Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Campylobacter Species

Thermophilic Campylobacter spp. are important causative agents of diarrhoeal disease in humans. Antimicrobial-resistant Campylobacter spp. that originate from poultry can enter the human food chain and result in resistant Campylobacter spp. in human infections. Campylobacter spp. were isolated from chicken faeces collected from chicken farms near Harare. Human isolates of Campylobacter spp. were obtained from clinical laboratories in Harare. The Campylobacter isolates were identified by biochemical tests and tested for their susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs using the disc-diffusion method. A total of 77 human and 83 chicken isolates were characterised. C. jejuni was the most common in both humans (75.3) and chickens (60.2); followed by C. coli; which was detected in 19.5 of human and 28.9 of chicken isolates; and then C. lari; detected in 5.2 of human and 10.8 of chicken isolates. All the Campylobacter spp. from humans and chickens were susceptible to erythromycin and all isolates from the chickens were also susceptible to chloramphenicol and gentamicin. Over 85 of the isolates from humans and chickens were susceptible to ciprofloxacin; norfloxacin and tetracycline. Approximately 50 of the isolates from humans and 82 of those from chickens were resistant to co-trimoxazole. All the human and chicken Campylobacter isolates that were resistant to norfloxacin were also resistant to ciprofloxacin. The present study has shown low levels of resistance of Campylobacter spp. from humans and chickens to most of the antimicrobial drugs tested; with the exception of co-trimoxazole

Campylobacter Spp. epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility in a developing country, Burkina Faso (West Africa)

Data on campylobacteriosis are almost nonexistent in Burkina Faso. In this study conducted from 2006 to 2008 in Ouagadougou; stool specimens and sociodemographic data were collected from 1 246 patients attending the university teaching hospital for enteritis. Stool samples were analyzed for the presence of Campylobacter by the direct culture method on selective mCCDA agar followed by antibiotic susceptibility testing on the isolated strains. The isolation rate of Campylobacter was 2.3;comprising of the following species C. jejuni (51.8); C. coli (13.8); and C. upsaliensis (3.5). However; 30.9of the isolates were unidentified. No resistant strain was found to gentamicin. The resistance to amoxicillin+clavulanic acid (3.4) was lower than those (10.3-34.5) to the other antibiotics: erythromycin (10.3); tetracycline (10.3); ciprofloxacin (13.8); amoxicillin (24.1) and ceftriaxone (34.5); nalidixic acid (34.5). Significant associations were found between Campylobacter enteritis and contact with animals (P=0.03); and HIV infection (P0.0001); in contrast to other sociodemographic and seasonal factors. From the data obtained Amoxicillin+clavulanic acid appear to be the first choice for treatment. The implementation of a national program may be helpful in controlling the spread of the disease and the increase of resistance to antibiotics

Prevalence of Thermophilic Campylobacter Species in Carcasses from Sheep and Goats in an Abattoir in Debre Zeit Area; Ethiopia

Background:Thermophilic Campylobacter spp. namely; Campylobacter jejuni and coli cause acute diarrheal diseases in humans worldwide; although these species are known to occur in the intestinal tract of a wide variety of domestic and wild animals. Objective: Little is known about the presence of these bacteria in various food animals as possible sources of infection to humans in Ethiopia. Therefore this study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of thermophilic Campylobacter species in sheep and goat carcasses at a private export abattoir in Debre-Zeit; Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on apparently healthy sheep and goat slaughtered at a private export abattoir in Debre-Zeit; from October 2007 to March 2008. Sheep carcasses (mutton) (n=218) and goat carcasses (n=180) were analyzed for Campylobacter spp. Swabs were taken from four different sites on the carcasses (crutch; abdomen; thorax and breast) at different stages of slaughtering processes (before evisceration; after evisceration and after washing). Results: Campylobacter spp were isolated from 40 (10.1) out of 398 carcasses examined. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of isolation of Campylobacter species in different swabbing sites. Of the 40 thermophilic campylobacter isolates; C. jejuni and C. coli accounted for 29 (72.5) and 11 (27.5); respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study revealed the presence of campylobacter in sheep and goat carcasses; indicating possible risks of infection to people through the consumption of raw/under-cooked meat. Coordinated actions are needed to reduce or eliminate the risks posed by this organism at various stages of slaughtering process

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Thermotolerant Campylobacter Strains in Retail Raw Meat Products in Ethiopia

Background: Campylobacter jejuni/coli are frequent causes of diarrhea in humans worldwide originating in foods of animal origin mainly from poultry. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of thermotolerant Campylobacter strains in retail raw meat products. Methods: During a 4-month period from November 2006 to April 2007; a total of 540 raw meat samples were collected from beef (n=227); sheep (n=114); goat (n=92); chicken (n=60) and pork (n=47) and analyzed for Campylobacter spp. Results: Campylobacter spp. were isolated from 50 (9.3) out of 540 meat samples. The highest prevalence (21.7) was recorded in chicken meat; followed by sheep meat (10.5); pork meat (8.5); goat meat (7.6) and beef (6.2). Among the isolates; 39 (78) were identified to be C. jejuni; 9 (18) were C. coli and 2 (4) were C. lari. Lower resistance rates (2-6) were observed for amoxicillin; chloramphenicol and erythromycin than (10-20) for ampicillin; gentamicin; kanamycin; treptomycin and tetracycline. Multidrug resistance to two or more drugs was detected in 20of strains. Conclusion: Raw meat from food animals could serve as potential source of campylobacter; indicating possible risks of infection to people through the consumption of raw/under-cooked meat. Low percentages of resistance to most antimicrobial agents tested in this study may be the indirect result of low/no usage of these agents as a growth promoter or treatment in food animals in the Ethiopian animal farm setting

Diagnostic Potentials of the Reactivities of Lectins with whole Cells of Three Bacterial Diarrheagenic Agents : Aeromonas; Plesiomonas and Campylobacter

The reactivities of strains of Plesionmona shigeloides; Campylobater jejuni; Campylobacter coli and Aeromonas species with some lectins namely Soyabean agglutinin (SBA); Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA); Peanut agllutinin (PNA); Cancanavalin-A (Con-A); Lima bean agglutinin (LMA) and Abrin were investigated using the microtitre plate method. The results obtained show that all stains of A. hydrophila; A. caviae; A. Sobria and P. shigelloides reacted very strongly with PNA and SBA. All strains of C. jejuni studied failed to react with SBA but reacted with PNA Whereas C. coli did not show any reaction towards PNA but reacted very strongly with SBA. All strains of the different organisms were strongly agglutinated by RCA and LMA except A. Hydrophilia and A. sobria which did not react with RCA and LMA respectively. C. jejuni was not agglutinated by Con-A unlike C. coli. Only C. jejuni; C. coli and P. shigelloides reacted with abrin. This study suggests that the reactivities of lectins with the diarrheogenic bacteria studied may be used for their presumptive identifications and for epidemiological purposes