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Virulence and resistance genes in Campylobacter spp isolated from asymptomatic children at Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya


Gachau Mureithi
Celestine Makobe
Nduhiu Gitahi
Beatrice Wandia
Ben Brian
Eric Lelo

Abstract

BACKGROUND                                   


Campylobacter spp. are among the global causes of food poisoning and harbour virulence and resistance genes which play a role in invasion and antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to detect selected resistance and virulence genes in archived Campylobacter spp. isolated from children in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya.


MATERIALS AND METHODS                             


This was a retrospective laboratory-based cross-sectional study on archived samples of Campylobacter spp. at the Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi. Campylobacter isolates were cultured on modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar (mCCDA) media. The presence of selected virulence genes and resistance genes was detected by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR). STATA13 was used in data analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to ascertain the association between the genes and the Campylobacter spp.


RESULTS                                                                 


The Campylobacter spp. under this study were Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) (50%), Campylobacter coli (C. coli) (38%) and Campylobacter lari (C. lari) (12%). The virulence genes detected were cgtB 37 (25%), pldA (20%), cdtA (17%), cdtB (16%), cdtC (6%), wlaN (5%), iam (4%), ciaB (4%) and VirB11 (3%). The virulence gene waaC was not detected in any of the isolates. The resistance genes detected were TetA (42%), Tet B (26%), GyrB (18%) and GyrA (14%).


CONCLUSION                                                       


The study revealed the presence of various virulence and resistance genes in Campylobacter spp. isolated from children. This information could help guide the development and enhancement of guidelines for the management of Campylobacter infections.


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eISSN: 1022-9272