Crowding and winter emergency feeding as predisposing factors for kerato-conjunctivitis in semi-domesticated reindeer in Norway

Due to the hard environmental and climatic situation in late winter 1999, a herd of about 200 free-ranging, semi-domesticated reindeer was gathered in a paddock in northern Norway for emergency feeding. About the same number of reindeer was not corralled but supplementary fed on their winter pastures. The fodder was of relatively good quality but very dusty and fed in a very dry environment. Six weeks later, an outbreak of eye-infection was diagnosed in one third of the corralled reindeer; mild symptoms were observed in most of them, but 11 animals showed severe signs of disease. No signs of disease were found in the non-corralled animals. Ten reindeer died through emaciation, the eleventh was sacrificed. Histopathological diagnosis of two severely affected eyes revealed a severe purulent kerato-conjunctivitis with bacteria and plant particles embedded in purulent exudates on the cornea and conjunctiva. In one eye from the two most affected animals Actinomyces pyogenes, coagulase-negative Staphylococci and Escherichia coli and in the other one Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were found. The bacteria encountered in this study are not considered the primary cause of disease. They seem rather to be opportunistic infectious agents of eyes that have been irritated mechanically through exposure to dusty fodder in a dry environment. The stress through unfamiliar corralling of the reindeer, that followed an insufficient fodder supply, could be considered as an additional infection supporting factor. This case-report emphasises on the importance of different factors involved in favouring outbreaks of disease in reindeer, under intensified husbandry conditions. Even though crowding and emergency feeding may be, at certain circumstances, the only means of survival for reindeer, a negative impact of implied crowding diseases on their productivity, must be considered, as well.     

The intestinal microbiome in dogs and cats with diarrhoea as detected by a faecal polymerase chain reaction‐based panel in Perth,Western Australia

This study reports the prevalence of potential faecal pathogens in the microbiome detected in a cohort of cats and dogs with diarrhoea in Perth, Western Australia. Records from a commercial diagnostic laboratory using faecal PCR testing between July 2014 and August 2015 were reviewed.Of 289 feline faecal samples reviewed, Salmonella spp. (1.7%), Campylobacter spp. (47.6%), Clostridium perfringens (81.3%), Giardia spp. (11.1%), Toxoplasma gondii (1.2%), Tritrichomonas foetus (4.8%), panleukopenia virus (6.5%) and coronavirus (39.5%) were detected. In dogs, Salmonella spp. (5.4%), Campylobacter spp. (36.3%), C. perfringens (85.4%), Giardia spp. (6.2%), parvovirus (9.4%), coronavirus (4.7%) and distemper virus (1.5%) were detected.     

Differences in the seroprevalence of Salmonella spp. in free-ranging and corralled semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Finland

Serum samples from 1032 semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) from Finland were examined for the occurrence of Salmonella-antibodies by use of an indirect ELISA. The majority of samples originated from clinically healthy slaughter reindeer, kept extensively (n = 802; year of sampling: 1996). The remaining samples (n = 230) came from a research herd, permanently kept intensively, with repeated outbreaks of diarrhoea. In this study, 29 of the examined serum samples showed an OD above the determined cut-off. The prevalence in the clinically healthy slaughter reindeer was 0.9%, in the research herd 4.2% in 1996, 10.5% in 1997 and 12.9% in 1998. It must be assumed that the intensive husbandry in the corralled research herd may favour the spreading of infectious agents and eventually outbreaks of crowding diseases in the herd. This investigation is complemented by a review on the occurrence of Salmonella in wild and semi-domesticated cervids.     

Clostridium Infection (Jisizheng) in Yaks in Qinghai,China

Since the mid-1980s, outbreaks of a disease characterized by a sudden onset, acute deaths and extensive haemorrhages in the viscera and digestive tract of yaks have been prevalent in Qilian, Qinghai, China. The disease is known as jisizheng by local people. Virulent Clostridium perfringens type A and Clostridium haemolytica were isolated from yaks that had died of jisizheng. In 1996 and 1997, yaks were immunized with a polyvalent inactivated vaccine against C. perfringens and with an inactivated vaccine against C. haemolyticum, and this prevented the occurrence of jisizheng.     

Concentrations of faecal coliforms,Escherichia coli,enterococci and Campylobacter spp. in equine faeces

Abstract

AIMS: To determine the concentration of Campylobacter spp. as well as faecal indicator bacteria; faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli and enterococci in the faeces of healthy adult horses in a sample of properties in the Canterbury region of New Zealand.

METHODS: The faeces of healthy adult horses (n=59), including ponies, pleasure horses and Thoroughbreds, were collected from eight properties around Christchurch, New Zealand. The faeces were analysed for concentrations of Campylobacter spp and faecal indicator bacteria; faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli and enterococci. The presence of other animals on the properties sampled as well as the age, feed and health of the horses at the time of sampling was recorded.

RESULTS: Enterococci and faecal coliforms were isolated from all samples, and E. coli was isolated from 58/59 samples. Mean concentrations of faecal coliforms and E. coli did not differ between properties, but there was a significant difference in mean concentration of enterococci between properties. Campylobacter spp. were detected in two faecal samples with one isolate being determined by PCR analysis to be a thermotolerant Campylobacter species, the other C. jejuni.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first known report quantifying the concentration of Campylobacter spp. present in healthy adult horses in New Zealand. The presence of equine faecal material in water could elevate concentrations of faecal bacteria and therefore needs to be considered as a source of water contamination. The access of horses to waterways and coastal environments may also need to be restricted to prevent transmission of faecal indicator bacteria and potentially zoonotic agents.     

Nitric oxide and lysozyme production as an impact to Clostridium perfringens mastitis

The anaerobic mastitis incidence was used to study the bovine udder response in anaerobic bacterial mastitis caused by the Gram-positive bacterial strain of Clostridium perfringens. Milk samples positive for C. perfringens were assayed for NO and lysozyme. The model produced a strong NO and lysozyme response which correlated positively with the severity and outcome of the disease (subclinical and clinical stages). This study is, to our knowledge, the first to suggest a possible link between NO and lysozyme and bovine mastitis caused by C. perfringens. The results raise the possibility that interfering with NO production during mastitis may help to prevent tissue damage.     

Prevalence of Clostridium perfringens in faeces and ileal contents from grass sickness affected horses: Comparisons with 3 control populations

Reasons for performing study: While previous studies have demonstrated an association between equine grass sickness (EGS) and the presence of Clostridium botulinum within ileal contents and faeces, no such associations with other intestinal‐derived anaerobic bacteria have been extensively investigated. Hypothesis: The prevalence of C. perfringens in the ileal contents and faeces of EGS horses is greater than control horses; the detection of C. perfringens in faeces by ELISA could be diagnostically beneficial in a clinical setting. Methods: The prevalence of C. perfringens in faeces from EGS horses and healthy grazing control horses was determined by both selective culture and ELISA to permit both validation of the ELISA and inter‐group comparisons. Additionally, the prevalence of C. perfringens (ELISA) in ileal contents from EGS horses was compared with that for control horses with nongastrointestinal disease. Finally, the prevalence of C. perfringens (ELISA) in faeces from EGS cases was compared with that from both horses with which they shared pasture at the time of disease onset and non‐EGS colic horses. Results: When compared with culture, the ELISA had a sensitivity and specificity of 86 and 98%, respectively. The prevalence of C. perfringens in faeces as determined by both culture and ELISA was significantly higher (P<0.001) for EGS horses (7/9 and 15/37, respectively) than for healthy grazing controls (0/60 and 1/74, respectively). The prevalence of C. perfringens in ileal contents from EGS horses (5/10) was greater than that for horses with nongastrointestinal disease (1/12) at a level that approached significance (P = 0.056). EGS cases had a significantly greater prevalence of C. perfringens in faeces (15/37) than co‐grazing horses (1/18) and colic (1/16) horses. The specificity (93%) and PPV (94%) of the detection of C. perfringens by ELISA on faecal samples in relation to disease status (EGS compared with colic horses) was good. Sensitivity (41%) and NPV (39%) were poor. Conclusions and potential relevance: The use of a commercial ELISA to detect faecal C. perfringens may be diagnostically beneficial when differentiating EGS cases from colic cases, although further work is required to fully evaluate its potential.     

Detection of flagellar antigen ofCampylobacter jejuni andCampylobacter coli in canine faeces with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) — New prospects for diagnosis

A new diagnostic procedure was developed to detect the flagellar antigen ofCampylobacter jejuni andCampylobacter coli in canine faecal specimens and was tested on faecal samples from random-source dogs obtained from the local dog pound. Extraction of acid-soluble proteins was performed on faecal specimens and the extracted material was evaluated using species-specific monoclonal antibodies in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The assay detected allC. jejuni orC. coli infected specimens compared with direct selective faecal culture. One of 18 faecal specimens culture-negative forC. jejuni was identified as positive by the assay, i.e. a false positive rate of 1 of 18 (5.6%) and a corresponding specificity of 94.4%. These results suggest that the screening procedure developed to detect flagellar antigens ofC. jejuni andC. coli in canine faecal samples should be further investigated as a diagnostic alternative to culture.Abbreviations ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay - PBS phosphate-buffered saline - OD optical density     

Identification and cloning of two immunogenic Clostridium perfringens proteins, elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) and pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFO) of C. perfringens

Clostridium-related poultry diseases such as necrotic enteritis (NE) and gangrenous dermatitis (GD) cause substantial economic losses on a global scale. Two antigenic Clostridium perfringens proteins, elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) and pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFO), were identified by reaction with immune sera from commercial meat-type chickens with clinical outbreak of Clostridium infections. In addition to the genes encoding EF-Tu and PFO, C. perfringens alpha-toxin and necrotic enteritis B-like (NetB) toxin were also expressed in Escherichia coli and their corresponding recombinant proteins were purified. Using the four recombinant proteins as target antigens in ELISA immunoassays, high serum antibody titers were observed not only in chickens with clinical signs of Clostridium infections, but also in apparently healthy animals from the same disease-endemic farm. By contrast, no antibodies against any of the proteins were present in the serum of a specific pathogen-free bird. In ELISA using recombinant proteins of C. perfringens, the levels of anti-bacterial protein antibodies were also higher in chickens which were experimentally induced to show NE clinical signs after co-infection with C. perfringens and Eimeria maxima compared with uninfected controls. These results show that two antigenic C. perfringens proteins, EF-Tu and PFO can be useful detection antigens for C. perfringens-afflicted infections in commercial poultry.     

Molecular analysis of the virulence determinants ofClostridium perfringens associated with foal diarrhoea

During an epidemiological study of foal diarrhoea, over half of the cases yielded Clostridium perfringens whichwas significantly associated with disease (Netherwood el al., 1996b). However, the association could not be accounted for by enterotoxigenic isolates which had a low prevalence (Netherwood et al., 1997). Nonetheless, we have hypothesized that the association may be caused by a pathogenic sub-population which would be significantly more common amongst C. perfringens-positive cases compared with C. perfringens-positive healthy controls if it acted as a pathogen when present. Conversely, if foal diarrhoea caused by C. perfringens was dependent on a predisposing factor, then such an association might not be evident. As a first step to determine if a molecular marker was more frequently to be found in C. perfringens-positive cases than controls, we have genotyped the study isolates (up to five per foal) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the published gene sequences for the major lethal toxins alpha, beta, epsilon and iota as well as for theta toxin, large and small sialiclases, hyaluronidase and virulence regulation. Isolates of major toxin types B, C, D and E, or isolates which were untypeable, were isolated from less than 15% of C. perfringens-positive foals and these were not associated with diarrhoea nor were they more commonly found in C. perfringens-positive cases. Isolates of type A were found in more than 90% of all C. perfringens-positive foals. A number of different genotypes were identified by their different patterns of gene possession but types without any of the genes for theta toxin, large and small sialidases, hyaluronidase and virulence regulation were found in only 10% of positive foals. Only type A isolates with all of these genes were associated with diarrhoea overall but they were not more commonly isolated from C. perfringens-positive cases than controls. In conclusion, genotyping by the sequenced virulence genes did not identify a marker for a sub-population of C. perfringens which may be acting more frequently as a pathogen when present.     

External contamination of broilers by Campylobacter spp. increases from the farm to the slaughterhouse

ABSTRACT

1. In this study, classical and molecular microbiological methods for detection and quantification of Campylobacter spp. were used to estimate their prevalence in faecal samples and skin swabs collected from 31 broiler flocks (20 farms) in Portugal, and measure the impact of transport-related factors on the expected rising excretion rates from the farm to the slaughterhouse.

2. Data on husbandry practices and transport conditions were gathered, including time in transit, distance travelled or ante-mortem plant-holding time.

3. A generalised linear mixed model was used to evaluate the significance of a potential post-transport rise in Campylobacter spp. counts and to assess risk determinants.

4. At least one flock tested positive for Campylobacter spp. in 80% of the sampled farms. At the slaughterhouse, Campylobacter spp. were detected in all faecal samples, C. jejuni being the most commonly isolated.

5. A post-transport rise of Campylobacter spp. counts from skin swabs was observed using classical microbiological methods (from a mean of 1.43 to 2.40 log₁₀ CFU/cm²) and molecular techniques (from a mean of 2.64 to 3.31 log₁₀ genome copies/cm²).

6. None of the husbandry practices or transport-related factors were found to be associated with Campylobacter spp. counts.

7. This study highlights the need for more research to better understand the multi-factorial nature of Campylobacter spp., a public health threat that was found to be highly prevalent in a sample of Portuguese poultry farms.     

利用科学免疫方式防控育肥猪胀气猝死试验报告

诺维氏梭菌导致的猪只猝死是集团规模猪场母猪和育肥猪猝死的重要原因.试验在华北地区某集团各选择1200头育肥猪,应用某厂家猪大肠杆菌-C型产气荚膜梭菌-诺维氏梭菌三联灭活疫苗H和另一厂家产气荚膜梭菌二价疫苗(A型、C型)Z进行预防猪只胀气猝死的效果比较.结果表明:免疫三联灭活疫苗H组死亡率下降3.25个百分点,免疫二价疫...     

Detection of a novel hemoplasma based on 16S rRNA gene DNA in captive and free-ranging capybaras (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris)

Two different species of hemoplasmas, Mycoplasma coccoides and M. haemomuris, are known to infect small rodents such as mice and rats. However, there are no previous reports of hemoplasma infection in capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris). The aim of our study was to determine whether these hemoplasmas might infect capybaras from Southern Brazil. Blood samples from 31 animals: 10 captive and 21 free-ranging capybaras were collected and packed cell volume and total plasma protein were measured. DNA was extracted and PCR assays for M. coccoides and M. haemomuris were performed. Using the M. coccoides-PCR assay 64% of the capybaras were positive, 80% free-ranging and 30% from captive animals. The prevalence of infection between the groups was significantly different (p = 0.001). Sequencing of the nearly entire 16S rRNA gene from the positive samples suggested a novel hemoplasma isolate with identity of 92% with M. coccoides and 86% with M. haemomuris. All capybara samples were negative for M. haemomuris infection. DNA of a housekeeping gene was successfully amplified from all samples. This is the first evidence of a hemoplasma infection in capybaras.     

An increased incidence of mastitis caused by Prototheca species and Nocardia species on a farm in São Paulo,Brazil

Mastitis caused by Prototheca spp or Nocardia spp is considered to be difficult to treat. Both microorganisms are contaminants commonly found in soil. The occurrence of mastitis caused by these agents was studied in a particular dairy farm. In this herd, the animals were kept at pasture overnight and during daytime were brought to a pen where they were fed. This pen accumulated mud and faeces, particularly in the rainy season. During milking, pre-dipping of the teats was performed with an iodide solution, but they were not washed, so a layer of soil and faeces remained which may have contaminated the milking equipment. The herd comprised 91 lactating animals and 47 dry cows. For microbiological examination, 107 milk samples were collected from lactating cows and 186 samples of mammary secretions from the dry cows. Prototheca spp were isolated from 14.55% of the milk samples and Nocardia spp from 4.55%. Prototheca spp were isolated from 8.06% of the secretion samples from dry cows and Nocardia spp were isolated from 2.15% samples. The high occurrence of mastitis due to these environmental agents reflects the problem of keeping animals in muddy pastures and pens, and the defective pre-milking hygiene for the teats.     

Detection of the causative agent of furunculusis, Aeromonas salmonicida in salmonids of the Krka River

In this paper we describe the bacterial community associated with salmonids from the Krka River. Diversity analysis demonstrated that majority of the recovered bacteria were related to Aeromonadaceae group. Bacterial analysis also revealed the presence of Shigella spp. and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Isolation of Aeromonas salmonicida from trout, presents first isolation of this bacteria Croatian rivers.     

Streptococcus spp. and related bacteria: their identification and their pathogenic potential for chronic mastitis - a molecular approach

Streptococcus spp. and related bacteria form a large group of organisms which are associated with bovine intramammary Infections (IMI). Some of them are the well-known mastitis pathogens Streptococcus uberis and Streptococcus agalactiae. In addition, there are a considerable number of these gram-positive, catalase-negative cocci (PNC) with unclear mastitic pathogenicity such as Aerococcus viridans which make the conventional diagnostics of PNC difficult. One diagnostic, API 20 Strep (API, Biomérieux) is recommended which, as a phenotypic assay, involves a series of miniaturized biochemical tests. Recently, preference is given to genotypic identification methods. In particular, sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene allows highly reproducible and accurate identification of bacteria and permits discovery of novel, clinically relevant bacteria. As a consequence, the aim of the present study was to compare identification of IMI-associated PNC by the API method as well as by sequencing of their 16S rRNA gene (16S). Furthermore, the correlation of these bacteria to bovine chronic mastitis and their phylogeny was investigated.102 PNC isolated from single quarter milk samples were identified by API and 16S sequencing. Considering Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae and Streptococcus agalactiae, both methods generated fully concordant results. In contrast, a very high disconcordance was observed for most of the other PNC, in particular Enterococcus spp., Aerococcus viridans and the viridans streptococci were shown as apathogenic. Lactococcus garvieae was found to be an opportunistic pathogen causing IMI during late lactation. In addition, PNC isolated from milk were frequently observed together with other bacteria, in particular with Staphylococcus spp. In these cases, the levels of somatic cell counts (SCC) were determined by the specific PNC present in the sample. Considering PNC phylogeny based on 16S sequencing, 3 major clusters were observed. They included all the common mastitis pathogens (cluster I), the Lactococcus spp., Enterococcus spp. and Aerococcus spp. (cluster II) and all the viridans streptococci (cluster III).     

Hemorrhagic Gastritis Associated with Renal Failure, Hemoglobinuria, and Isolation of Clostridium perfringens in a Horse

A 3-year-old Quarter Horse mare was presented for acute colic with bright red-black foul-smelling gastric reflux containing long rod-shaped bacteria consistent with Clostridium sp. and red-black urine. The serum creatinine concentration was 5.5 mg/dL (N = 0.9–1.7), and blood urea nitrogen was 41 mg/dL (N = 9–20). At necropsy, the stomach wall was diffusely thickened, hemorrhagic, and edematous. Histopathologically, hemorrhagic necrosis was evident, with numerous colonies of spore-forming rods within the submucosa. Clostridium perfringens was cultured from the stomach contents. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genotyping was consistent with type A C. perfringens. Bilaterally, the kidneys were grossly enlarged, diffusely dark red-brown, and congested. The renal tubular epithelium was diffusely, acutely necrotic, with interstitial hemorrhage and massive accumulation of intratubular granular and proteinaceous casts. A diagnosis of massive hemolysis with hemoglobinuria and renal failure due to C. perfringens, type A infection was made. Alpha-toxin–induced intravascular hemolysis occurs rarely in humans and sheep. To our knowledge, this has not been described in horses with clostridial enterocolitis nor in equine clostridial gastritis.     

Performance and diarrhoea in piglets following weaning at seven weeks of age: Challenge with E. coli O 149 and effect of dietary factors

Four dietary factors (ad libitum versus feed restriction, control versus protein restriction at ad libitum feeding, control versus inclusion of lupin as a protein source at ad libitum feeding, and control versus extra vitamin E at ad libitum feeding) were tested in four separate experiments for the effect on diarrhoea. To introduce a diarrhoea-like condition, half of the piglets were challenged with an E. coli O 149 dose of 1 × 10⁸ colony forming units on days one and two after weaning (day of weaning = day zero). All piglets were susceptible since the dams were tested mono-zygotic susceptible to the attachment site of E. coli O 149 in the intestines. Each of the four experiments included 32 piglets from 4 sows. The design was a 2 × 2 factorial with dietary factor and E. coli O 149 challenge as the two factors, each at two levels. The piglets were housed individually during the experiment which lasted for 10 days from weaning at 7 weeks of age. The daily recordings included feed intake, weight and faecal score (from 1 = solid and cloddy to 6 = watery and yellow). Faeces from days 1 to 4 were tested for E. coli strains. In addition, blood was sampled and serum was analysed for antibodies to E. coli, IgG and IgM. Generally the E. coli challenge had no effect on growth and feed intake whereas faecal score and number of faecal haemolytic bacteria increased and faecal dry matter decreased. Feed restriction decreased the weight gain while faecal characteristics were unaffected. An analysis including all four experiments revealed that a feed intake of less than 200 g during the first day after weaning seems to be associated with a relatively high incidence of a post-weaning diarrhoea-like condition. Protein restriction decreased faecal score and increased faecal dry matter while weight gain tended to decrease. Inclusion of lupin affected neither weight gain nor faecal characteristics. Extra vitamin E did not affect weight gain while faecal dry matter decreased, and faecal score and number of faecal haemolytic bacteria increased. The dietary treatments had no effect on the measured immunoglobulins. In conclusion, the studied dietary factors could not alleviate a diarrhoea-like condition and at the same time maintain the growth rate. Furthermore, the results indicate that performance can be improved if piglets achieve a daily feed intake of at least 200 g during the first day after weaning.     

Prevalence and genetic characterization of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs in Iqaluit,Nunavut, Canada

There are few epidemiologic studies on the role of dogs in zoonotic parasitic transmission in the Circumpolar North. The objectives of this study were to: (a) estimate the faecal prevalence of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs; (b) investigate potential associations between the type of dog population and the faecal presence of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp.; and (c) describe the molecular characteristics of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs in Iqaluit, Nunavut. We conducted two cross‐sectional studies in July and September 2016. In July, the team collected daily faecal samples for 3 days from each of 20 sled dogs. In September, the team collected three faecal samples from each of 59 sled dogs, 111 samples from shelter dogs and 104 from community dogs. We analysed faecal samples for the presence of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. using rapid immunoassay and flotation techniques. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of target genes were performed on positive faecal samples. Overall, the faecal prevalence of at least one of the target parasites, when one faecal sample was chosen at random for all dogs, was 8.16% (CI: 5.52–11.92), and for Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp., prevalence was 4.42% (CI: 2.58–7.49) and 6.12% (CI: 3.88–9.53), respectively. The odds of faecal Giardia spp. in sled dogs were significantly higher than those in shelter and community dogs (OR 10.19 [CI: 1.16–89.35]). Sequence analysis revealed that 6 faecal samples were Giardia intestinalis, zoonotic assemblage B (n = 2) and species‐specific assemblages D (n = 3) and E (n = 1), and five faecal samples were Cryptosporidium canis. Giardia intestinalis is zoonotic; however, Cryptosporidium canis is rare in humans and, when present, usually occurs in immunosuppressed individuals. Dogs may be a potential source of zoonotic Giardia intestinalis assemblage B infections in residents in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada; however, the direction of transmission is unclear.     

Prevalence,quantitative load and genetic diversity of Campylobacter spp. in dairy cattle herds in Lithuania

Background

Campylobacteriosis is a zoonotic disease, and animals such as poultry, pigs and cattle may act as reservoirs for Campylobacter spp. Cattle shed Campylobacter spp. into the environment and they can act as a reservoir for human infection directly via contact with cattle or their faeces or indirectly by consumption of contaminated food. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, the quantitative load and the genetic strain diversity of Campylobacter spp. in dairy cattle of different age groups.

Results

Faecal samples of 200 dairy cattle from three farms in the central part of Lithuania were collected and examined for Campylobacter. Cattle herds of all three farms were Campylobacter spp. positive, with a prevalence ranging from 75% (farm I), 77.5% (farm II) to 83.3% (farm III). Overall, the highest prevalence was detected in calves (86.5%) and heifers (86.2%). In contrast, the lowest Campylobacter prevalence was detectable in dairy cows (60.6%). C. jejuni, C. coli, C. lari and C. fetus subsp. fetus were identified in faecal samples of dairy cattle. C. upsaliensis was not detectable in any sample. The high counts of Campylobacter spp. were observed in faecal material of dairy cattle (average 4.5 log₁₀ cfu/g). The highest numbers of Campylobacter spp. were found in faecal samples from calves (average 5.3 log₁₀ cfu/g), whereas, faecal samples from cows harboured the lowest number of Campylobacter spp. (average 3.7 log₁₀ cfu/g). Genotyping by flaA PCR-RFLP analysis of selected C. jejuni isolates showed that some genotypes were present in all farms and all age groups. However, farm or age specific genotypes were also identified.

Conclusions

Future studies are needed to investigate risk factors related to the degree of colonisation in cattle. Based on that, possible measures to reduce the colonisation and subsequent shedding of Campylobacter in cattle could be established. It is important to further investigate the epidemiology of Campylobacter in the cattle population in order to assess associated risks to public health.