Abstract
The aim of the study was to detect and genetically characterize Arcobacter butzleri in pet red-footed tortoises suspected for Campylobacter spp., using molecular techniques. A written consent from tortoise owners was obtained, after explaining the advantages of the research to tortoise owners of Grenada. Fecal samples were collected from 114 tortoises from five parishes of the country and cultured for Campylobacter spp. using selective culture techniques. A. butzleri was isolated from 4.39% of pet tortoises. Total thirteen isolates were obtained; all identified as A. butzleri by a universal and a species-specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. Genetic characterization of these isolates was performed based on Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR) that generated eight different genetic fingerprints with a discriminatory power of 0.91. Campylobacter species were not detected molecularly in any of the culture-positive samples. This is the first report of infection of pet tortoises in Grenada, West Indies with A. butzleri. This study emphasizes on the risk of zoonotic transmission of A. butzleri by exotic pets, which is a serious concern for public health.
Highlights
The genera Arcobacter and Campylobacter were initially included in the family Campylobacteriacae [1]
Out of the 114 tortoises’ fecal samples, five (4.38%) showed colony-growth seen as little pinpoint translucent colonies, different from grayish non translucent colonies characteristic of Campylobacter spp
Arcobacter spp. can grow under aerobic, microaerobic or H2-enriched microaerobic conditions at lower temperatures ranging between 15 ̊C and 37 ̊C, while some strains can grow at temperature as high as 42 ̊C [54]
Summary
The genera Arcobacter and Campylobacter were initially included in the family Campylobacteriacae [1]. Later the genus Arcobacter was assigned to a new family Arcobacteriacae [2]. To date 27 species have been recognized within the genus Arcobacter [3], and 26 species, 2 provisional species, and 9 subspecies have been recognized within the genus Campylobacter [4]. Campylobacter and Arcobacter species are the most common re-emerging food-borne zoonoses worldwide [4,5,6,7,8]. Campylobacter spp. are found in warm-blooded animals, mostly observed in food.
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