Campylobacteriosis is one of the most common causes of bacterial gastroenteritis. However, the clinical course of the illness varies in symptoms and severity. The aim of this study was to characterize Campylobacter jejuni (34 isolates) and C. coli (9 isolates) from persons with diarrheal and non-diarrheal stools at the time of examination and fecal sampling, in Poland by using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis revealed a high diversity with a total of 20 sequence types (STs) among 26 Campylobacter isolates from diarrheic and 13 STs among 17 isolates from non-diarrheic persons. ST-50 and ST-257 were most common in both groups. The phenotypic resistance rate was 74.4% for ciprofloxacin, 67.4% for sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, 58.1% for amoxicillin, 48.8% for tetracycline, and 46.5% for ceftriaxone. Only single isolates were resistant to erythromycin, gentamicin, and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Overall genotypic resistance toward amoxicillin, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, and aminoglycosides was predicted to occur in 93.1, 67.4, 48.8, and 11.6% of the isolates, respectively. None of the isolates showed the presence of the erm(B) gene or mutation in 23S rRNA. Neither was variation found in the important target region in L4 and L22 ribosomal proteins. In regard to the CmeABC efflux pump, a set of variable mutations affecting the regulatory region was noted. All Campylobacter isolates possessed genes associated with adhesion (cadF, jlpA, porA, and pebA) and invasion (ciaB, pldA, and flaC). The type IV secretion system (T4SS) was found in isolates from both diarrheic (15.4%, CI 95%: 6.1-33.5%) and non-diarrheic (23.5%, CI 95%: 9.6-47.3%) persons. The rates of the presence of cytolethal distending toxin cdtABC gene cluster and type VI secretion system (T6SS) were higher in Campylobacter isolates obtained from persons with diarrhea (96.2%, CI 95%: 81.7-99.3% and 26.9%, CI 95%: 13.7-46.1%) compared to isolates from

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A total of 240 samples were evaluated for the presence of Campylobacter spp. Campylobacter was found in 83.3% of the cecum contents samples and 52.5% of the neck skin samples from carcasses. The prevailing species was C. jejuni, accounting for 87.7% of all Campylobacter isolates, and the remaining 12.3% of isolates were C. coli. All Campylobacter isolates, independent of the sample origin and species, were positive for 6 out of 15 tested genes (flaA, flhA, cadF, racR, ciaB, and cdtA genes). The prevalence of dnaJ, docA, pldA, cdtB, cdtC, and iam genes was also very common (ranging from 86.5% to 98.8%). The lowest prevalence was noted for virB11 and wlaN genes, both in Campylobacter isolates from cecum (12% and 19%) and carcasses (11.1% and 17.5%). None of the isolates tested, regardless of the sample origin, carried the cgtB gene. The highest resistance rates were observed for quinolones (90.8%) and tetracyclines (79.8%). Simultaneously, only single Campylobacter isolate was resistant to macrolides (0.6%) and none of the isolates showed resistance to aminoglycosides and amphenicols. The common presence of Campylobacter on geese carcasses as well as the detection of multidrug-resistant isolates indicate that consuming goose meat might cause a potential risk, therefore leading to human campylobacteriosis.

The study was carried out to determine the cytotoxin production by Campylobacter spp. isolated from slaughtered cattle and swine in north-eastern Poland. In total three commercial slaughterhouses were sampled during one year. Carcass swabs were taken to detect the level of Campylobacter spp. contamination. Campylobacter spp. was found in 50 (34%) out of 147 swine carcasses examined. PCR analysis revealed 4 (8%) isolates to be C. jejuni, and 46 (92%) to be C. coli. From a total of 373 bovine carcasses, Campylobacter spp. were isolated from 49 (13.1%) samples. The results regarding the occurrence of cdt genes associated with cytotoxicity indicated that 100% of C. jejuni and 67.4% C. coli obtained from pigs had all three cdtA, cdtB and cdtC genes. In case of C. jejuni strains isolated from cattle all cdt genes were confirmed in 93.9% isolates. The isolates possessesing all cdt genes had higher cytotoxic activity against cell lines used. The isolates both from cattle and swine were characterized by the highest cytotoxicity against HeLa cells. The values obtained reached 80.8% for C. jejuni isolates from cattle and 76.2% for C. jejuni and 69.0% for C. coli isolates from swine. High prevalence of cytotoxicity in Campylobacter spp. indicates a significant epidemiological role of this pathogen in human infections.

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Toxoplasmosis is a cosmopolitan zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan. The main source of infection for humans is meat contaminated with tissue cysts, the main invasive form of the parasite. The muscle tissue of seropositive animals of the family Suidae, subfamily Sus (domestic pig, wild boar) are the most common sources of infections with Toxoplasma gondii. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infections in the meat of wild boars (Sus scrofa) based on measurements of T. gondii antibodies in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). One hundred samples of muscle tissue were obtained from wild boars hunted in the Game Breeding Center in north-eastern Poland. The animals were divided into three age groups: weaners (27), subadults (38) and adults (35). The prevalence of toxoplasmosis was very high in the analyzed population, and 71% of the animals were classified as seropositive in ELISA. Antibodies against T. gondii were detected in 62.9% of weaners, 73.6% of subadults and 74.2% of adult boars. The seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies was significantly higher in the animals hunted in the Game Breeding Center in comparison with the national average determined by other authors. Such extensive spread of the parasite in the natural environment can be attributed to geographic location, landform, presence of waterbodies, local climate, the size of the wild boar population and the spread of castor bean ticks (Ixodes ricinus).

SummaryThe aim of the study was to determine the presence of Campylobacter strains in poultry by-products and define antimicrobial resistance of isolates. In total, 400 samples were tested among which 300 included the liver, heart and stomach, and 100 samples represented the contents of the cecum. The samples were taken from chickens and turkeys in the slaughterhouse after evisceration. The prevalence of Campylobacter in chicken samples was 100% with regards to the contents of cecum and offal. The turkey origin Campylobacter strains were noted in 76% of the livers, 78% hearts and 82% gizzards. The samples of cecum contents were positive in 60%. Species analysis of the strains isolated showed C. jejuni as dominant. The estimation of sensitivity to antibiotics showed that Campylobacter strains were most frequently resistant to quinolones and tetracyclines. Resistance to ciprofloxacin was detected among 52.7% and 52.5% chicken and turkey origin strains. The same was noted regarding nalidixic acid, resistance to which was shown in 56% and 58.5% isolates, respectively. Regarding tetracyclines, the highest resistance of the strains from chicken and turkey was detected to doxycyclinum in 61.3% and 53.3% of isolates, respectively. However the highest sensitivity was showed to erythromycin, gentamicin and chloramphenicol. Only one C. coli strain from turkey offal was resistant to gentamicin. Simultaneously multi drug resistance was defined. The aimed studies showed that 62% of C. jejuni and 53.8% of C. coli strains from chicken offal were resistant to two or more agents. In turkey origin isolates MDR was detected in 54.7% of C. jejuni and 53.3% of C. coli strains.

A total of 102 honey samples collected from small apiaries (≤ 20 hives) in Poland were analysed for the presence of Clostridium botulinum spores. The samples were prepared using the dilution centrifugation method and cultured in parallel in cooked meat medium (CMM) and tripticase peptone glucose yeast (TPGY) enrichment broths. Identification of toxin types A, B, and E of Clostridium botulinum strains was performed with the use of the multiplex PCR method. Positive samples were also subjected to quantitative analysis with the use of Clostridium botulinum Isolation Agar Base (CBAB). The prevalence analysis showed 22 (21.6%) samples contaminated with C. botulinum spores. The major serotype detected was botulin neurotoxin type A – 16 (72.7%) whereas type B was found in 3 (13.6%) honey samples and type E also only in 3 (13.6%) honey samples. Dual-toxin-producing strains were noted. The average quantity of spores in PCR - C. botulinum positive samples was 190 in 1 gram of honey.