Isolation and molecular characterization of Campylobacter coli among trade pigs in Kafanchan, Kaduna state, Nigeria

Abstract

Campylobacter coli is a zoonotic bacterium associated with gastroenteritis in both man and animals, causing considerable morbidity and mortality among the young, the aged and the immuno-compromised in most developing countries including Nigeria. This study isolated and characterized Campylobacter coli from trade pigs in Kafanchan, Nigeria, using charcoal-cefoperazone-deoxycholate agar (CCDA) and a multiplex polymerase chain reaction that targeted a 439 bp of 16 rRNA of thermophilic campylobacters. Faecal samples from 114 (57.0%) females and 86 (43.0%) males totaling 200 samples were analyzed for the presence of Campylobacter species of which 16 were positive for Campylobacter coli yielding an overall prevalence rate of 8.0%. Sex-based prevalence rates varied significantly (p<0.05) between the 2.3% and 12.3% recorded by males and females respectively while breed-based prevalence rates were 4.9% and 10.1% for exotic and indigenous pigs respectively. The prevalence rates of 0%, 2.6%, 7.8%, 21.7% and 11.7% revealed by pigs that originated from Abuja, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau States respectively showed significant variation (p<0.05). Campylobacter coli is prevalent among trade pigs in Kafanchan, Nigeria and is distributed across four of the five states from which trade pigs were sourced. Adequate hand hygiene is recommended for farmers, traders and Veterinary professionals handling pigs to prevent the transmission of this zoonosis to humans.