COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE MOLECULAR PROFILES ASSOCIATED TO CAMPYLOBACTER SPP. AND CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS BROILER STRAINS COLLECTED IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC, GERMANY AND ITALY

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity between and within Campylobacter spp. and Clostridium perfringens broiler isolates collected in three different EU countries. A total of 190 Campylobacters (i.e. 63 C. coli and 127 C. jejuni) from the Czech Republic, Germany and Italy and 94 Clostridium perfringens from the Czech Republic and Italy were automatically ribotyped by HaeIII and EcoRI, respectively. Overall, 97 different ribotypes were identified for Campylobacter and 45 for Clostridium perfringens. In particular, 38 Campylobacter ribotypes were shared between isolates and 59 were associated to single strains. Furthermore, 14 Clostridium perfringens profiles were shared between isolates and 31 were associated to single strains. Finally, 6 and 3 Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens ribotypes, respectively, were associated to strains collected from broilers reared in different countries. This study was supported by project FOOD-CT-200X-007076 (www.poultryflorgut.org

Survey of chicken abattoir for the presence of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli Pesquisa de Campylobacter jejuni e Campylobacter coli em abatedouros de aves

The genus Campylobacter is of great importance to public health because it includes several species that may cause diarrhea. These species may be found in water, food and in the intestinal tract of chickens. This study investigated the presence of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in chicken abattoirs in São Paulo State, Brazil. A total of 288 samples of feces, feathers, scald water, evisceration water, chiller water, and the rinse water of eviscerated, not eviscerated and chilled carcasses were collected in six chicken abattoirs. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed in Campylobacter spp.-positive isolates using the gene HIP, specific for hippuricase enzyme from Campylobacter jejuni and aspartokinase gene, specific to detect Campylobacter coli. The percentage of positive isolates of Campylobacter jejuni was 4.9% (14/288). Isolation was greater in feces samples (22%, 8/36). One sample was positive for the species C. coli. In conclusion, the results indicate that it is necessary to improve quality control for Campylobacter spp. in chicken abattoirs.<br>O gênero Campylobacter tem grande destaque em saúde pública, principalmente por pertencerem a este gênero várias espécies que podem causar diarréia. Estas espécies podem ser encontradas em amostras de água, alimentos e no trato intestinal das aves. Este estudo investigou a presença de Campylobacter jejuni e Campylobacter coli em abatedouros de aves no Estado de São Paulo. As 288 amostras foram coletadas em seis estabelecimentos e incluíram: fezes; penas; água de escaldamento, de evisceração e de resfriamento; e água de enxaguadura de carcaça não eviscerada, eviscerada e resfriada. Após o isolamento microbiológico das amostras positivas de Campylobacter spp. foi realizada uma Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase (PCR) utilizando o gene HIP, da hipuricase, específico para Campylobacter jejuni e o gene da enzima aspartoquinase, específico para Campylobacter coli. A porcentagem de amostras positivas para Campylobacter spp. foi de 4,9% (14/288), sendo que o isolamento foi maior em amostras de fezes (22%, 8/36). Foi isolada uma amostra positiva para C. coli. Em conclusão, os resultados indicam que há uma necessidade de melhorar a qualidade higiênico-sanitária do controle de Campylobacter em abatedouros de aves