Campylobacter jejuni in Duck Faeces around Drinking Water Sources in Makurdi, North-Central Nigeria: Public Health Implication

Abstract

Faeces from 192 ducks feeding around 10 wells and 6 ponds in peri-urban areas of Makurdi town, North-Central Nigeria were randomly sampled during the dry season period of October, 2006 to March, 2007. The samples were cultured for Campylobacter jejuni, followed by characterisation of positive samples. The overall prevalence was 63.5%. Prevalence rates were very high, 61.7% and 66.7% for faeces obtained from the ducks around wells and ponds respectively. The prevalence rate was highest in the month of February, where 80.0% and 83.3% of the faecal samples were positive for wells and ponds, respectively; prevalence rates were lowest (40.0%) in the month of October for wells and 50% for ponds in March. Campylobacter jejuni infection in ducks was highly associated (P = 0.36) with diarrhoea as Campylobacter was isolated from 76.7% of cases with diarrhoea. Water samples from 66.7% of the wells and 83.3% of the ponds were also Campylobacter-positive. The presence of this pathogen in duck faeces and sources of drinking water pose a very serious public health problem. There is therefore a need to intensify public health education and protect the wells and ponds against contamination and pollution.