Prevalence Of Arcobacter Species Research Articles

Prevalence, virulence genes and anti­microbial resistance of Arcobacter isolates from animal meat in Iran

Arcobacter spp. are food-borne and zoonotic entero-pathogens. Obtaining information in relation to antimicrobial resistance helps us for utilisation of an appropriate agent for the treatment of Arcobacter infections. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors in animal raw meat in Iran. The samples were collected from cattle (n=80), sheep (n=80), goats (n=80), camels (n=80), and buffaloes (n=60) from Khuzestan (n=110), Isfahan (n=80), Gilan (n=110) and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari (n=80) provinces. Arcobacter isolates of meat samples were isolated, investigated by PCR method. The antibiotic resistance was also investigated. All isolates were screened for 6 virulence genes: cadF, ciaB, cj1349, Mvin, pldA and tlyA by PCR assays. The results showed that the prevalence of Arcobacter species had no significant difference among provinces and animals (P>0.05), so that positive samples were 1.25%, 1.25%, and 0.9% in Isfafhan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, and Gilan, respectively. Virulence genes were observed for A. butzleri species (n=3, 100%). The results showed that Arcobacter spp. were resistant to streptomycin (100%), tetracycline (100%) and vancomycin (100%), but were susceptible to azithromycin (33.33%). In sum, the different regions of the Iran had a relative incidence of 1% for Arcobacter spp. The species showed a resistance of 100% for streptomycin, tetracycline and vancomycin. These findings could help to identify Arcobacter spp. and select the best agent against infection in case of Arcobacter infection in animals.

Prevalence of Arcobacter species on chicken carcasses during processing in Iran

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Arcobacter spp. on chicken carcasses at different stages of broiler processing in a major commercial poultry processing plant in central Iran. Overall, 80 chicken carcasses were sampled from 5 sites along the processing line during a total of 10 visits. When the culture method was used, 185 of 400 (46.3%) carcasses were positive for Arcobacter. Arcobacter butzleri was more frequently isolated (82.7%) than Arcobacter cryaerophilus (12.4%) and Arcobacter skirrowii (4.9%). The frequency of Arcobacter spp. on carcasses was 36.3% before defeathering, 41.3% after defeathering, 48.8% after evisceration, 67.5% at 20 min postchilling, and 37.5% at 24 h postchilling. The frequency of Arcobacter spp.-positive carcasses was reduced in completely chilled chickens, but not during the slaughtering process. The PCR assay identified 57 Arcobacter-contaminated carcass samples that were negative when using the culture method. When the PCR method was used, the frequently of Arcobacter spp. on carcasses was 43.8% before defeathering, 45.0% after defeathering, 55.0% after evisceration, 88.8% at 20 min postchilling, and 85.7% at 24 h postchilling. Therefore, there was a high prevalence of Arcobacter spp., especially A. butzleri, in poultry carcasses. To our knowledge, the present study is the first report in which Arcobacter spp. were isolated from chicken carcasses in Iran.

"Prevalence of Arcobacter species in shell hens’ eggs sold in Assiut Governorate"

"Prevalence of Arcobacter species in shell hens’ eggs sold in Assiut Governorate"

Prevalence of arcobacter species in drinking water, spring water, and raw milk as determined by multiplex PCR.

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of Arcobacter species in water sources and raw milk from healthy animals in Kayseri, Turkey. A total of 175 samples of drinking water (n = 100), spring water (n = 25), and raw milk (n = 50) were examined. Arcobacter species were isolated using the membrane filtration technique. Overall, 7 (4%) of the 175 samples yielded Arcobacter spp.: 3 (3%) drinking water samples, 1 (4%) spring water sample, and 3 (6%) raw milk samples. Two species of Arcobacter were recovered from the seven positive samples: Arcobacter butzleri, Arcobacter skirrowii, and A. butzleri plus A. skirrowii found in 3 (1.7%), 2 (1.1%), and 2 (1.1%) samples, respectively. Our study is the first to report the isolation of both A. butzleri and A. skirrowii together from drinking water and is the first report of Arcobacter in milk from healthy cows in Turkey. Based on these findings, the presence of Arcobacter species in environmental waters and raw milk may pose a potential hazard for human health.

Prevalence of Arcobacter species in market-weight commercial turkeys

The prevalence of Arcobacter in live market weight turkeys was determined for six Midwestern commercial flocks at three intervals. Samples (n = 987) were collected from cloaca, feathers, ceca, crop, drinkers and environmental samples on farms and from carcasses at slaughter. Initially, EMJH-P80 and CVA isolated Arcobacter from 7.1% (40 of 564) of samples, while Arcobacter enrichment broth and selective agar recovered the microbe in 4.7% of samples (23 of 489 samples). Although EMJH-P80 coupled with CVA yielded Arcobacter more frequently, the selectivity of the modified Arcobacter agar enhanced the recognition of Arcobacter colonies. A multiplex PCR was used to identify all Arcobacter species and to differentiate Arcobacter butzleri. The low prevalence of Arcobacter detected in cloacal swab (2.0%, 6 of 298 samples) and cecal contents (2.1%, 3 of 145 samples) suggests that Arcobacter infrequently colonizes the intestinal tract. Despite its low prevalence in live turkeys, Arcobacter spp. were identified in 93% of carcass swabs (139 of 150 samples). The overall prevalence of Arcobacter in drinker water decreased from 67% (31 of 46 samples) in the summer of 2003 to 24.7% (18 of 73 samples) during resampling in the spring of 2004 and was inversely related to the chlorination level.