Characterization of Campylobacter spp. isolated from chicken and at-risk people (children) in Cameroon: A review

Abstract

Campylobacteriosis is a disease caused by the bacteria called Campylobacter spp, it is considered a public health problem. Campylobacter spp has so far been identified as the pathogen most responsible for bacterial gastroenteritis. Emphasis was placed on controlling the foodborne route of exposure. The assessment of the actual burden of Campylobacter in the African context, particularly in Cameroon, is hampered by the lack of reporting of diarrheal incidents and the ineffectiveness of monitoring and surveillance programs for foodborne illnesses, as well as the lack of attention given to Campylobacter as a causative agent of diarrhea for the sole benefit of Salmonella. This article aims to report on the characterization of Campylobacter spp in infected chickens and children in Central Africa, more specifically in Cameroon. Campylobacter infection is more prevalent in the pediatric population and has been isolated from farm animals, particularly chickens and foods of animal origin. The prevalence of Campylobacter in children with diarrhea under five years of age ranges from 15% to 23% in Angola. In chickens, the prevalence varies from 90% in Cameroon to 41.2% in Congo. This review also highlights the increased resistance of Campylobacter to common important antimicrobials, such as ciprofloxacin, tetracycline and erythromycin, in food animals and humans in Central Africa. The solution to limit the incidence in humans is to control and prevent the spread of pathogens in animals constituting the main reservoir of infections.