Comparative Prevalence of Virulence Genes and
Antibiotic Resistance in Campylobacter jejuni Isolated from
Broilers, Laying Hens and Farmers
Ashwag Shami1,
Mona Abdallah2, Mashael W Alruways3, Yasser S Mostafa4,
Saad A Alamri5, Ahmed Ezzat Ahmed4, Amer Al
Ali5 and Montaser Elsayed Ali6*
1Department
of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman
University,
Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of zoonoses,
faculty of veterinary medicine, Benha University, Egypt; 3Department
of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical
Sciences, Shaqra University, Shaqra, Saudi Arabia; 4Department
of Biology, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha P.O.
Box 9004, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Clinical
Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University
of Bisha, 255, Al Nakhil, Bisha 67714, Saudi Arabia; 6Department
of Animal Productions, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University,
Assiut 71524, Egypt
*Corresponding author:
montaser_elsayd@azhar.edu.eg
Abstract
Foodborne infections caused by bacterial pathogen
Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) are frequent throughout the
globe. The primary objective of the present study is to examine the genetic
factors responsible for the virulence and antibiotic resistance in
Campylobacter strains isolated from broilers, laying hens, and farm workers.
This investigation involved the collection of a total of 300 samples from
broilers, laying hens, and farmers. The samples were processed for conventional
isolation of C. jejuni and were confirmed through biochemical analysis
and PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene. The isolated strains were processed
for further screening to determine the presence of antimicrobial and virulence
genes tetO, gyrA, cdtA, cdtB, cdtC, virB11, and flaA. A total of
ten antimicrobials, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, amoxicillin,
tetracycline, azithromycin, streptomycin, levofloxacin,
sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and ceftriaxone were used for susceptibility
testing in isolated isolates. C. jejuni was isolated from 25% of
broilers, 17% layers, and 27% of farm workers. Moreover, C. jejuni
isolates demonstrated high rates of resistance to ampicillin (69.6%),
ciprofloxacin (68.1%), erythromycin (66.7%), amoxicillin (65.2%), tetracycline
(63.8%), and azithromycin (63.8%). In contrast, the lower rates of resistance to
several other antibiotics ranged from 34.8 to 47.9%. C. jejuni positive
samples contained tetO, gyrA, cdtA, cdtB, cdtC,
virB11, and flaA genes. The prevalence of virulence genes ranged
between 55.1 to 79.7%. The study's findings emphasized the potential risk to
consumer health by illustrating the possible transmission of
antimicrobial-resistant bacteria to individuals via the food chain. Therefore,
it may be advisable to enforce antimicrobial-use policies throughout the entire
food manufacturing process.
To Cite This Article:
Shami A, Abdallah M, Alruways MW, Mostafa YS,
Alamri SA, Ahmed AE, Ali AA and Ali ME, 2024.
Comparative prevalence of virulence
genes and antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter jejuni isolated from
broilers, laying hens and farmers. Pak Vet J, 44(1): 200-204. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2024.133