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Dynamics of Campylobacter colonization of a natural host, Sturnus vulgaris (European starling)

Authors :
J. C. Howe
Frances M. Colles
Andrew G. Gosler
Noel D. McCarthy
C. L. Devereux
Martin C. J. Maiden
Source :
Environmental Microbiology
Publication Year :
2016

Abstract

Wild European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) shed Campylobacter at high rates, suggesting that they may be a source of human and farm animal infection. A survey of Campylobacter shedding of 957 wild starlings was undertaken by culture of faecal specimens and genetic analysis of the campylobacters isolated: shedding rates were 30.6% for Campylobacter jejuni, 0.6% for C. coli and 6.3% for C. lari. Genotyping by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and antigen sequence typing established that these bacteria were distinct from poultry or human disease isolates with the ST-177 and ST-682 clonal complexes possibly representing starling-adapted genotypes. There was seasonal variation in both shedding rate and genotypic diversity, both exhibiting a maximum during the late spring/early summer. Host age also affected Campylobacter shedding, which was higher in younger birds, and turnover was rapid with no evidence of cross-immunity among Campylobacter species or genotypes. In nestlings, C. jejuni shedding was evident from 9 days of age but siblings were not readily co-infected. The dynamics of Campylobacter infection of starlings differed from that observed in commercial poultry and consequently there was no evidence that wild starlings represent a major source of Campylobacter infections of food animals or humans.

Details

Language :
English
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Environmental Microbiology
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....d7d5efa20eeb92668e53bf05e3d0ac9e