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Genetic characterization and epidemiological implications of Campylobacter isolates from wild birds in South Korea
Author(s) -
Wei Bai,
Kang Min,
Jang HyungKwan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
transboundary and emerging diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.392
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1865-1682
pISSN - 1865-1674
DOI - 10.1111/tbed.12931
Subject(s) - multilocus sequence typing , biology , campylobacter jejuni , campylobacter , virulence , molecular epidemiology , microbiology and biotechnology , campylobacter coli , genotype , typing , gene , genetics , bacteria
In this study, we genotyped Campylobacter isolates from wild birds by multilocus sequence typing ( MLST ) and analysed their virulence genes by PCR with the aim to gain a deeper understanding of the epidemiology of Campylobacter infection. Amongst 60 Campylobacter isolates from 12 wild bird species, we identified 32 sequence types ( ST s; 29 ST s from Campylobacter jejuni and 3 ST s from Campylobacter coli ). Clonal complex 45 ( CC ‐45), was the most common CC ( n = 17 isolates), followed by CC ‐692 ( n = 10). ST ‐137 was the most prevalent ( n = 9), originating from 4 avian species. Eleven C. jejuni ST s (37.9%) and 2 C. coli ST s (66.7%) overlapped with those of human clinical origin. Thirteen C. jejuni ST s and all 3 C. coli ST s from wild birds were associated with ST s of multiple sources (poultry, livestock and/or the environment). There was a strong association between wild bird isolates and domestic duck isolates with 7 ST s shared between these host species. There was a high prevalence of all the 11 virulence genes tested in all wild bird isolates, with no association of any ST to a particular virulence profile. All Campylobacter spp. isolates from wild birds carried the cadF gene. The cytotoxin‐encoding genes cdtB and cdtC were present in all 7 C. coli isolates, and in 52 (98.1%) and 50 (94.3%) C. jejuni isolates , respectively. Six C. jejuni isolates carried the wlaN gene, and v irB11 was found in 8 isolates. The results of this study show that ST overlap between human and wild bird isolates frequently occurs, and the high prevalence of virulence genes in wild bird isolates indicates that wild birds shed Campylobacter in their faeces that are potentially pathogenic to humans.