Identification of Campylobacter jejuni in a local poultry farm with study of transmission route

Abstract

Campylobacter jejuni is the leading cause of food-borne human gastroenteritis in developed countries but its occurrence in Hong Kong still remains unclear. In this study, 24 chickens and certain amount of environmental samples were collected from a local poultry farm in Hong Kong for the detection of Campylobacter jejuni. Chicken samples including skins, toes, intestines, and feces, and environmental samples including feed and water were tested respectively. We cultured for Campylobacter isolates from each sample and examined them by polymerase chain reaction assay and DNA sequencing analysis of flaA gene. Seven out of the 24 chickens were confirmed as Campylobacter jejuni positive, indicating the existence of Campylobacter jejuni in Hong Kong. A phylogenetic tree was eventually constructed according to the sequence of flaA. This study revealed the potential threat of our isolated Campylobacter jejuni to the public because the phylogenetic tree shows its close relationship with some human-infecting strains discovered in USA.