Occurrence of Arcobacter in dogs and cats in Selangor,Malaysia, and associated risk factors

Abstract

The ability of Arcobacter to grow at lower temperatures (15-25 °C) and being aerotolerant makes it different from Campylobacter and other related taxa although they are phenotypically and morphologically similar (1). The prevalence of Arcobacter in humans and animals can be determined more accurately with more sensitive techniques for their isolation and identification. Arcobacter species. particularly A. butzleri, A. skirrowii, and A. cryaerophilus, have been known to be of veterinary importance and can be isolated from farm animals, wild animals, and animal products (2-4). Today they are gaining attention as emerging foodborne organisms (5). In addition, Arcobacter can be transmitted to humans through close contact with pets (6). Arcobacter butzleri is reported as one of the species isolated and found in 'traveler's disease' , a common disease that can affect those visiting developing countries and usually caused by consumption of contaminated food. It was reported that Arcobacter was isolated from major restaurants in Bangkok, Thailand, in 13% of samples and it was detected in 8% of diarrhea cases in Mexico, Guatemala, and India (7,8). The prevalence of Arcobacter infections in domestic animals varies in different parts of the world and various studies have shown that the highest prevalence is found in chicken meat, followed by pork and beef (9). Regarding geographical distribution, the prevalence ranged from 77.8% in Italy to 22.1% in Nigeria, 2.4% in Thailand, 12.9% in South Africa, and 1.2% in France (9-14). In Malaysia, Arcobacter was isolated from beef and milk at rates of 26.3% and 7.6%, respectively (2). Water has also been reported as a good medium for Arcobacter transmission and Arcobacter may be considered as a potential waterborne pathogen (15,16). Apart from food animals, dogs and cats have also been shown to be carriers of this emerging pathogen across the globe (9,17-20). In Malaysia, there is a lack of published studies on the presence of Arcobacter in pet animals. Arcobacter infection in animals may result commonly in mastitis, abortion, and diarrhea that is more persistent and watery than in Campylobacter jejuni infections; other clinical signs include nausea, fever, and abdominal pain (21,22).

Antimicrobial Resistance of Campylobacter spp. and Arcobacter butzleri from Pets in Malaysia

“…For disc diffusion technique, isolates comprising of 15 from Campylobacter spp. from dogs and 13 Campylobacter spp isolated from cats; and 55 isolates of Arcobacter butzleri isolates from dogs and 34 isolates of Arcobacter butzleri from cats were obtained from previous studies (Goni et al, 2016;Goni et al, 2017). The isolates were collected and identified as Campylobacter spp and Arcobacter butzleri using biochemical test and confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) as reported by Goni et al (2017) before they were stored in cryobeads tubes at -80°C.…”

“…from dogs and 13 Campylobacter spp isolated from cats; and 55 isolates of Arcobacter butzleri isolates from dogs and 34 isolates of Arcobacter butzleri from cats were obtained from previous studies (Goni et al, 2016;Goni et al, 2017). The isolates were collected and identified as Campylobacter spp and Arcobacter butzleri using biochemical test and confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) as reported by Goni et al (2017) before they were stored in cryobeads tubes at -80°C. Similarly, for Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (M.I.C) method, 16 isolates of Campylobacter and another 16 isolates of Arcobacter butzleri were selected among the same isolates used for disc diffusion method and for the antimicrobial susceptibility testing.…”

Isolation of Arcobacter spp. and identification of isolates by multiplex PCR from various domestic poultry and wild avian species

“…have been isolated from various clinical samples from humans and animals (Petersen et al 2007;Adesiji et al 2011). They have been found in intestinal and fecal samples from a range of farm animals Piva et al 2013;Shakira et al 2012); cloacal swabs and fecal samples from domestic poultry such as chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys (Collado and Figueras 2011;Goni et al 2016); and intestinal and fecal samples from numerous wild avian species (Fernández et al 2007;Wesley and Schroeder-Tucker 2011;Di Francesco et al 2014).…”