Abstract
Background: Helicobacter pullorum predominantly colonizes the gut of apparently healthy chickens and the livers and intestinal contents of hens with enteritis and vibrionic hepatitis. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pullorum in broiler chickens, laying hens, and turkeys in Semnan province. Materials and Methods: A total of 300 samples were collected from 60 poultry farms in Semnan province, including 240 cecal samples from 48 broiler farms, 30 fecal samples from 6 laying hen farms, and 30 cecal samples from 6 turkey farms. Each sample was analyzed by conventional culture method and biochemical tests. The suspected colonies were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using 16S rRNA gene. Antibiotic resistance of the confirmed colonies was determined using disk diffusion method. Results: Of 300 samples, 85 (28.3%) samples obtained from 36 (60%) poultry farms were positive for H. pullorum. Of these samples, 72 (30%) were from 30 (62.5%) broiler farms, 4 (13.3%) were from 2 (33.3%) laying hen farms, and 9 (30%) were from 4 (66.7%) turkey farms. Moreover, resistance to ciprofloxacin was observed in all of the H. pullorum isolates. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the moderate prevalence of H. pullorum in poultry in Semnan province for the first time, while the prevalence of this pathogen in laying hen and turkey has not been determined in Iran. In addition, this study could reveal the antibiotic resistance profile of H. pullorum as the first report in Iran. Therefore, more studies are needed to focus on the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of H. pullorum in poultry in other regions of Iran.
Highlights
Helicobacter pullorum predominantly colonizes the gut of apparently healthy chickens and the livers and intestinal contents of hens with enteritis and vibrionic hepatitis
240 cecal samples were from 48 broiler farms, 30 cecal samples were from 6 turkey farms, and 30 fecal samples were from 6 laying hen farms (Table 1)
Prevalence of Helicobacter pullorum A total of 300 cecal and fecal samples taken from three different sources, including broiler chickens, laying hens, and turkeys were examined using the culture method and biochemical tests and final confirmation was carried out using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay
Summary
Helicobacter pullorum predominantly colonizes the gut of apparently healthy chickens and the livers and intestinal contents of hens with enteritis and vibrionic hepatitis. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pullorum in broiler chickens, laying hens, and turkeys in Semnan province. The genus Helicobacter is divided into two major categories, including gastric Helicobacter (GH) and enterohepatic Helicobacter (EHH) species.[1] Helicobacter pullorum has been and is continuing to be a serious health challenge.[2] This well-known enterohepatic species, first defined as a novel species by Stanley et al on the basis of 16s rRNA phylogenetic analysis. It is a curved rod-shaped organism with unsheathed flagella which can grow at 37oC and/or 42oC with sufficient H2 in the microaerophilic environment.[3,4]. This bacillus has been occasionally detected in feces obtained from patients with gastroenteritis and clinically healthy people.[3]
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