Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Genotypic Characteristic ofCampylobacterspp. Isolates from Free-Living Birds in Poland

Abstract

Campylobacter spp. is the most commonly reported, bacterial cause of human foodborne infection worldwide. Commercial poultry and free-living birds are natural reservoirs of three particular species: Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Campylobacter lari. The aim of this study was to determine the genotypic characteristics and antibiotic susceptibility of 43 Campylobacter strains, obtained from free-living birds, in Poland. In total, 700 birds were examined. The strains were isolated from 43 birds (6.14%) from the feces of 7 wild bird species: Mallard ducks Anas platyrhynchos (29 positive/121 tested), great cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo (5/77), velvet scoters Melanitta fusca (4/30), tawny owls Strix aluco (2/5), common buzzard Buteo buteo (1/3), rook Corvus frugilegus (1/6), and Eurasian tree sparrow Passer montanus (1/30). Thirty-eight (88.37%) of obtained strains belonged to C. jejuni and five (11.63%) to C. coli. Other 428 examined birds from different bird species were Campylobacter negative. The antimicrobial susceptibility to nine antimicrobials was also studied in investigated isolates of Campylobacter spp. Sixteen of the examined strains (37.21% of all positive samples) showed susceptibility to all of the nine antimicrobials. Moreover, the prevalence of selected virulence genes, such as flaA, cadF, ceuE, virB11, cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC were all analyzed. The virulence gene that was found most frequently in total number of Campylobacter strains was ceuE (72.10%) and other genes, such as flaA, cadF, cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC, were found in over 60% of all examined strains. Variable antimicrobial susceptibility and the presence of different virulence genes of examined strains, isolated from free-living birds, suggest that special attention should be given to wild birds and any potential approaches to the control of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter should be discussed.

Contrasting patterns of Campylobacter and Salmonella distribution in wild birds: a comparative analysis

“…In contrast, I found no support for the association of Campylobacter prevalence with urbanisation in wild birds. Although many large‐scale screenings of Campylobacter occurrence in birds focused on urban areas because of an elevated risk of transmission to humans (Krawiec et al , Troxler et al ), I am aware of no studies that directly compared Campylobacter infection rates between urban and rural bird populations. However, information on the occurrence of Campylobacter in the environment or in human populations seem to suggest that urban centres should not be considered as hotspots of Campylobacter infections.…”

“…Despite this, Campylobacter is generally thought to be largely non‐pathogenic and it may act as gastrointestinal commensal in both poultry and birds (Newell ). The latter hypothesis was supported by large‐scale surveillance programmes of Campylobacter in wild birds, showing relatively high prevalence of these bacteria in natural avian populations (Waldenström et al , Krawiec et al ). Therefore, at least some bird species are thought to be asymptomatic carriers of potentially virulent Campylobacter strains.…”

Epidemiology of Campylobacter jejuni in raccoons (Procyon lotor) on swine farms and in conservation areas in southern Ontario

“…e To interpret season, year, temperature, rainfall and their interaction effects, refer to contrasts in Tables 3-5. TA B L E 2 Results from multi-level a multivariable logistic regression models showing associations between the occurrence of Campylobacter jejuni b in raccoon faecal swabs and year, season, air temperature, total rainfall and interaction effects in Ontario, Canada (n = 1,086 c ) genotypes were highly prevalent among these animals (66.4%; Mutschall et al, 2020). Although this recent work by Mutschall et al (2020) Bondo et al, 2019;Konicek et al, 2016;Krawiec et al, 2017;Kwon et al, 2017;Lee et al, 2011;MacDonald et al, 2018;Viswanathan et al, 2017a). In previous work, C. coli has been isolated from wildlife in association with swine farm environments (Hald et al, 2016;Vogt et al, 2018).…”

“…However, the identification and distribution of different Campylobacter species, in particular, C. coli (commonly associated with pigs), provides evidence of transmission from agricultural sources to wildlife, albeit perhaps not to the extent that might be expected. Campylobacter coli is typically an uncommon Campylobacter species in raccoons and other wildlife (<2% overall prevalence; Bondo et al., 2019; Konicek et al., 2016; Krawiec et al., 2017; Kwon et al., 2017; Lee et al., 2011; MacDonald et al., 2018; Viswanathan et al., 2017a). In previous work, C. coli has been isolated from wildlife in association with swine farm environments (Hald et al., 2016; Vogt et al., 2018).…”

Faecal shedding of campylobacteria among domestic and wild animals from an urban coastal área

“…However, the species most commonly reported corresponded to C. lari or related species (García-Peña et al 2010, 2017. In studies conducted in Europe, the overall detection of Campylobacter among wild animals has ranged from 6% to 43% and the differences have been attributed mainly to the feeding habits, diet, and preferred habitats, but also to other factors such as migration patterns, lifespan, or differerent life stages like breeding, migration, molting and wintering (Waldenstrom et al 2002, Antilles et al 2013, Krawiec et al 2017. In this same line, it has been highlighted that those animals living or feeding at watery habitats such as water edges or in shallow waters of habitats that commonly harbour Campylobacter spp.…”