Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter from wild birds of prey in Spain.

Wild birds have been identified as a relevant reservoir of Campylobacter spp., therefore, a potential source of infection in humans and domestic animals. The objective of this study was to determine the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. on birds of prey in Spain. In addition, antibiotic resistance profiles of the isolates were evaluated. A total of 689 specimens of 28 raptor species were analyzed, with a resulting individual prevalence of 7.5%. C. jejuni was the most frequently isolated species (88.5%), followed by C. coli and C. lari (3.8% each). The occurrence of Campylobacter was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in nocturnal birds of prey (15.3%), in spring season (12.2%) and in carnivorous species (9.4%). Isolates displayed a remarkable resistance to nalidixic acid (69.9%), ciprofloxacin (69.9%), and tetracycline (55.6%), and a low resistance to streptomycin (6.7%). Our findings highlight the importance of birds of prey as reservoirs of Campylobacter strains and their significant role as carriers of antimicrobial resistance.

Distinct Campylobacter fetus lineages adapted as livestock pathogens and human pathobionts in the intestinal microbiota.

Campylobacter fetus is a venereal pathogen of cattle and sheep, and an opportunistic human pathogen. It is often assumed that C. fetus infection occurs in humans as a zoonosis through food chain transmission. Here we show that mammalian C. fetus consists of distinct evolutionary lineages, primarily associated with either human or bovine hosts. We use whole-genome phylogenetics on 182 strains from 17 countries to provide evidence that C. fetus may have originated in humans around 10,500 years ago and may have "jumped" into cattle during the livestock domestication period. We detect C. fetus genomes in 8% of healthy human fecal metagenomes, where the human-associated lineages are the dominant type (78%). Thus, our work suggests that C. fetus is an unappreciated human intestinal pathobiont likely spread by human to human transmission. This genome-based evolutionary framework will facilitate C. fetus epidemiology research and the development of improved molecular diagnostics and prevention schemes for this neglected pathogen.

High prevalence of Tritrichomonas foetus infection in Asturiana de la Montaña beef cattle kept in extensive conditions in Northern Spain.

Bovine trichomonosis (BT) and bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC) are sexually transmitted diseases that can be important infectious causes of reproductive failure in extensively managed beef cattle where natural mating is a common practice. However, their prevalence in Europe was thought to be insignificant or very low. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with BT and BCG in a representative beef cattle breed, Asturiana de la Montaña (AM), which is usually managed extensively in the mountain areas of Northern Spain and putative risk factors associated with the two diseases are present on most farms holding AM cattle. Preputial smegma samples were collected from 103 bulls belonging to 65 herds. Pathogen detection was undertaken using culture and PCR. Two scraping methods for sample collection (AI pipette and plastic scraper), as well as different culture media and DNA extraction methods were evaluated on field samples. Campylobacter fetus veneralis infection was not detected in any animal in any herd. However, Tritrichomonas foetus infection was demonstrated in 32% (33/103) and 41.5% (27/65) of bulls and herds tested, respectively. AM bulls older than 3 years (39.7%) were more likely to be infected than young bulls (16%) (OR=3.45, CI=1.07-11.19). An increase in repeat breeder cows was reported in herds from which T. foetus was detected (OR=5.2, CI=1.5-17.18). These findings highlight the re-emergence of this disease in extensively managed beef cattle in Spain. For routine diagnosis, the use of a culture technique and PCR in combination is advisable for testing smegma samples under field conditions.

Drinking water as the source of Campylobacter coli infection in grandparent heavy breeders.

The aim of the present study was the molecular identification of a common source of infection of Campylobacter coli in two grandparent breeder farms. Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli were isolated from well water and cloacal swabs from grandparent chickens. Colonies were genotyped using restriction fragment length polymorphism-flaA gene, pulsed field gel electrophoresis and multi-locus sequence typing. The same genotype of C. coli was found in both farms and in the well from which drinking water was supplied to the farms. The well water was epidemiologically linked as the source of C. coli infection. The molecular identification for epidemiological source-tracking of C. coli in breeder farms could aid in combating the colonization of this pathogen and therefore to reduce their incidence in human campylobacteriosis.