Background: Helicobacter pullorum predominantly colonizes the gut of apparently healthy chickens and the livers and intestinal contents of hens with enteritis and vibrionic hepatitis. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pullorum in broiler chickens, laying hens, and turkeys in Semnan province. Materials and Methods: A total of 300 samples were collected from 60 poultry farms in Semnan province, including 240 cecal samples from 48 broiler farms, 30 fecal samples from 6 laying hen farms, and 30 cecal samples from 6 turkey farms. Each sample was analyzed by conventional culture method and biochemical tests. The suspected colonies were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using 16S rRNA gene. Antibiotic resistance of the confirmed colonies was determined using disk diffusion method. Results: Of 300 samples, 85 (28.3%) samples obtained from 36 (60%) poultry farms were positive for H. pullorum. Of these samples, 72 (30%) were from 30 (62.5%) broiler farms, 4 (13.3%) were from 2 (33.3%) laying hen farms, and 9 (30%) were from 4 (66.7%) turkey farms. Moreover, resistance to ciprofloxacin was observed in all of the H. pullorum isolates. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the moderate prevalence of H. pullorum in poultry in Semnan province for the first time, while the prevalence of this pathogen in laying hen and turkey has not been determined in Iran. In addition, this study could reveal the antibiotic resistance profile of H. pullorum as the first report in Iran. Therefore, more studies are needed to focus on the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of H. pullorum in poultry in other regions of Iran.

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Background: Helicobacter pullorum can infect the intestinal tracts of both humans and avian species. This study aimed to assess the frequency and antibiotic resistance of H. pullorum isolated from workers in the poultry slaughterhouses, farms, and markets as exposed population and healthy people who referred to the hospital as non-exposed population by culture method and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Methods: Two hundred healthy individuals, including 100 individuals from exposed population and 100 from non-exposed population were selected in Semnan. Fresh stool samples were examined by conventional culture method and biochemical tests. PCR test with 16S rRNA gene was employed to confirm the H. pullorum isolates. Antibiotic resistance test was done using the disk diffusion method and various antimicrobial agents. Results: Generally, 17 (17%) samples from exposed population and 12 (12%) samples from non-exposed population were H. pullorum positive by culture method and biochemical tests. However, PCR test could confirm 10 (10%) and 7 (7%) samples from exposed and non-exposed populations, respectively. Therefore, the frequency of H. pullorum was determined to be 9.5%. Antibiotic resistance test could reveal that most of the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin (84.2%), whereas resistance to colistin and fosfomycin was found to be 15.8%. Conclusion: The present study illustrated that H. pullorum can be present among healthy population with the low frequency rate. Moreover, it was indicated that the frequency of this food-borne pathogen is high in the exposed population. Therefore, there is a high demand for good observation for slaughter hygiene and implementation of routine surveillance in the poultry farms and markets.