Frequency and antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pullorum among exposed and non-exposed population

Hosein Akhlaghi,Ashkan Jebelli Javan,Seyed Hesamodin Emadi Chashmi

doi:10.34172/ehem.2021.34

Hosein Akhlaghi, Ashkan Jebelli Javan + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.34172/ehem.2021.34

Copy DOI

Abstract

Background: Helicobacter pullorum can infect the intestinal tracts of both humans and avian species. This study aimed to assess the frequency and antibiotic resistance of H. pullorum isolated from workers in the poultry slaughterhouses, farms, and markets as exposed population and healthy people who referred to the hospital as non-exposed population by culture method and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Methods: Two hundred healthy individuals, including 100 individuals from exposed population and 100 from non-exposed population were selected in Semnan. Fresh stool samples were examined by conventional culture method and biochemical tests. PCR test with 16S rRNA gene was employed to confirm the H. pullorum isolates. Antibiotic resistance test was done using the disk diffusion method and various antimicrobial agents. Results: Generally, 17 (17%) samples from exposed population and 12 (12%) samples from non-exposed population were H. pullorum positive by culture method and biochemical tests. However, PCR test could confirm 10 (10%) and 7 (7%) samples from exposed and non-exposed populations, respectively. Therefore, the frequency of H. pullorum was determined to be 9.5%. Antibiotic resistance test could reveal that most of the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin (84.2%), whereas resistance to colistin and fosfomycin was found to be 15.8%. Conclusion: The present study illustrated that H. pullorum can be present among healthy population with the low frequency rate. Moreover, it was indicated that the frequency of this food-borne pathogen is high in the exposed population. Therefore, there is a high demand for good observation for slaughter hygiene and implementation of routine surveillance in the poultry farms and markets.

Highlights

Helicobacter pullorum, as an enterohepatic Helicobacter species, has been described to be present in the liver, duodenum, and cecum of asymptomatic poultry, as well as in the broiler chickens and laying hens with vibrionic hepatitis and enteritis [1,2]
Out of 27 biochemically suspected samples, 12 (12%) from exposed population and 7 (7%) from non-exposed population were found to be positive for H. pullorum using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test (Figure 3)
Considering the statistical analysis, there was no significant difference in the frequency of H. pullorum between the exposed and non-exposed populations

Summary

Introduction

Helicobacter pullorum, as an enterohepatic Helicobacter species, has been described to be present in the liver, duodenum, and cecum of asymptomatic poultry, as well as in the broiler chickens and laying hens with vibrionic hepatitis and enteritis [1,2]. It is noteworthy that the prevalence of H. pullorum in poultry birds has been reported from different countries, such as Egypt, Malaysia, Belgium, and Italy This emerging zoonotic pathogen can contaminate the carcasses of the poultry and can infect the intestinal tracts of both humans and avian species [3]. This study aimed to assess the frequency and antibiotic resistance of H. pullorum isolated from workers in the poultry slaughterhouses, farms, and markets as exposed population and healthy people who referred to the hospital as non-exposed population by culture method and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Results: Generally, 17 (17%) samples from exposed population and 12 (12%) samples from non-exposed population were H. pullorum positive by culture method and biochemical tests. Frequency and antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pullorum among exposed and non-exposed population.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion