N.A. Al Humam
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine &
Animal Resources, King Faisal University, P.O Box 8582, Al-Ahsa 31982, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
ABSTRACT
The present research project was aimed to isolate and characterise Campylobacter spp. from camels in the Al-Ahsa province. A total of 500 faecal samples were collected from camels of different farms. These samples were processed microbiologically to isolate Campylobacter spp. using standard culture techniques. Isolates were characterised by conventional phenotypic tests, confirmed by latex agglutination and with the commercial VITEK 2 system (bioMérieux, France).
Out of the 500 faecal samples examined, 25 (5%) yielded Campylobacter spp. Characterisation of the isolates showed 19 (3.8%) to be Campylobacter jejuni, 5 (1%) C. coli and 1 (0.2%) C. lari. These thermophilic Campylobacter spp. were subjected to biotyping. C. jejuni biotypes belonged to biotypes I (57.9%), II (31.6%), III (10.5%), IV (0), while biotypes C. coli to I (80%), II (20%) and biotypes C. lari to I (100%). Isolation of these species and biotypes may indicate that camels are a reservoir for human infection and the importance of these foodborne pathogens on Public Health is discussed. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations were suggested.
Key words: Camel, Campylobacter spp., characterisation, public health, Saudi Arabia
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