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Background Campylobacteriosis in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) is the most common identified bacterial cause of diarrhea. Risk factors in KTRs are unknown. Methods A 10-year multicentric, retrospective 1:1 case-control study was performed in France between 2010 and 2020. The main aim was to identify factors associated with Campylobacter -related infection in KTRs. The KTRs with a functional graft and campylobacteriosis (positive stool culture and/or blood culture and/or positive nucleic amplification test) and their controls matched on transplantation date within the same center were included. Results We identified 326 patients with campylobacteriosis. The estimated incidence rate of campylobacteriosis was 2.3/1000 patient-years. The infection occurred at a median of 2.4 years posttransplantation. The independent risk factors for campylobacteriosis were use of corticosteroids as maintenance regimen (75.8% vs 66%; P <.001), acute rejection (8.9% vs 4%; P =.048), low lymphocyte count (0.96 vs 1.4 giga/liter (G/L); P <.001), and low basal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (44.2 vs 57.5 mL/minute/1.73 m2; P <.001). A fluoroquinolone was initiated in 64 (21.4%) patients, with 51.1% of antimicrobial resistance, whereas almost all strains were erythromycin sensitive. Conclusions Campylobacteriosis has a higher incidence in the 2 first years of transplantation. The factors independently associated with campylobacteriosis are corticosteroids as maintenance immunosuppressive regimen, low lymphocyte counts, low eGFR, and a history of acute rejection. Due to high antimicrobial resistance with fluoroquinolone, the first line of treatment should be azithromycin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing prevalence of foodborne zoonotic infections increases the risk of emergence of microorganisms with acquired resistance to antimicrobial drugs. Such microorganisms are capable of horizontal transmission of R-plasmids of antibiotic resistance to other types of bacteria. The results of our monitoring in 2021, in accordance with the State Strategy of Ukraine to curb the development of antimicrobial resistance and reduce the risks of the formation and spread of antimicrobial-resistant strains of microorganisms, showed high resistance of enterobacteria, enterococci and Campylobacter isolated from pigs to antibiotics of various groups. Among the isolated cultures of Esherichia coli, the ability of some strains to produce extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) was found. Testing of the experimental isolates for antibiotic resistance and screening for possible production of acquired resistance enzymes was carried out by the disc diffusion method with antibiotic disks of different groups. Out of 542 samples of appendix from pigs from farms in different regions of Ukraine, 138 isolates were isolated and identified. Among them: Esherichia coli – 68 strains; Enterococcus faecalis – 57; Enterococcus faecium – 9; Salmonella spp. – 2 and Campylobacter spp. – 2. Antibiotic resistance testing showed that 10 (7.3% of the isolates) of different bacterial species remained susceptibile to all antibiotics used. The remaining 128 test isolates (93.5% of the isolates) showed antibiotic resistance. The largest number of antibiotic-resistant commensal and zoonotic bacteria was detected in pig farms of Donetsk, Kyiv, Dnipro, Kirovohrad and Chernihiv regions. Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. were most often isolated from pigs; in smaller quantities Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. All strains of Salmonella spp. faecium showed resistance to 1 to 3 antibiotics of different groups. Among the antibiotic-resistant E. faecalis, 1 strain with resistance to vancomycin was detected. Polyantibiotic resistance was inherent in E. colistrains. Among the polyantibiotic-resistant E. colistrains, 4 strains were found and confirmed to have acquired resistance due to the production of ESBL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Campylobacter species are the major cause of bacterial gastroenteritis. As there is no effective vaccine, combined with the rapid increase in antimicrobial resistant strains, there is a need to identify new targets for intervention. Essential genes are those that are necessary for growth and/or survival, making these attractive targets. In this study, comprehensive transposon mutant libraries were created in six C. jejuni strains, four C. coli strains and one C. lari and C. hyointestinalis strain, allowing for those genes that cannot tolerate a transposon insertion being called as essential. Comparison of essential gene lists using core genome analysis can highlight those genes which are common across multiple strains and/or species. Comparison of C. jejuni and C. coli, the two species that cause the most disease, identified 316 essential genes. Genes of interest highlighted members of the purine pathway being essential for C. jejuni whilst also finding that a functional potassium uptake system is essential. Protein–protein interaction networks using these essential gene lists also highlighted proteins in the purine pathway being major ‘hub’ proteins which have a large number of interactors across the network. When adding in two more species (C. lari and C. hyointestinalis) the essential gene list reduces to 261. Within these 261 essential genes, there are many genes that have been found to be essential in other bacteria. These include htrB and PEB4, which have previously been found as core virulence genes across Campylobacter species in other studies. There were 21 genes which have no known function with eight of these being associated with the membrane. These surface-associated essential genes may provide attractive targets. The essential gene lists presented will help to prioritise targets for the development of novel therapeutic and preventative interventions.

Abstract Background Campylobacter species (spp.) are one of the most important zoonotic bacteria possessing potential hazards for animal and human health worldwide. Migratory birds are implicated as significant carriers for microbes and a play very important role in the dissemination of Campylobacter to broiler chickens and their environment. The purpose of this investigation was to detect the prevalence, antibiotic resistant patterns, virulence and diversity of pathogenic Campylobacter spp. in 7 migratory bird species (Northern shoveler, Common pochard, Common teal, Northern pintail, Eared Grebe, Great Crested Grebe and Garganey) and broiler chickens that were collected from broiler poultry farms and live bird markets. Results The prevalence of Campylobacter was 12.5% (25/200), of which 15% (15/100) was recovered from 5 migratory bird species only and 10% (10/100) from broiler chickens. At the level of migratory birds, eight isolates (53.3%) were Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) and 7 isolates (46.7%) were Campylobacter coli (C. coli) meanwhile, in broiler chickens C. jejuni and C. coli were 50% (5/10) for each. All isolated strains had phenotypic resistance to doxycycline, while all of the isolates were susceptible to amikacin. The multidrug resistance to three, four or five antimicrobial classes was found in 72% (18/25) of the isolated strains. The multiantibiotic resistance index between the examined isolates was 0.22–0.77, with 10 antibiotic resistance patterns. The virulence of isolated Campylobacter strains (from both migratory birds and broiler chicken birds) was detected by targeting the VirB11, ciaB and iam genes which were recorded at 16%, 52% and 100%, respectively. Additionally, 100% and 84% of the antibiotic resistance genes were identified as tetA and BlaOXA-61, respectively. Conclusions The results of this study revealed the diversity between all the isolated strains from migratory birds and their similarity to broiler chicken isolates. The findings of the present study highlight the impact of migratory birds visiting Egypt and other countries on pathogenic Campylobacter spp. carrying pathogenic virulence and resistance genes, necessitating the application of biosecurity measures to prevent migratory birds from entering farms during their migration period.

Campylobacter hepaticus has re-emerged as an important cause of disease in egg laying birds worldwide, resulting in morbidity, mortality, and significant losses in eggs for the breeding and table egg laying industries. Although birds may appear asymptomatic, the disease is characterized by spots on the liver of birds and histopathological analysis reveals multifocal fibrogranulocytic necrotizing hepatitis microscopically. The re-emergence of C. hepaticus may be linked with housing practices as the disease appears more prevalent in pasture raised birds with outside exposure. Here we describe, the whole genome sequences and comparative analysis of four C. hepaticus genomes associated with an outbreak on pasture raised breeders from a farm in Georgia, United States. All four genomes were relatively similar in size and virulence genes harbored. Using these genomes, comparison with current C. hepaticus genomes available in NCBI and other databases and other members of the Campylobacter species was carried out. Using current tools available, virulence gene factor content was compared, and it was found that different tools lead to different numbers of factors identified. The four genomes from this study were relatively similar to C. hepaticus HV10 the type strain from Australia but differed from the other sequenced US strains from Iowa and Florida. C. hepaticus was found to have an overall lower gene content for genes associated with virulence and iron acquisition compared to other Campylobacter genomes and appears to cluster differently than UK genomes on phylogenetic analysis, suggesting the emergence of two lineages of C. hepaticus. This analysis provides valuable insight into the emerging pathogen C. hepaticus, its virulence factors and traits associated with disease in poultry production in the US, potentially providing insight into targets for its control and treatment for laying birds. Our analysis also confirms genes associated with iron acquisition are limited and the presence of the multidrug efflux pump CmeABC in C. hepaticus which may promote survival and persistence in the host niche – the chicken liver/bile. One unique aspect of this study was the finding of a close genetic relationship between C. hepaticus and Campylobacter fetus species and evidence of genome reduction in relation to host niche specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Campylobacter infection is one of the most frequently reported foodborne diseases with approximately 230,000 and 1.5 million cases each year in Europe and the USA, respectively. Culture methods are the reference for the diagnosis of Campylobacter infections; however, these methods are complex and time-consuming. Multiplex nucleic acid amplification test is favored due to its rapidity, automatization in the procedure followed and the quick simultaneous testing of numerous foodborne pathogens. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the accuracy of these tests for the diagnosis of Campylobacter infection. Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, Web of Science, and Mendeley were searched for peer-reviewed articles. The split component synthesis method with the use of the inverse variance heterogeneity model was chosen for the quantitative meta-analysis. Sensitivity analysis was performed by age category and index test. The literature search found 34 studies involving 28,105 patients with suspected gastroenteritis. The sensitivity and specificity were 95.3% (92.3; 97.1) and 97.1% (95.1; 98.3), respectively, and AUC (area under the curve) was 0.963 (0.947; 0.974). Pediatric patients had a lower sensitivity (87.4, 48.2; 98.1) and higher specificity (99.2, 91.6; 99.9) estimate compared to all ages category (sensitivity 95.3, 91.3; 97.5, specificity 96.7, 93.7; 98.3). Among the various index tests, Seeplex/Allplex and Amplidiag/Novodiag had the lowest estimate for sensitivity (88.9, 73.8; 95.8) and specificity (95.2, 86; 98.4), respectively. BDMax had the highest (sensitivity 98.1, 96.1; 99 and specificity 98.5, 97; 99.3). Multiplex nucleic acid tests showed excellent accuracy and could play an influential role in diagnosing Campylobacter infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Campylobacter species are the major cause of bacterial gastroenteritis. As there is no effective vaccine, combined with the rapid increase in antimicrobial resistant strains, there is a need to identify new targets for intervention. Essential genes are those that are necessary for growth and/or survival, making these attractive targets. In this study, comprehensive transposon mutant libraries were created in six C. jejuni strains, four C. coli strains and one C. lari and C. hyointestinalis strain, allowing for those genes that cannot tolerate a transposon insertion being called as essential. Comparison of essential gene lists using core genome analysis can highlight those genes which are common across multiple strains and/or species. Comparison of C. jejuni and C. coli, the two species that cause the most disease, identified 316 essential genes. Genes of interest highlighted members of the purine pathway being essential for C. jejuni whilst also finding that a functional potassium uptake system is essential. Protein–protein interaction networks using these essential gene lists also highlighted proteins in the purine pathway being major 'hub' proteins which have a large number of interactors across the network. When adding in two more species (C. lari and C. hyointestinalis) the essential gene list reduces to 261. Within these 261 essential genes, there are many genes that have been found to be essential in other bacteria. These include htrB and PEB4, which have previously been found as core virulence genes across Campylobacter species in other studies. There were 21 genes which have no known function with eight of these being associated with the membrane. These surface-associated essential genes may provide attractive targets. The essential gene lists presented will help to prioritise targets for the development of novel therapeutic and preventative interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Campylobacter species (spp.) are one of the most important zoonotic bacteria possessing potential hazards for animal and human health worldwide. Migratory birds are implicated as significant carriers for microbes and a play very important role in the dissemination of Campylobacter to broiler chickens and their environment. The purpose of this investigation was to detect the prevalence, antibiotic resistant patterns, virulence and diversity of pathogenic Campylobacter spp. in 7 migratory bird species (Northern shoveler, Common pochard, Common teal, Northern pintail, Eared Grebe, Great Crested Grebe and Garganey) and broiler chickens that were collected from broiler poultry farms and live bird markets. Results: The prevalence of Campylobacter was 12.5% (25/200), of which 15% (15/100) was recovered from 5 migratory bird species only and 10% (10/100) from broiler chickens. At the level of migratory birds, eight isolates (53.3%) were Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) and 7 isolates (46.7%) were Campylobacter coli (C. coli) meanwhile, in broiler chickens C. jejuni and C. coli were 50% (5/10) for each. All isolated strains had phenotypic resistance to doxycycline, while all of the isolates were susceptible to amikacin. The multidrug resistance to three, four or five antimicrobial classes was found in 72% (18/25) of the isolated strains. The multiantibiotic resistance index between the examined isolates was 0.22–0.77, with 10 antibiotic resistance patterns. The virulence of isolated Campylobacter strains (from both migratory birds and broiler chicken birds) was detected by targeting the VirB11, ciaB and iam genes which were recorded at 16%, 52% and 100%, respectively. Additionally, 100% and 84% of the antibiotic resistance genes were identified as tetA and BlaOXA-61, respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study revealed the diversity between all the isolated strains from migratory birds and their similarity to broiler chicken isolates. The findings of the present study highlight the impact of migratory birds visiting Egypt and other countries on pathogenic Campylobacter spp. carrying pathogenic virulence and resistance genes, necessitating the application of biosecurity measures to prevent migratory birds from entering farms during their migration period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The gastrointestinal tract consists of a complex microenvironment with an abundance of microorganisms, and a diverse microbiome composition is evident along the gastrointestinal tract with a favorable growth environment for bacteria. Dysbiosis to this environment have been associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) as well as other diseases, with studies identifying a higher number of bacteria, such as the Enterobacteriaceae family: Clostridium spp., Fusobacterium spp., and Streptococcus bovis. We hypothesize that patients with CRC have a distinct microbiota with a greater abundance of atypical Campylobacter spp. and Helicobacter spp. compared to control patients. Patients and Methods: Sixty biopsies were collected from forty randomly selected patients in Kaunas, Lithuania. The patients were allocated into groups: patients with CRC and control patients without intestinal cancer or cancer risk factors. Twenty biopsies were collected from each collection site: The tumor and the adjacent intestinal tissue in CRC patients, and a randomly selected intestinal tissue site in non-cancer patients. A microbiome analysis was performed using 16S rDNA and 18S rDNA. Results: Distinct bacterial microbiota was found to be significantly different in the collected biopsies between CRC patients and control patients with p=.001. There was a clear overrepresentation of Campylobacter spp. with C. rectus being the most prominent in CRC patients. Moreover, Fusobacterium spp. was found in each group, with increased abundance of F. nucleatum and F. necrophorium in cancer tissue. There was no significant abundance of the Helicobacter spp. found. Conclusions: This pilot study illustrates a significant difference in the gut microbiota in patients with CRC compared to non-cancer patients. The microenvironmental composition in CRC tissue samples were dominated by Campylobacter spp. and Fusobacterium spp. suggesting that these species either solely or in co-aggregation may cause or promote CRC.

Campylobacter is a major cause of gastroenteritis worldwide, with broiler meat accounting for most illnesses. Antimicrobial intervention is recommended in severe cases of campylobacteriosis. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Campylobacter is a concerning food safety challenge, and monitoring the trends of AMR is vital for a better risk assessment. This study aimed to characterize the phenotypic profiles and molecular markers of AMR and virulence in the prevalent Campylobacter species contaminating chilled chicken carcasses sampled from supermarkets in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Campylobacter was detected in 90 (28.6%) out of 315 tested samples, and up to five isolates from each were confirmed using multiplex PCR. The species C. coli was detected in 83% (75/90) of the positive samples. Whole-genome sequencing was used to characterize the determinants of AMR and potential virulence genes in 45 non-redundant C. coli isolates. We identified nine resistance genes, including four associated with resistance to aminoglycoside (aph(3′)-III, ant(6)-Ia, aph(2″)-Ib, and aac(6′)-Im), and three associated with Beta-lactam resistance (blaOXA-61, blaOXA-193, and blaOXA-489), and two linked to tetracycline resistance (tet(O/32/O), and tet(O)), as well as point mutations in gyrA (fluoroquinolones resistance), 23S rRNA (macrolides resistance), and rpsL (streptomycin resistance) genes. A mutation in gyrA 2 p.T86I, conferring resistance to fluoroquinolones, was detected in 93% (42/45) of the isolates and showed a perfect match with the phenotype results. The simultaneous presence of blaOXA-61 and blaOXA-193 genes was identified in 86.6% (39/45) of the isolates. In silico analysis identified 7 to 11 virulence factors per each C. coli isolate. Some of these factors were prevalent in all examined strains and were associated with adherence (cadF, and jlpA), colonization and immune evasion (capsule biosynthesis and transport, lipooligosaccharide), and invasion (ciaB). This study provides the first published evidence from the UAE characterizing Campylobacter virulence, antimicrobial resistance genotype, and phenotype analysis from retail chicken. The prevalent C. coli in the UAE retail chicken carries multiple virulence genes and antimicrobial resistance markers and exhibits frequent phenotype resistance to macrolides, quinolones, and tetracyclines. The present investigation adds to the current knowledge on molecular epidemiology and AMR development in non-jejuni Campylobacter species in the Middle East and globally.

Abstract In this study, the aim was to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of thyme (Thymus vulgaris), oregano (Origanum vulgare), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) essential oils in addition to their chemical compositions. Based on the results of gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC—MS) analysis, major components were thymol and p‐cymene in thyme, carvacrol, and p‐cymene in oregano, α‐zingiberene and ar‐curcumene in ginger and (E)‐anethole in fennel essential oils. Essential oils were investigated for their antimicrobial activities by agar well diffusion and broth microdilution methods against Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. The inhibition zone diameters varied from 9.2 ± 0.7 to 28.7 ± 2.1 mm for C. jejuni and 14.7 ± 2.0 to 27.8 ± 2.8 mm for C. coli. While the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were lower for thyme and oregano EOs (5.65–43.20 μg/ml), the highest MIC value was obtained in fennel EO against C. jejuni (28530 μg/ml). Total phenolic contents and antioxidant activities of these essential oils were evaluated by using Folin Ciocalteu, 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (CUPRAC) and 2, 2‐azinobis(3‐ethylbenzo‐thiazoline)‐6‐sulphonic acid (ABTS) methods. The total phenolic content of the essential oils ranged between 7.72 (ginger) to 193 (thyme) mg GAE/L. Antioxidant activities of thyme and oregano were found to be the highest according to the ABTS method, whereas thyme was found to be the highest by the CUPRAC method and ginger by the DPPH method.

Campylobacter infection is an important cause of genital failure in ruminants in developed countries. Although historically Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus has been the main cause of abortion in sheep, C. jejuni is also increasingly associated with sheep abortions. However, limited information is known on Campylobacter‐associated abortions in China. This study initially investigated the distribution of Campylobacter from the genital tracts of humans, monkeys, sheep and cows in China from 2017 to 2018. Ten out of 2126 (0.47%) samples from the genital tracts were Campylobacter positive, of which seven (70%) isolates were identified as C. jejuni. Phylogenetic analysis showed the high genetic diversity of these isolates. The human isolates were closely related to the sheep isolates implying inter‐transmission of Campylobacter between humans and sheep according to the phylogenetic analysis. The acid resistance, adhesion and invasion abilities of genital tract isolates were stronger than isolates from gastrointestinal tract, but no significant difference was observed in the virulence genes. We further found that three genital tract isolates belonged to the same cluster as gastrointestinal isolates from the same host. These findings suggested that there may be inter‐transmission of Campylobacter between the genital and gastrointestinal tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Campylobacteriosis was the most frequently reported foodborne infection in humans in the European Union in the last years. Campylobacter spp. in broiler flocks from Spain was monitored at farm level during 12-month period (2020–2021). Feces samples were analyzed according to ISO (International Standard Organization) 10272-2:2018. From all samples collected, 54% were Campylobacter spp. positive. Regarding the age, Campylobacter spp. was isolated in 36% of the flocks during thinning and 64% in flocks at slaughter age. In addition, Campylobacter spp. counts increased with the age of the animals. On the other hand, the presence of Campylobacter showed statistical differences between the months of the year (P-value

Background Campylobacter spp. bacteremia is a severe infection. A nationwide 5-year retrospective study was conducted to characterize its clinical features and prognostic factors. Methods The study included patients with Campylobacter spp. bacteremia diagnosed in 37 French hospitals participating in the surveillance network of the National Reference Center for Campylobacters and Helicobacters, from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019. The goal was to analyze the effects of a delay of appropriate antibiotic therapy and other risk factors on 30-day mortality rates, antibiotic resistance, patient characteristics, and prognosis according to the Campylobacter species. Results Among the 592 patients, Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter fetus were the most commonly identified species (in 42.9% and 42.6%, respectively). The patients were elderly (median age 68 years), and most had underlying conditions, mainly immunodepression (43.4%), hematologic cancers (25.9%), solid neoplasms (23%), and diabetes (22.3%). C. jejuni and Campylobacter coli were associated with gastrointestinal signs, and C. fetus was associated with secondary localizations. Among the 80 patients (13.5%) with secondary localizations, 12 had endocarditis, 38 vascular, 24 osteoarticular, and 9 ascitic fluid infections. The 30-day mortality rate was 11.7%, and an appropriate antibiotic treatment was independently associated with 30-day survival (odds ratio, 0.47 [95% confidence interval,.24–.93]; P  = .03). The median efficient therapy initiation delay was quite short (2 days [interquartile range, 0–4 days]) but it had no significant impact on the 30-day mortality rate (P  = .78). Conclusions Campylobacter spp. bacteremia mainly occurred in elderly immunocompromised individuals with variable clinical presentations according to the species involved. Appropriate antimicrobial therapy was associated with improved 30-day survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objective. Abortion can occur in sheep, among others, in response to bacterial infection. The present article reviews the latest reports on the various economic and health consequences for the herd, other animals and humans. Review methods. Two independent reviewers searched in PubMed and Google scholar (any date to September 2021) for studies concerning bacterial abortion in sheep. Keywords for the search strategy were: bacteria, sheep, and abortion. Papers were reviewed for scientific merit and relevance as well as for current information. Brief description of the state of knowledge. In the reviewed literature, much attention was paid to infections by Brucella spp., Campylobacter spp., Coxiella burnetti, Listeria spp., and Salmonella spp. As the presence of these bacteria varies according to region, any differential diagnosis should consider the most common pathogens in a given area. It also should be noted that most of the described pathogens have zoonotic potential and, as such, it is extremely important to observe safety rules when assisting in delivering births and when dealing with stillbirths. Conclusions. Identification of the etiological agent seems to be a key factor in the management of abortions, especially in flocks where their numbers appear to be increasing; this is needed to manage and control disease in the flock, and to protect humans and other animal species on the farm. Most studies use molecular methods as diagnostic tools, mainly PCR, and use both foetuses and placenta as research material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The safety of poultry meat products and contamination with microorganisms is based on appropriate reduction of the presence of pathogens during poultry rearing and is closely related to the level of rearing hygiene, including the type of housing, stocking density, microclimate, sanitation and ventilation. Objective The aim of the study is to evaluate the prevalence of Campylobacter -positive samples in Iceland during 2016–2018, and to compare the potential influence of individual parameters of welfare on the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. Material and methods Positivity of excrement and caecum samples for Campylobacter spp. was determined according to ISO 10272–1: 2006 and 2017. Data of welfare indicators were collected during the rearing period and in the slaughterhouse. Results Considerable seasonality was observed in the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. The prevalence of campylobacteriosis on the investigated broiler farms was significantly higher (p ˂0.05) during the summer. Comparison of welfare parameters on Campylobacter -positive and Campylobacter -negative farms failed to indicate a significantly higher level of observed welfare indicators in birds from Campylobacter -positive farms (p˃0.05). In comparing small, medium and big farms, a significantly higher occurrence was observed (p

Handling and consumption of contaminated meat can lead to food poisoning and acquisition of antibiotics resistance genes. This study determined the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. and antibiotics resistant E. coli on poultry carcasses and handler’s hands at Ikpa slaughter, Nsukka. Swabs collected from carcass surfaces and handler’s hands were cultured and isolates were identified with phenotypic and molecular methods. Coliform enumeration, antibiotics susceptibility testing and data analysis were done. Out of 204 samples, 29 (14.2%) were Campylobacter positive, consisting of C. jejuni (27.6%) and C. coli (72.4%) while another 67 samples yielded 23 (34.4%) positive E. coli. Coliform counts were 3.2x103cfu cm-2 and 1.06x103cfu cm-2for unwashed and washed carcasses, 2.5x105 cfu cm-2 and 0.5x104 cfu cm-2 for unwashed and washed handlers’ hands respectively. E. coli was isolated from 45 and 22% of unwashed and washed carcasses respectively and Campylobacter from 16% of unwashed carcasses only. One and five sticks swabbing methods yielded E. coli in 20.5 and 60.9% and Campylobacter in 12 and 83.3% of carcass samples respectively. Only E. coli was detected in 10 (90.0%) of the unwashed hands. E. coli isolates were multi drug-resistant at 80% with index >0.2 and a range of 70 -100% resistant to enrofloxacin, tetracycline, erythromycin, streptomycin and ampicillin; 30 - 50% to gentamycin, chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin while; 10% were to cephtriazone and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Prevalence of Campylobacter and antibiotics resistant E. coli spp. were significantly associated (P

Background: In this study, a total of 250 samples were collected from different ready to eat poultry meat products, 50 samples from each of (Chicken Banne, Chicken Shawarma, Chicken Phaheta, Chicken Shesh kabab, Chicken Zinger) from vending sites and restaurants of different localities of different levels of hygienic measures in Cairo governorate to detect and identify the Campylobacter species bacteriologically by direct plating and selective enrichment methods and by PCR. As regards to the bacteriological examination of 250 collected ready to eat poultry products meal, the obtained results revealed the isolation of Campylobacter spp. from 8 samples with a prevalence rate reached 3.2% by studding the morphological identification on the selective culture media and microscopically identification as well as the biochemical reactions. On the other hand, the all isolated strains proved to be C. jejuni by molecular identification (PCR assay) using specific primers. For experimental challenge, the isolated strains of Campylobacter jejuni were cultured to investigate the role of cross - contamination in disseminating campylobacter from raw poultry within a food service operation specializing in poultry dishes. Samples were collected weekly from environmental surfaces and various kitchen surfaces used at different stages of the preparation process from a retail poultry food service operation. The obtained results revealed that with use of an inoculum of 107 cells, viable C. jejuni could not be recovered from the stainless-steel surface after 1 hour of drying. Also, Campylobacter spp. were not detected in any of the 125 restaurant samples collected The results indicated that as few as 100 Campylobacter cells could be detected if sampling was done within 45 min of inoculation; however, despite the reported high prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in ready to eat poultry meal, this organism was not detected on surfaces within a kitchen of a restaurant specializing in Poultry dishes. This inability to detect Campylobacters may be related to routine cleaning of preparation surfaces, adequate preparation and storage of foodstuffs, good worker hygiene, and physical separation of raw foods from cooked foods, limiting cross-contamination. It is also likely that the lack of Campylobacters in samples from this high-volume retail food service operation may also be attributed to the sensitivity of Campylobacter spp. to drying conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Campylobacteriosis and Campylobacter spp. resistance to antibiotics represents a serious worldwide public health problem thermophilic Campylobacters, in particular, are major causes of gastroenteritis in humans. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from chicken droppings, of commercial poultry in the city of Casablanca, Morocco. Between February and September 2017, 140 samples of chicken droppings were collected and analyzed by classical bacteriology methods for isolation and identification according to Moroccan Standard NM ISO/TS 10272-3 (2013), followed by molecular identification (PCR: polymerase chain reaction). Among the 140 samples, 102 (73%) were positive by Campylobacter spp. tests and 38 (27.14 %) were negative to Campylobacter spp. Among the positive colonies, 41 (40, 2%) were C. jejuni. Of the 41 C. jejuni isolates, resistance was detected to tetracycline (100%), erythromycin (97%), ampicillin (85%), ciprofloxacin (77%), amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid (61.4%), and gentamicin (12.0%). In conclusion, the data obtained in the current study demonstrate that the majority of C. jejuni isolates evaluated were resistant to antimicrobials of the cycline, macrolide, and fluoroquinolone families, and all of the isolates were susceptible to gentamicin. Fluoroquinolone is the drug of choice for treating Campylobacter infections. These results underline the need for prudent use of antibiotics in poultry production to minimize the spread of antibioticresistant Campylobacter spp.

Campylobacteriosis and Campylobacter spp. resistance to antibiotics represents a serious worldwide public health problem thermophilic Campylobacters, in particular, are major causes of gastroenteritis in humans. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from chicken droppings, of commercial poultry in the city of Casablanca, Morocco. Between February and September 2017, 140 samples of chicken droppings were collected and analyzed by classical bacteriology methods for isolation and identification according to Moroccan Standard NM ISO/TS 10272-3 (2013), followed by molecular identification (PCR: polymerase chain reaction). Among the 140 samples, 102 (73%) were positive by Campylobacter spp. tests and 38 (27.14 %) were negative to Campylobacter spp. Among the positive colonies, 41 (40, 2%) were C. jejuni. Of the 41 C. jejuni isolates, resistance was detected to tetracycline (100%), erythromycin (97%), ampicillin (85%), ciprofloxacin (77%), amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid (61.4%), and gentamicin (12.0%). In conclusion, the data obtained in the current study demonstrate that the majority of C. jejuni isolates evaluated were resistant to antimicrobials of the cycline, macrolide, and fluoroquinolone families, and all of the isolates were susceptible to gentamicin. Fluoroquinolone is the drug of choice for treating Campylobacter infections. These results underline the need for prudent use of antibiotics in poultry production to minimize the spread of antibioticresistant Campylobacter spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infections with Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. are the most frequently reported causes of human bacterial enteritis. Warm-blooded animals, including livestock, pets, and wildlife, can be carriers of the bacteria and may contaminate the environment and food products. The present study investigated the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. in fecal pat samples from free-ranging toque macaques (Macaca sinica) and tufted gray langurs (Semnopithecus priam) collected in March–May 2015 in Sri Lanka. In 58 samples from toque macaques, Campylobacter jejuni was isolated in 10 (17%), Campylobacter coli in four (7%), and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Virchow in two (3%). None of the bacteria were isolated in the 40 samples from tufted gray langurs. Pulse-field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing identified six profiles and four clonal complexes of C. jejuni. The isolated Campylobacter spp. showed varying susceptibility to antimicrobial substances. All Campylobacter spp. isolates were susceptible to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, florfenicol, gentamicin, and streptomycin. Four of the C. jejuni were resistant to at least one of the following: ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, and tetracycline, and one of the isolates was multidrug resistant. All four C. coli were resistant to ampicillin, whereas the two Salmonella Virchow strains were susceptible to all antibiotics tested. The presence of Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. in toque macaques may have an impact on the conservation of endangered primates and public health in Sri Lanka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enteritis campylobacterialis has an increasing trend in Serbia. Human illness usually appears as sporadic case, most commonly in children with obvious seasonality. In registered outbreaks, incriminated food was most frequently poultry meat. Campylobacter is one of the most important food borne pathogens, commonly underreported, mostly because isolation of this bacteria requires specific equipment. Since 1 January 2019, monitoring of Campylobacter in poultry carcasses is mandatory when it comes to poultry production facilities in Serbia. The aim of this paper was to analyze data from Autonomous Province of Vojvodina about the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in poultry meat and risk for human illness. Our results indicate high prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in whole food chain: poultry farms, slaughterhouses, retail and, correspondingly, high risk for consumers in Vojvodina. Measures for risk reduction of disease incidence include better bio security measures on the farm level as a main source of pathogen but also introduction of Campylobacter diagnostic equipment in all human diagnostic and food control laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Campylobacter spp. are important causative agents of gastrointestinal infections in humans. The most frequently isolated strains of this bacterial genus are Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. To date, genetic methods for bacterial identification have not been used in Bulgaria. We optimized the multiplex PSR assay to identify Campylobacter spp. and differentiate C. jejuni from C. coli in clinical isolates. We also compared this method with the routinely used biochemical methods.

Background and Aim: Campylobacter spp are pathogenic for human and animals. They are transmitted from animals and animal products to human and cause diarrhea and systemic disease. Campylobacter jejuni is the main species and the most common human pathogen. The aim of this study is the isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from the poultry feces and determination of their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Materials and Methods: In this study, within 2 years, 600 poultry feces samples randomly were collected from Islamkish in kerman. Collected samples were from secome section of poultry. The feces containment were inoculated into campylobacter selective medium containing antibiotics and sheep blood agar and then were incubated in microaerophilic condition in 42 ºc. The resulted colonies were confirmed to the species level using diagnostic tests. Drug resistance pattern against three antibiotics including tetracycline, ampicillin and co-trimoxazole was determined by disk diffusion method. Results and conclusion: In this survey, 190 (31.66%) Campylobacter jejuni were isolated. Drug resistance pattern showed that the prevalence of resistance to tetracycline, ampicillin and co trimoxazole were 54%, 54, and 91%, respectively. Regarding to the results, Campylobacter jejuni isolated in this study in Kerman had been more resistant to co-trimoxazole.

Introduction and objective: Infectious diarrheas are highly frequent and responsible for a major consumption of resources. This study identified the main diarrhea-causing microorganisms in a health area of Granada (Spain) and determined changes in the epidemiologic pattern over a five-year period. Material and method: A retrospective study was conducted based on results obtained in the Microbiology Laboratory of Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves (Granada, Spain). Results: Out of the 25,113 stool microbiological and/or parasitological studies ordered, 2,292 microorganisms were identified in 2,152 samples from 1,892 patients. There was a predominance of bacterial diarrheas (50.1 %), mainly caused by Campylobacter spp. (22.2 %), whose frequency increased significantly during the last two years, and by Salmonella spp. (16.4 %), whose frequency remained stable during the whole study period. We highlight the high frequency of Rotavirus (33.5 %), although a significant decrease was observed during the last two years. Salmonella spp. was more frequently detected during the summer and autumn, Campylobacter spp. during the spring, and Rotavirus during the winter. Viral processes were predominant (53.3 %) in pediatric patients, mainly Rotavirus in under 2-yr-olds, whereas bacterial processes predominated in older children and adults. Diarrhea began at community level in 84.2 % of patients, requiring hospitalization in 25.8 % of cases, and diarrhea was nosocomial in the remaining 15.8 %. Conclusions: During the study period, there was a significant increase in the frequency of diarrhea caused by Campylobacter spp., a significant reduction in the frequency of diarrhea due to Rotavirus, and no change in the frequency of diarrhea due to Salmonella spp., all of which showing a marked seasonal distribution.

La infección causada por Salmonella spp. y por Campylobacter spp. son las enfermedades transmitidas por alimentos (ETA) reportadas más frecuentemente en el mundo, siendo la carne de pollo uno de los vehículos alimentarios más importantes para ambas. Se presenta los primeros resultados de la vigilancia antimicrobiana integrada de las ETA de Salmonella spp. y Campylobacter spp. en tres poblaciones. En este estudio descriptivo de corte transverso, de casos consecutivos, se recolectaron muestras de diversos orígenes de carne de pollo y distintas poblaciones para su aislamiento, caracterización y perfil de resistencia. Se observó una prevalencia de Campylobacter spp. del 13% en alimentos, 20% en muestras clínicas y 55% en heces cloacales de aves, con alta prevalencia de Campylobacter jejuni en las tres poblaciones; de Salmonella spp fue 6% en alimentos, 13% en muestras clínicas y 3% en heces cloacales de aves, con predominio del serotipo Salmonella ser. Enteritidis en las muestras clínicas y heces cloacales de aves. La resistencia a ciprofloxacina de Campylobacter spp., entre 59-81% se destacó en las tres poblaciones estudiadas. Para Salmonella spp. se observó una resistencia a nitrofurantoina del 73% en heces cloacales de aves, 55% en alimentos y 19,4% en humanos; a tetraciclina, 42% en alimentos, 5% en muestras clínicas y 9% en heces cloacales; para el ácido nalidíxico la resistencia fue del 72% en animales y 53% en muestras clínicas. Es importante fortalecer la vigilancia integrada de la resistencia antimicrobiana en estas tres poblaciones de manera a detectar en forma oportuna mecanismos de resistencia que pudieran afectar al ser humano a través de la cadena alimentaria.

Campylobacter spp. is a common cause of bacterial food-borne illness. Birds, especially poultry are primary reservoirs of C. jejuni. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in chicken cuts purchased in supermarkets of Londrina, Parana. A total of 50 samples of chicken cuts, such as breasts, thighs and drumsticks were analyzed. The confirmation of the presence of Campylobacter spp. was performed by identifying the suspected colonies on the selective medium using the polymerase chain reaction. Of the 50 samples analyzed, 28 (56%) were positive for Campylobacter spp. Chicken meat, as observed in this study, is a possible source of Campylobacter transmission to humans. This study alerts for the importance to analyze the occurrence of Campylobacter in chicken meat, due to the significant number of positive samples observed and no available epidemiological data in Brazil. The correct orientation about handling and cooking of chicken meat is also necessary to prevent human infection by Campylobacter spp.

Campylobacter spp. is the most commonly reported, bacterial cause of human foodborne infection worldwide. Commercial poultry and free-living birds are natural reservoirs of three particular species: Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Campylobacter lari. The aim of this study was to determine the genotypic characteristics and antibiotic susceptibility of 43 Campylobacter strains, obtained from free-living birds, in Poland. In total, 700 birds were examined. The strains were isolated from 43 birds (6.14%) from the feces of 7 wild bird species: Mallard ducks Anas platyrhynchos (29 positive/121 tested), great cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo (5/77), velvet scoters Melanitta fusca (4/30), tawny owls Strix aluco (2/5), common buzzard Buteo buteo (1/3), rook Corvus frugilegus (1/6), and Eurasian tree sparrow Passer montanus (1/30). Thirty-eight (88.37%) of obtained strains belonged to C. jejuni and five (11.63%) to C. coli. Other 428 examined birds from different bird species were Campylobacter negative. The antimicrobial susceptibility to nine antimicrobials was also studied in investigated isolates of Campylobacter spp. Sixteen of the examined strains (37.21% of all positive samples) showed susceptibility to all of the nine antimicrobials. Moreover, the prevalence of selected virulence genes, such as flaA, cadF, ceuE, virB11, cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC were all analyzed. The virulence gene that was found most frequently in total number of Campylobacter strains was ceuE (72.10%) and other genes, such as flaA, cadF, cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC, were found in over 60% of all examined strains. Variable antimicrobial susceptibility and the presence of different virulence genes of examined strains, isolated from free-living birds, suggest that special attention should be given to wild birds and any potential approaches to the control of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter should be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have previously investigated how poor animal welfare might be associated with infection of zoonotic pathogens in humans. This paper assesses the predictive value of the presence of Campylobacter spp. in broiler chicken flocks when animal-based measures related to footpad dermatitis, hock burns, body lesions and arthritis are identified under commercial conditions (high density). The study population included 32 flocks analysed on farm and at slaughter, slaughtered between April and August 2008 in six different slaughter plants in Brittany, France. Welfare and health indicators are those indicated by the European legislation and sampling was carried out in the framework of the European baseline survey on the prevalence of Campylobacter in broiler chicken. Caecal contents, sampled both on farm and at slaughter, and carcass skin samples from the neck and breast at slaughter, were investigated for the presence of Campylobacter spp. Logistic models/classification trees were used to estimate the probability of the presence (or absence) of a specific foodborne pathogen in a flock based on specific animal-based measures (or combinations of measures) in order to study the potential relationship between welfare indicators and foodborne pathogen prevalence/incidence levels. On farm, flocks with more than 25% animals with severe lesions on between 25 and 50% of the footpad are predicted to be Campylobacter -positive whereas flocks where less than 13 individuals have arthritis are predicted to be Campylobacter -negative. The error rate on farm and at slaughter was 10 and 4% respectively indicating good predicting abilities. A poor welfare environment may result in stress, which reduces chicken immunocompetence making them more susceptible to Campylobacter spp. An infection with Campylobacter spp may lead to impaired defence and susceptibility to other pathogens which may result in greater intestinal excretion. Poor welfare and high growing rate lead to digestive troubles that lead to litter humidity. Litter humidity that, among other things, causes footpad dermatitis may also influence the horizontal transmission of the Campylobacter spp. infection due to the normal coprophagic behaviour of poultry. Reducing welfare problems by a better management of rearing conditions would not only improve broiler welfare, but it would also decrease the risks of Campylobacter contamination, of carcass condemnations and of economic loss for the poultry industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermophilic Campylobacter spp. are one of the primary causes of bacterial human diarrhea. The consumption of poultry meats, by-products, or both is suspected to be a major cause of human campylobacteriosis. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. in fresh poultry meat and poultry by-products by conventional culture methods and to confirm Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolates by using the multiplex PCR assay. Two hundred fifty fresh poultry samples were collected from a variety of supermarkets and slaughterhouses located in Sfax, Tunisia, including chicken (n =149) and turkey (n =101). The samples were analyzed using conventional microbiological examinations according to the 2006 International Organization for Standardization method (ISO 10272-1) for Campylobacter spp. Concurrently, a real-time PCR was used for identification of C. jejuni and C. coli. Of the 250 samples of poultry meat and poultry by-products, 25.6% (n = 64) were contaminated with Campylobacter spp. The highest prevalence of Campylobacter spp. was found in chicken meat (26.8%) followed by turkey meat (23.7%). Among the different products, poultry breasts showed the highest contamination (36.6%) followed by poultry by-products (30%), poultry wings (28%) and poultry legs (26%) showed the lowest contamination, and no contamination was found on neck skin. Of the 64 thermophilic Campylobacter isolates, C. jejuni (59.7%) was the most frequently isolated species and 10.9% of the isolates were identified as C. coli. All of the 64 Campylobacter isolates identified by the conventional culture methods were further confirmed by PCR. The seasonal peak of Campylobacter spp. contamination was in the warm seasons (spring and summer). The study concluded that high proportions of poultry meat and poultry by-products marketed in Tunisia are contaminated by Campylobacter spp. Furthermore, to ensure food safety, poultry meats must be properly cooked before consuming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The house fly, Musca domestica, has been implicated as a vector of Campylobacter spp., a major cause of human disease. Little is known whether house flies serve as biological amplifying hosts or mechanical vectors for Campylobacter jejuni. We investigated the period after C. jejuni had been ingested by house flies in which viable C. jejuni colonies could be isolated from whole bodies, the vomitus and the excreta of adult M. domestica and evaluated the activation of innate immune responses of house flies to ingested C. jejuni over time. C. jejuni could be cultured from infected houseflies soon after ingestion but no countable C. jejuni colonies were observed > 24 h postingestion. We detected viable C. jejuni in house fly vomitus and excreta up to 4 h after ingestion, but no viable bacteria were detected ≥ 8 h. Suppression subtractive hybridization identified pathogen-induced gene expression in the intestinal tracts of adult house flies 4-24 h after ingesting C. jejuni. We measured the expression of immune regulatory ( thor, JNK, and spheroide) and effector ( cecropin, diptericin, attacin, defensing, and lysozyme) genes in C. jejuni-infected and -uninfected house flies using quantitative real time PCR. Some house fly factor, or combination of factors, eliminates C. jejuni within 24 h postingestion. Because C. jejuni is not amplified within the body of the housefly, this insect likely serves as a mechanical vector rather than as a true biological, amplifying vector for C. jejuni, and adds to our understanding of insect-pathogen interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the molecular etiopathology of occurrence of reproductive diseases in female goats. Reproductive diseases in goats account for major economic losses to goat farmers in terms of valuable loss of offspring and animal productivity. Materials and Methods: A total of 660 female genitalia were examined for pathological conditions (macroscopic and microscopic lesions). The etiopathological study was carried out for the presence of pathogenic organisms such as Brucella, Chlamydia and Campylobacter in the uterus and ovary. Based on the microscopic lesions, suspected samples were subjected to diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for various etiological agents employing 16srRNA genus specific primers for Campylobacter and Chlamydophila and OMP31 gene-based PCR for Brucella melitensis and nested PCR using ITS-1 gene primers for Toxoplasma gondii. For Brucella suspected samples, immunohistochemistry (IHC) was also performed. Results: In studied female genitalia, 108 (16.30%) showed gross abnormalities with overall 23.32% occurrence of pathological conditions (macroscopic and microscopic lesions). Pathological involvement of the uterus was the highest 68 (62.96%), followed by the ovaries 27 (25%) and other organs. Major uterine condition observed was endometritis (5.60%). In uterine infections, 35 (5.30%) samples were found positive for Campylobacter spp., 12 (1.81%) samples for B. melitensis and 3 (0.45%) samples were positive for Chlamydophila spp. Among the samples positive for B. melitensis by PCR, 3 were found positive by IHC also. Corynebacterium ovis was detected by PCR using specific primers in a case of hydrosalpinx. It was concluded that many pathological lesions in female genitalia of functional significance play a major role in infertility in goats. Conclusion: The present study concluded that many pathological lesions in female genitalia of functional significance play a major role in infertility in goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMS: To investigate the prevalence ofCampylobacterspp. andC. jejuniin dog faecal material collected from dog walkways in the city of Palmerston North, New Zealand, and to characterise theC. jejuniisolates by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) andporA andflaA antigen gene typing. METHODS: A total of 355 fresh samples of dogs faeces were collected from bins provided for the disposal of dog faeces in 10 walkways in Palmerston North, New Zealand, between August 2008–July 2009. PresumptiveCampylobactercolonies, cultured on modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate plates, were screened for genusCampylobacterandC. jejuniby PCR. TheC. jejuniisolates were subsequently characterised by MLST andporA andflaA typing, andC. jejunisequence types (ST) were assigned. RESULTS: Of the 355 samples collected, 72 (20 (95% CI=16–25)%) were positive forCampylobacterspp. and 22 (6 (95% CI=4–9)%) were positive forC. jejuni. Of the 22C. jejuni isolates, 19 were fully typed by MLST. Ten isolates were assigned to the clonal complex ST-45 and three to ST-52. The allelic combinations of ST-45/flaA 21/porA 44 (n=3), ST-45/flaA 22/porA 53 (n=3) and ST-52/flaA 57/porA 905 (n=3) were most frequent. CONCLUSIONS: The successful isolation ofC. jejunifrom canine faecal samples collected from faecal bins provides evidence thatCampylobacterspp. may survive outside the host for at least several hours despite requiring fastidious growth conditions in culture. The results show that dogs carryC. jejunigenotypes (ST-45, ST-50, ST-52 and ST-696) that have been reported in human clinical cases. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although these results do not provide any evidence either for the direction of infection or for dogs being a potential risk factor for human campylobacteriosis, dog owners are advised to practice good hygiene with respect to their pets to reduce potential exposure to infection. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective Develop a multiplex quantitative PCR assay to investigate the prevalence and shedding of Escherichia coli O157/ O145, Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. in sheep at sale yards and abattoirs. Methods A qPCR for E. coli O157/ O145 was developed, validated and multiplexed with an existing qPCR for Campylobacter and Salmonella enterica. The absolute numbers of E. coli O157/ O145, Campylobacter and Salmonella in control samples was determined using droplet digital PCR. These were then used as the controls in the multiplex qPCR on a total of 474 sheep faecal samples collected from two saleyards over a 4-month period (April-July 2014) and 96 effluent samples from an abattoir. Results The mutiplex qPCR was specific with a sensitivity of 5 organisms/ μL faecal DNA extract for Campylobacter, S. enterica and E. coli O157/ O145. The overall prevalence of Campylobacter, S. enterica and E. coli O157/ O145 in faecal samples was 5.7%, 3.6% and 8.4% and in effluent samples was 18.8%, 6.3% and 5.2%, respectively. The pathogen loads of Campylobacter, S. enterica and E. coli O157/ O145 in faecal and effluent samples was also determined via mutiplex qPCR. Conclusions The overall prevalences of Campylobacter, S. enterica and E. coli O157/ O145 were generally low (<6%), but point prevalences ranged considerably in healthy sheep (up to 26% for E. coli O157/ O145). Further work to determine risk factors for shedding of bacterial organisms in meat sheep in the pre-slaughter period (on-farm, sale yards and lairage at abattoirs) could further reduce the risk of contamination of meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]