Background Campylobacter is the main cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. The main transmission route is through consumption of food contaminated with Campylobacter species or contact with infected animals. In Latvia, the prevalence of campylobacteriosis is reported to be low (4.6 cases per 100,000 population in 2016). Aim To determine prevalence, species spectrum and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of Campylobacter spp. in Latvia, using data from various livestock and human clinical samples. Methods We analysed data of Campylobacter microbiological monitoring and AMR (2008 and 2014–16) in Latvia. Data from broilers, poultry, pigs, calves and humans were used to determine prevalence of Campylobacter . Additionally, 45 different origin isolates (22 human) were sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq platform; for each isolate core genome multilocus sequence typing was used and relevant antimicrobial resistance mechanisms were identified. Results Overall, Campylobacter prevalence in was 83.3% in pigs, 50.2% in broilers, 16.1% in calves and 5.3% in humans; C. jejuni was the predominant species in all sources except pigs where C. coli was main species. High level of resistance in Campylobacter were observed against fluoroquinolones, tetracycline and streptomycin, in most of sequenced isolates genetic determinants of relevant AMR profiles were identified. Conclusions In Latvia, prevalence of Campylobacter in livestock is high, especially in pigs and broilers; prevalence in poultry and humans were lower than in other European countries. AMR analysis reveals increase of streptomycin and tetracycline resistant broiler origin C. jejuni strains. WGS demonstrates a high compliance between resistance phenotype and genotype for quinolones and tetracyclines.

Q-fever is widespread globally. The goal of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Q-fever infection in Latvia among dairy cattle in 2018–2020, in comparison with that in 2012–2015. The shedding of Coxiella burnetii DNA in milk was assessed. Screening of blood samples of abortion cases for the presence of antibodies against Q-fever and testing of aborted fetuses for C. burnetii DNA were also carried out. Additionally, serum samples from clinically healthy cattle, sheep and goat were included. Overall, 18.34% of milk samples were positive, representing 11.02% of all tested sheds. In total, 20.62% of serum samples from the cattle that suffered abortions were positive or suspicious, representing 12.63% of all sheds. Only 3.33% of serum samples from clinically healthy cattle and 3.42% from sheep and goat were positive. The highest proportion of serologically positive and suspicious samples was observed in cattle that suffered abortion with age from three to nine years, and in the first and third gestation period. One dominant genotype of C. burnetii (MST61) was detected. Ruminant import from abroad was identified as a significant risk factor, as well as the dairy cattle population density.