ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN OF THERMOPHILIC Campylobacter SPECIES FROM CHICKEN, CALVES AND DOG

Campylobacter spp. are the common food borne pathogens of zoonotic importance. Natural reservoirs for Campylobacter include pigs, dogs, sheep, cows, wild birds, chicken and other poultry.

The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of Campylobacter in chicken, calves and pet dogs which maybe the likely source of infection in human. A total of 104 faecal samples were collected, out of which from chicken (38), calves (26) and from dogs (40) were analyzed for the presence of Campylobacter spp. by culture techniques. The overall prevalence of Campylobacter spp. positive isolates was 67 (64.42%), species wise it was dog 24(60%) calves 16 (61.54%) and 27 (71.05%) from poultry.

The antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of each isolates was evaluated against six different antibiotics following standard methods. Campylobacter isolates from dogs showed resistance towards cephalexin (100%), co-trimoxazole (87.5%), tetracycline (83.33%), amoxicillin (66.67%) and ciprofloxacin (58.33%) while sensitivity was 66.67% for gentamicin. The resistance pattern for the poultry isolates was seen towards amoxicillin (100%), co-trimoxazole (100%), cephalexin (96.29%), tetracycline (55.56%) while sensitivity was 100% for gentamicin and 48.15% for ciprofloxacin. Isolates from calves were resistance against amoxiciliin (100%), cephalexin (100%), tetracycline (72.72%), ciprofloxacin (72.72%) and co-trimoxazole (63.63%). Sensitive was seen towards gentamicin (100%).

Chicken, calves and dogs are significant reservoirs of Campylobacter and can therefore be a likely vehicle for the transmission of Campylobacter to humans and have exhibited a high level of antimicrobial resistance for common antibiotics.