Overview of Campylobacter in poultry, other animal species and in meat in reference to Malaysia

This paper gives an overview on the prevalence of Campylobacter in Malaysia in chickens, other food animals, some pet animals as well as in meat from several studies that were carried out over a number of years. The organisms are found to be widespread in poultry. Campylobacter jejuni is frequently isolated in poultry compared to other species. The public heath importance as well as the factors influencing colonization in chickens and contamination of chicken carcasses are briefly discussed

Campylobacter Jejuni In Broiler Chickens In Selangor, Malaysia

In realising the importance of the poultry industry in Malaysia and the public health implication of C.jejuni in man, a study was undertaken to determine the prevalence, antibiotic resistance and plasmid profiles of C.jejuni isolated from chickens and to identify factors associated with the risk of colonization or infection by the organisms in chickens. It was shown in this study that 72.6 % and 81.9 % of the commercial broiler and village chickens respectively were colonized with C.jejuni. Of the seventy six C.jejuni strains tested, all ( 100 %) were found to be resistant to tetracycline while resistance to other antibiotics, namely ampicillin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, gentamicin , kanamycin and streptomycin , ranged from 25 - 75 % . This study also showed a rather large number, that is, 42 % of C. jejuni isolates were resistant to nalidixic acid although a distinguishing feature of this species is its susceptibility to nalidixic acid . It was found that there was no correlation between the presence of plasmid and resistance to antibiotics. This is because in some isolates which showed antibiotic resistance, no plasmid was detected . An analysis of the plasmid profiles of seventy one C.jejuni isolates , 59 % harboured 1-4 plasmids, demonstrating 14 different patterns with the sizes ranging from 4.5 to 70. 3 kb . This study also demonstrated that colonization of chickens with C.jejuni occurred at two to three weeks of age. The study could not identify clearly the factors which acted as the sources of C.jejuni in chickens. However, colonization is found to be associated with poor farm management and hygienic practices. Farms which practise good management and hygienic procedures tend to have low rate of colonization by C.jejuni . Such practices include the use of treated water, control of pests and flying birds from entering poultry houses and restriction in the movement of personnel . This is the first time that a detailed study on Campylobacter in chickens was conducted, particularly on factors associated with colonization by C. jejuni. It can be concluded from this study that C. jenuni is prevalent and widespread in chicken populations in Malaysia. During slaughtering of these chickens and during processing, poultry carcasses and offals may become contaminated with C. jejuni. Consequently if such poultry meat and offals are undercooked or caused cross contamination of ready-to-eat food, then upon consumption of such foods causes Campylobacter enteritis in man . Hence, it is recommended that farmer s and poultry processing plant operators be made aware of the importance of campylobacters to human health and to implement appropriate measures to control the infection in poultry

Isolation and characterization of Campylobacter jejuni from broiler chickens in Malaysia

Very few studies on Campylobacter in chickens were done in Malaysia. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Campylobacter in broiler chickens and to characterize the isolates to species level, their antibiotic resistance patterns and plasmid profiles. Ten broiler chicken farms were studied. The chickens in nine of the farms were found colonized with Campylobacters; the prevalence rates ranged from 46.3 to 93.3%, with a mean of 72.6%; one farm was negative. Campylobacter jejuni was the predominant species. Antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that all the 76 C. jejuni isolates tested were resistant to tetracycline; 82.9, 55.3 and 34.2% were resistant to streptomycin, kanamycin and ampicillin, respectively while resistance to gentamicin, erythromycin and chloramphenicol ranged from 26.3 to 22.4%. It was also found that 22.4% of the isolates were resistant to one antibiotic while 13.1% to all seven antibiotics. 59% of C. jejuni isolates harboured between one to four plasmids, demonstrating 14 plasmid profiles with size of the plasmids ranged from 4.5 to 70.3 kb. More isolates containing plasmids were observed to be resistant to tetracycline, chloramphenicol and kanamycin than those isolates without plasmids. The numbers of plasmid bands present were not consistent with the antibiotic resistance patterns

Occurrence of Salmonella and other enteric microbes in faeces of house lizards (Hemidactylus frenatus)

Reptiles have been shown to be natural reservoirs of Salmonella and other enteric bacteria and the reptile species close to homes and eateries are house lizards. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of Salmonella in house lizards at residential and eateries premises. Fresh faecal samples were collected from live 25 house lizards and 20 pooled dried droppings were collected around premises. None of the samples were positive for Salmonella. It was probable that a number of lizards may be carrying Salmonella as shown by other previous studies and in this case they were not shedding the bacteria in the faeces at the time and in the dried faecal droppings, Salmonellae was probably absent or did not survive the dry and hot condition. Enteric bacteria that were frequently isolated from fresh droppings were Klebsiella pneumoniae and Citrobacter freundii which were found resistant to amoxicillin + clavulanic and tetracycline

Prevalence of motile Aeromonads in chicken meat and their growth during refrigeration storage

The presence of motile aeromonads in chicken meat from the local wet markets was studied. The finding showed that 83.3% of the meat was positive for motile Aeromonas. The most frequently isolated species was Aeromonas sobria (57.0%), followed by A. hydrophila (23.0%) and A. caviae (20.0%). The Aeromonas sp. count at time of purchase which was in the range of 13 x 102 /g to 23 x 103/g, was found to increase about 10 to 100- fold after seven days of refrigeration at 5°C

Occurrence of campylobacter and Salmonella Spp. in ostrich.

Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. are important pathogens in veterinary medicine and public health. In Malaysia, there has been limited research done in ostriches due to the small-scale farming and small number of animals. Nevertheless, ostrich farming has a huge potential. Some of the disease agents affecting ostriches, such as Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. can also cause disease in humans. As such, infected ostrich may serve as potential public health risk. Hence, this study was undertaken to determine the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. in ostrich and this is the first report documenting the occurrence of these two bacteria in ostrich in Malaysia.Samples were collected from three ostrich show farms, with 8 ostriches from Farm A, 11 from Farm B and 12 from farm C. Samples from the cloaca and skin swabs were obtained from each of the ostrich and examined for Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. All samples were cultured for Campylobacter spp. via direct plating on CCDA. One out of 62 samples (1.6%) was positive for Campylobacter spp. and it was isolated from the cloacal swab. Pre-enrichment, enrichment and direct plating on XLT4 and Salmonella Chromogenic agar were done for isolation of Salmonella spp. from the ostriches. Two samples, one from the skin swab and another one from the cloacal swab, from two different birds were positive for Salmonella spp. The study showed the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. in ostriches. The ostrich is of public health significance as they are used in recreational activities and for human consumption

Occurrence of antibiotic resistant Salmonella and Campylobacter in wild birds

Salmonella and Campylobacter are well recognised as important zoonotic foodborne pathogens. This study was undertaken to detect the occurrence of Salmonella and Campylobacter in a population of wild birds and to determine the antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates. A total of 68 fresh faecal samples were collected from wild birds in four areas (Bangi, Kepong, and two areas in Serdang). One (1.47%) faecal sample was positive for Salmonella spp. from a pigeon in Kepong and the isolate was resistant to erythromycin and tetracycline. Six (8.82%) faecal samples were positive for Campylobacter spp, three (50%) were from pigeons in Serdang and another three (50%) were pigeons from Kepong. All isolates were identified as Campylobacter jejuni and were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (100%), followed by cefotaxime (83.3%), tetracycline (33.3%) and ampicillin (16.7%). The presence of antibiotic resistant Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. in wild birds poses a public health risk because they may transmit these antibiotic resistant pathogens to farm animals and spread them in the environmen

Detection of Campylobacter and Salmonella in ostrich

Three ostrich show farms were visited to detect the presence of Campylobacter and Salmonella in the birds. Cloacal and skin swabs were taken from 31 ostriches which were clinically healthy. Campylobacter was isolated from one (1.6%) cloacal swab and Salmonella from two (3.2%) samples, a skin and a cloacal swabs; all were from different birds. Although the detection of the organisms was low, it could pose public health risk partly because of contact with the birds and the organisms in the faeces may contaminate the environment and it could be that they may be present in other birds but were not shed at the time of sampling

The detection and comparison of antimicrobial resistance pattern of vancomycin-resistant enterococci and Salmonella isolated from eggs of commercial layers and free-range chickens

The prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and Salmonella in eggs produced by free-range chickens and commercial layers was compared to establish the microbial safety of the food and to determine if management, especially feeding management and the environment, playa role in the occurrence of the two organisms. The isolates were subjected to an antibiotic sensitivity test to determine the antibiotic resistance pattern. It was observed that there was a slight difference in the occurrence of the organisms and in the pattern of antibiotic resistance of isolates from free-range chickens' eggs and those from commercial layers. Enterococcus was detected in 10% and 7.7% of eggs from commercial layers and free-range chickens respectively. Salmonella spp occurred in 7.5% and 12.8% of commercial layers and free-range chicken eggs, respectively. The study suggests that free-range eggs may not be as wholesome as often believed and that the environment plays an important role in the development of antibiotic resistance