Species distribution, genetic diversity and antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter isolates recovered from the preputial cavity of healthy rams in Turkey.

AIMS: Campylobacter sp. are important causes of reproductive disease in ruminants worldwide. Although healthy bulls are well-known carriers for infection of cows, the role of rams as a potential source for infecting ewes is unclear. This study aimed to determine prevalence, species distribution, genetic diversity and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Campylobacter sp. isolated from the preputial cavity of healthy rams. METHODS AND RESULTS: The material of this prospective study comprised 191 swab samples taken from the preputial cavity of healthy rams. Enrichment and membrane filtration were employed for the isolation of Campylobacter. Presumptive isolates were confirmed as Campylobacter by phenotypic and molecular tests. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis was used for the definitive identification of the isolates at species level, and genotyping was performed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The susceptibility of the Campylobacter sp. isolates to various antibiotics was determined by the disk diffusion test. In all, 27 of the 191 (14·13%) swab samples were found to be positive for Campylobacter sp. (28 isolates were recovered in total). Per phenotypic and genotypic analyses, one isolate was identified as Campylobacter mucosalis and the remaining 27 isolates were identified as Campylobacter sputorum bv. faecalis. The PFGE analysis of the C. sputorum biovar faecalis isolates produced 17 clusters and 24 different pulsotypes, indicating high genetic heterogeneity. All 28 isolates were found to be susceptible to all of the antibiotics tested. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy rams may be an important reservoir of different Campylobacter species in the preputium. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study demonstrated for the first time that healthy rams can carry different Campylobacter sp. including genetically diverse C. sputorum bv. faecalis and C. mucosalis in the preputial cavity. Further investigation on the potential implication of this finding on sheep reproductive health (e.g. infectious infertility, and abortion) and overall epidemiology of Campylobacter may be warranted.

Prevalence and distribution of Arcobacter species in various sources in Turkey and molecular analysis of isolated strains by ERIC-PCR.

AIMS: To determine the prevalence of Arcobacter in various food, animal and water sources in Turkey and to subtype the isolated strains using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 806 samples consisting of chicken (100) and turkey meat (100); minced beef (27); rectal swabs from cattle (173), sheep (68) and dogs (62); cloacal swabs of broilers (100) and layers (100); gall bladders of cattle (50) and drinking water samples (26) were examined. A previously described membrane filtration method was used for the isolation. Isolates were identified at species level using multiplex-PCR and discriminated by ERIC-PCR for subtyping. Ninety-eight (12.1%) of the samples examined were found positive for arcobacters. Arcobacter spp. were isolated from 68%, 4%, 6.9%, 8% and 37% of chicken and turkey meats, rectal swabs and gall bladders of cattle and minced beef, respectively. No arcobacters were obtained from the rectal swabs of sheep and dogs, cloacal swabs of broilers and layers, and water samples examined. In total, 99 Arcobacter isolates were obtained. Of these isolates, 92 were identified as Arcobacter butzleri, five were Arcobacter skirrowii and two were Arcobacter cryaerophilus. Thirteen distinct DNA profiles among A. butzleri isolates were obtained by the ERIC-PCR. Of these profiles, eight were from chicken carcass, three from cattle rectal swab and two from minced beef meat isolates. Some of the isolates originated from different sources gave the same DNA profiles. All isolates of A. skirrowii and A. cryaerophilus gave different DNA profiles. CONCLUSIONS: Poultry carcasses, minced beef meat, rectal swabs and gall bladders of cattle were found to be positive for Arcobacter spp. A. butzleri was the predominant species isolated. In addition, large heterogeneity among the Arcobacter isolates was determined. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Contamination of the poultry carcasses and minced beef meat, rectal and gall bladder samples of cattle with arcobacters poses a risk for both human and animal infections. Detection of several different Arcobacter strains may suggest multiple sources for contamination and infection.

Pathological, clinical and mycological findings in experimental aspergillosis infections of starlings.

A group of 24 wild starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), in undefined age categories but at least post-pubertal, constituted the material of this study. Six starlings were kept as a control group and 18 starlings served as the infection group. The starlings in the infection group were infected with inoculums of 1.35 x 10(6)/0.2 ml Aspergillus fumigatus via intratracheal route whereas the control group was administered only placebo in the same way. Six, four, two, four and two birds died on 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 days post inoculation respectively. At the necropsy of the dead birds, caseous foci were determined in the lungs, on the air sacks, myocardium, thoracic wall and abdominal serosa. In the histopathological examination of the white-yellowish caseous foci ranging from pinhead to chick pean in size, necrotic granulomatous foci consisting of macrophages, heterophil leukocytes and gigant cells encapsulated with a fibrous tissue were observed. Hyphae and spores of A. fumigatus were determined in these foci using the Gridley staining method.

Experimental Aspergillus fumigatus infection in quails and results of treatment with itraconazole.

This study was performed to investigate (i). the clinical, histopathological and biochemical changes in quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) with experimentally induced aspergillosis; and (ii). the efficiency of itraconazole treatment on these infected birds. A total of 18021-day-old male quails was randomly divided into three groups (control, infected untreated and infected treated), each containing 60. The experimental infection was set by intratracheal inoculation of 0.2 ml inoculum of Aspergillus fumigatus (CBS 113.26 strain) consisting of approximately 2.7 x 106 spores/ml. Two days after the inoculation, general clinical signs of aspergillosis in the respiratory tract were observed. In the histopathological examination, caseous foci were found in lungs, trachea and on airsacs. All quails died in the infected untreated group. Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from the various organs of all dead quails. There was no significant change in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activities in infected untreated birds compared with controls. However, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, albumin and calcium levels, and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio were lower while phosphorus and globulin levels were higher in the infected untreated group than in controls. Each quail in the infected treated group was given 10 mg/kg/day itraconazole via drinking water for 7 days immediately after the first clinical findings. Although all quails died in the infected untreated group, 41 quails survived in the itraconazole treatment group. Biochemical values also returned approximately to the control levels after the treatment. The conclusion was drawn that aspergillosis in the quails might cause economical losses because of high mortality. Oral itraconazole treatment of aspergillosis might lower the mortality rate in quails.