Campylobacter infection in broiler breeder flocks in El-Minia governorate

Existence of Campylobacter species that colonize broiler chickens intestinal tract raised and slaughtered in El-Minia Governorate as a source of animal protein origin for human consumption were studied. Samples were collected from 381 broiler chickens from different private farms distributed in six cities related to El-Minia Governorate and examined for the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. Percentage of Campylobacter jejuni isolation was 19.5% , 14.8% , 18.3% , 14.7% , 12.3% and 12.1% from Maggagha, Beni-Mazar, Samalout, Abou-Curcas, Mallawey and Deer-Mouase, respectively. While Campylobacter coli was 4.8% , 6.2% , 4.3% , 6.7% , 3.5 % and 0.0% respectively . Higher rate of isolation of Campylobacter jejuni 18.0% and Campylobacter coli 5.1% were obtained from 216 freshly dead broiler chickens carcasses than 165 diseased and slaughter birds which revealed 13.3% and 4.2% , respectively . Overall , Campylobacter spp. showed a higher tissue affinity for caecum (11.3%) Campylobacter jejuni and (2.6%) Campylobacter coli than for jejunum (4.2%) C. jejuni and (1.6%) C. coli and liver (1.6%) C.jejuni and (1.6%) C. coli. Susceptibilities of the recovered Campylobacter jejuni and C.coli, isolates to fifteen antibiotic discs clarified that gentamycin, neomycin, chloramphenicol and nalidixic acid in addition most of the strain were resistant to penicillin , ampicillin, tetracycline , sulfa methoxazole , trimethoprim, cephalothin and enerofloxacin . Public health hazard of enteropathogenic campylobacter was discussed and suggestive measures for reduction of campylobacter in broiler chicken farms were explained.