Background
Although
Campylobacter jejuni
(
C. jejuni
) and
Campylobacter coli
(
C. coli
) cause acute diarrheal diseases in people all over the world, they are most commonly seen in other mammalian species and are a seemingly healthy carrier condition. Humans in Ethiopia, on the other hand, are largely unaware of the existence of
Campylobacter
in food animals as potential sources of infection.
Objective
To determine the occurrence, risk factors, and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of thermophilic
Campylobacter
species in bovine raw meat from the abattoir and butcher shops.
Methods
Swab samples were collected from 177 cattle carcasses (from abattoir 93 and butcher shops 84) and cultured using standard methods. An antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed using the disk diffusion method towards eleven antimicrobial agents.
Results
The overall prevalence of thermophilic
Campylobacter
species was 14 (7.9%). From these, 11 (78.6%) were identified to be
C. jejuni
and 3 (21.4%) were
C. coli
. Lack of handwashing before meat processing and after visiting the toilet, meat contact with floors, walls, or soiling during preparation, and lack of training were the most important factors independently associated with (p<0.05) the prevalence of
Campylobacter
species contamination. The highest level of antimicrobial resistance of the
Campylobacter
isolates was recorded to ampicillin (10μg) (100%), followed by amoxicillin (30μg) (78.6%) and sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim (57.1%) while the least resisted antimicrobials were streptomycin (25μg), erythromycin (15μg), oxytetracycline (30μg) (each 28.6%), kanamycin (30μg) 14.3%, chloramphenicol (30μg) and gentamycin (10μg) (each 7.1%).
Conclusion
Despite the low prevalence of thermophilic
Campylobacter
in the current investigation, it may pose a significant public health threat. As a result, it is vital to give retailers and customers extensive education, training, and knowledge about the correct handling and cooking of animal-derived goods. Furthermore, antimicrobials should be used with caution in both veterinary and human treatment regimens as well as a wider examination of antimicrobial resistance patterns for the use of well-targeted antimicrobials.