An epidemiological investigation ofCampylobacterin pig and poultry farms in the Mekong delta of Vietnam

Abstract

SUMMARYCampylobacter are zoonotic pathogens commonly associated with gastroenteritis. To assess the relevance of Campylobacter in Vietnam, an economically transitioning country in SE Asia, we conducted a survey of 343 pig and poultry farms in the Mekong delta, a region characterized by mixed species farming with limited biosecurity. The animal-level prevalence of Campylobacter was 31·9%, 23·9% and 53·7% for chickens, ducks and pigs, respectively. C. jejuni was predominant in all three host species, with the highest prevalence in pigs in high-density production areas. Campylobacter isolates demonstrated high levels of antimicrobial resistance (21% and 100% resistance against ciprofloxacin and erythromycin, respectively). Multilocus sequence type genotyping showed a high level of genetic diversity within C. jejuni, and predicted C. coli inter-species transmission. We suggest that on-going intensification of animal production systems, limited biosecurity, and increased urbanization in Vietnam is likely to result in Campylobacter becoming an increasingly significant cause of human diarrhoeal infections in coming years.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles and Molecular Typing of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli Isolates from Ducks in South Korea

“…Our results are consistent with those of a previous report from the United Kingdom showing that the most common ST from domestic ducks was ST-45 (13). ST-21 from our study was the first to be found largely in ducks compared with previous studies and the MLST database (13,15,25). ST-21 has a wide host range in the MLST database, including chickens, cattle, wild birds, and the environment, but only one ST-21 isolate was from ducks.…”

“…Over 90% C. jejuni resistance to nalidixic acid was reported recently in Vietnam (15). Similarly, C. coli strains with high resistance to fluoroquinolones have been found in Iran, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Vietnam, with resistance rates ranging from less than 20% to 100% (11,14,15,36). The high fluoroquinolone resistance rate for Campylobacter in our study may be attributed to the widespread use of fluoroquinolones in poultry production in South Korea before July 2010 (37).…”

“…No fluoroquinolone-resistant C. jejuni is found in Tanzania (35), whereas higher resistances (17.4 to 76%) to ciprofloxacin have been reported in other areas (14, 16, 36). Over 90% C. jejuni resistance to nalidixic acid was reported recently in Vietnam (15). Similarly, C. coli strains with high resistance to fluoroquinolones have been found in Iran, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Vietnam, with resistance rates ranging from less than 20% to 100% (11,14,15,36).…”

“…Therefore, there is reason to suspect that ducks are an important source of human campylobacteriosis that may be underestimated. An increase in Campylobacter resistance, particularly to fluoroquinolones and macrolides, has also been found in ducks (14)(15)(16). These findings indicate the potential risk of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter subsequently being transferred to humans by ducks.…”

High Levels of Antimicrobial Resistance among Escherichia coli Isolates from Livestock Farms and Synanthropic Rats and Shrews in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam

“…In Vietnam, extensive use of antimicrobials in farming has been documented, including compounds considered to be critical for human medicine, such as fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and aminoglycosides (5,6). As a result, high levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in zoonotic bacteria, such as nontyphoid Salmonella and Campylobacter spp., have been reported both on farms and in meat products (7)(8)(9).…”