domestic swine and 2 isolates from wild boar in six counties in Croatia, and all isolates were found to be B. suis biovar 2 based on Bru-up/Bru-low, Bruce-ladder, Suis-ladder and RFLP-based PCR assays. These results indicate that brucellosis is difficult to eradicate in free-range and semi-free-range swine farming, particularly in areas where contact with wild boar is possible. Further disease control measures are required. Key words: Brucella suis biovar 2; swine; abortion; prevalence; Croatia BRUCELOZA PRAŠIČEV, POVZROČENA Z BAKTERIJO Brucella suis BIOVAR 2 NA HRVAŠKEM Brucelozo pri prašičih smo spremljali od leta 2011 do leta 2015 v 13 hrvaških občinah. S serološko analizo smo preverili prisotnost bruceloze pri 3230 samcih v razplodu. Pozitivne reakcije smo ugotovili pri skupno 42 merjascih s 17 farm, kar predstavlja 1,3 % živali. S serološkimi testi smo preverili prisotnost protiteles proti bruceli tudi pri 641 plemenskih svinjah, ki so zvrgle ali imele težave z zabrejitvijo. Pozitivna reakcija je bila ugotovljena pri 34 svinjah, kar predstavlja 5,3 % vseh testiranih živali. Notranje organe 68 svinj iz šestih občin smo uporabili za osamitev bakterij Brucella spp. Bakterije smo ugotovili pri 47 vzorcih (69,1 %). Bakterijo Brucella suis smo odkrili v vseh 47 vzorcih, izmed katerih jih je bilo 45 od domačih plemenskih svinj, dva vzorca pa sta bila od divjih svinj. Vse izolirane bakterije so pripadale sevu B. suis biovar 2, kot so pokazale dodatne analize z uporabo metod Bruup/Bru-low, Bruce-ladder, Suis-ladder in RFLP. Ti rezultati kažejo, da je popolno izkoreninjenje bruceloze težavno, še posebej v prostih rejah prašičev, kjer obstajajo možnosti stika z divjimi prašiči. Zato bi bilo v prihodnje potrebno razmisliti o dodatnih načinih nadzora nad to nevarno boleznijo prašičev. Ključne besede: Brucella suis biovar 2; prašiči; zvrg; pojavnost; Hrvaška