Samples collected from 791 wild animals (Canada geese, roe deer, hares, moose, wild boar and gulls) shot during hunting were examined for verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157, and thermophilic Campylobacter and Salmonella species. With the exception of one positive isolate from a wild boar, VTEC O157 was not isolated from any of the animals. Salmonella species were isolated only from the gulls, of which 4 per cent were estimated to be positive. Thermophilic Campylobacter species were commonly isolated from all the species except deer.
To investigate the role of Swedish dogs as potential reservoirs of thermophilic Campylobacter species, faecal samples were analysed from 91 dogs in 2001. The majority of dogs (n = 84) were healthy family dogs. Campylobacter spp. were isolated from 51 of the 91 dogs (56%). A significant difference in isolation rates was observed between younger and older dogs: 76% of the younger dogs (5-12 months) were positive, compared with 39% of dogs > or = 13 months (p < 0.01). Two different selective media, Preston and CAT, were used for isolation of Campylobacter species. 104 Campylobacter isolates were identified to species level using polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme analysis techniques. Campylobacter upsaliensis predominated and was isolated from 39 dogs, C. jejuni from 10, C. coli from 2, C. helveticus from 2 and C. lari from 1 dog. Four dogs had mixed flora with 2 different Campylobacter species. These data clearly show that younger dogs in particular frequently shed thermophilic Campylobacter spp, which could be of impact for public health. To establish the zoonotic potential of canine Campylobacter isolates, both human and canine isolates have to be further characterized and compared.
Aims: To compare and evaluate a polymerase chain reaction/restriction enzyme analysis (PCR/REA) method with standard phenotypic tests for the identi®cation and differentiation of the thermophilic campylobacters Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, C. lari and C. upsaliensis. Methods and Results: One hundred and eighty-two presumptive thermophilic campylobacters from 12 different animal species were tested by a recently published PCR/REA and standard phenotypic tests. By PCR/REA, 95% of the isolates were clearly identi®ed as either one of the four thermophilic Campylobacter species or as not belonging to this group of organisms at all. By standard phenotyping, 174 of the 182 isolates were initially identi®ed as either C. jejuni, C. coli, C. lari or C. upsaliensis. Additional genotypic tests and phenotyping showed that 52 of these identi®cations were either incorrect or unreliable. Of the C. jejuni isolates, 19% were identi®ed as C. coli by initial phenotyping and 27 sheep isolates phenotyped as C. coli or C. lari were, in fact, arcobacters. Conclusions: The PCR/REA was more reliable than standard phenotyping for the identi®cation of thermophilic campylobacters from different animals. Signi®cance and Impact of the Study: Routinely used phenotypic tests often resulted in unreliable identi®cations, requiring additional testing. The PCR/REA, however, gave unequivocal results and was considered useful for the routine identi®cation of thermophilic campylobacters from different animals.
Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), mainly isolated from bovine mastitis (n = 89, representing 11 different species), were used to evaluate two commercial identification systems: ID 32 Staph and Staph-Zym. The level of agreement between the ID 32 Staph and Staph-Zym systems and conventional methods was 77 and 94%, respectively. An alternative method, based on solid biochemical substrates, is also presented. This can be used for identifying novobiocin-sensitive CNS strains from bovine mastitis.
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