Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Thermophilic Campylobacter Species in Humans and Animals in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Thermophilic Campylobacter species are clinically important aetiologies of gastroenteritis in humans throughout the world. The colonization of different animal reservoirs by Campylobacter poses an important risk for humans through shedding of the pathogen in livestock waste and contamination of water sources, environment, and food. A review of published articles was conducted to obtain information on the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of thermophilic Campylobacter species in humans and animals in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Electronic databases, namely, PubMed, Google Scholar, Research4life-HINARI Health, and Researchgate.net, were searched using the following search terms “thermophilic Campylobacter,” “Campylobacter jejuni,” “Campylobacter coli,” “diarrhea/diarrhoea,” “antimicrobial resistance,” “antibiotic resistance,” “humans,” “animals,” “Sub-Saharan Africa,” and “a specific country name.” Initially, a total of 614 articles were identified, and the lists of references were screened in which 22 more articles were identified. After screening, 33 articles on humans and 34 on animals and animal products were included in this review. In humans, Nigeria reported the highest prevalence (62.7%), followed by Malawi (21%) and South Africa (20.3%). For Campylobacter infections in under-five children, Kenya reported 16.4%, followed by Rwanda (15.5%) and Ethiopia (14.5%). The country-level mean prevalence in all ages and under-five children was 18.6% and 9.4%, respectively. The prevalence ranged from 1.7%–62.7% in humans and 1.2%–80% in animals. The most reported species were C. jejuni and C. coli. The AMR to commonly used antimicrobials ranged from 0–100% in both humans and animals. Poultry consumption and drinking surface water were the main risk factors for campylobacteriosis. The present review provides evidence of thermophilic Campylobacter occurrence in humans and animals and high levels of AMR in SSA, emphasizing the need for strengthening both national and regional multisectoral antimicrobial resistance standard surveillance protocols to curb both the campylobacteriosis burden and increase of antimicrobial resistance in the region.

Multiple drug resistance of Campylobacter jejuni and Shigella isolated from diarrhoeic children at Kapsabet County referral hospital, Kenya

“…High isolation rates of C. jejuni (12.9%) were in agreement with those reported from Kolkata, Algeria [7] and Burkina Faso [24], but also closely compares with studies conducted in South Africa (20.3%), and Kenya (16.4%). In other studies, Nigeria reported the highest prevalence (62.7%) followed by Malawi (21%) [25]. The differences in age groups may also be the possible explanations for the variation of the results.…”

“…The high percentage of multiple drug resistant Campylobacter jejuni to most frequently used antibiotics may be due to uncontrolled use of antibiotics such as selfmedicating and access to drugs without prescription [25,38]. Most of the time, acute gastroenteritis due to Campylobacter species will be treated empirically with fluoroquinolones and macrolides.…”

Susceptibility of Campylobacter Strains to Selected Natural Products and Frontline Antibiotics

“…These results support previous reports of increased resistance to fluoroquinolones in C. jejuni strains from various sources, including chickens [ 57 ]. Campylobacter strains are becoming more resistant to drugs of choice, and this has been associated with the irrational use of various antibiotics in animal husbandry [ 58 ], mainly poultry [ 7 , 8 ]. Apart from the point mutation in gyr A, increased resistance to quinolones has been associated with the broad use of fluoroquinolones in the human population and veterinary medicine [ 59 ].…”

Molecular detection of Campylobacter species from human and cattle faecal samples in Kilosa district, Tanzania

“…The incidence of human cases of campylobacteriosis has been increasing in many countries throughout the world [4,5]. In Africa, the prevalence varies from 7.7-18.5%, and Campylobacter is persistently found in stools of both diarrheic and non-diarrheic children [7,8,9], often associated with poor hygiene and sanitation [9].…”