Occurrence of Arcobacter species in animal faeces, foods of animal origin and humans in Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

A total of n=510 samples comprising of faecal swabs from livestock (n=245), foods of animal origin (n=180) and human stools (n=85) were examined to detect Arcobacter species employing cultural and PCR methods. Overall, 11.7% of samples were found positive for Arcobacter species by genus-specific PCR. On screening faecal samples of livestocks, higher positivity was observed in pigs (23.3%), followed by chicken (16.6%), turkey (15.0%), cattle (10.0%), duck (10.0%) and sheep (6.6%). With regard to foods of animal origin, higher positivity was observed in pork samples (15.0%), followed by chicken (12.5%), milk (10.0%) and mutton (7.5%). In humans, the stool samples of farm workers revealed high positivity (13.3%) followed by veterinary students (8.0%) and diarrhoeic humans (6.66%). Using cultural method, a total of 41 (8.03%) Arcobacter isolates were recovered. The multiplex-PCR assay enabled detection of Arcobacter butzleri (16/41), Arcobacter cryaerophilus (13/41) and Arcobacter skirrowii (12/41). The results signify the occurrence of Arcobacter species in animal faeces, foods of animal origin and humans in Andhra Pradesh, India.