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Abstract

Campylobacter diarrhoea is regarded as the most common type of bacterial diarrhoea worldwide but the disease burden among diarrhoeic HIV-patients in Kaduna State has not been characterised. A total of 230 faecal samples were collected and analysed for Campylobacter spp. using membrane filtration method and; the isolates were characterised based on the morphological appearance and biochemical testing using standard methods. Isolates were further analysed by API Campy kits ® , to characterise the isolates' species level. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the IpxA gene, 23S rDNA and napA gene was used to confirmed the isolates. Out of the 230 faecal samples that were collected and cultured for Campylobacter, 45 samples were culture positive giving a prevalence of 19.6%. All the isolates produce the expected bands (757, 746, 656 and 835 bp) during the PCR confirmation. The Campylobacter spp. identified were Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter fetus and Campylobacter hyointestinalis. Age and sex distribution with campylobacteriosis was established. The prevalence was higher among female (14.3%) than male (5.2%) and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.042). All the risk factors considered such as source of drinking water, consumption of raw milk, eating of under-cooked meat in the study were not found to be associated with the disease condition. The prevalence of this bacterium among the study population is relatively high. Studies are needed to reassess the effect of Zidovudine with this high prevalence since the risk factors were not statistically significant in this study.