Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Volume: 55 Issue: 2

  • Open Access
  • Research Article

Occurrence of campylobacteriosis in cats and rats in Thrissur, Kerala

R. S. Shahna1, Deepa Jolly1*, B. Sunil1, K. Vrinda Menon1 and K. Vinod Kumar2

1. Department of Veterinary Public Health

2. Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine

College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur- 680651 Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Kerala, India

*Corresponding author: [email protected],Ph. 9388020563

Year: 2024, Page: 325-329, Doi: https://doi.org/10.51966/jvas.2024.55.2.325-329

Received: Nov. 10, 2023 Accepted: Feb. 7, 2024 Published: June 30, 2024

Abstract

Globally, campylobacteriosis is one of the most common causes of gastroenteritis in humans. Campylobacter is an enteric pathogen present as a commensal in the gastrointestinal tract of a wide variety of animals and birds. Poultry, pig and livestock are the main reservoirs and the disease spread mainly by consumption of contaminated meat and milk. Contact with companion animals and contaminated environment (water and soil) also add to the risk of acquiring this infection. In the light of increasing trend of rearing pets in households in the post-covid period, the risk of Campylobacter infection from cats has to be investigated. Rats which are peri-domestic animals may contaminate the livestock farms rearing food animals and so may serve as a source of transmission of the disease. Rectal swabs were collected from cats (70) presented to veterinary hospitals and various households, and caecal samples were collected from rats (60) caught from different households and farm premises of Thrissur district. Campylobacter could not be detected in samples from cats by conventional culture technique and direct broth polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Out of the 60 samples collected from rats, no samples were positive for Campylobacter by conventional culture technique, but six (10 %) samples collected from rats procured from poultry farm premises were found to be positive for Campylobacter spp. by direct broth PCR. Of the six isolates obtained by direct PCR, five were identified as C. jejuni and one as C. coli. The presence of Campylobacter spp. in rat, increase the risk of transmission of the bacteria to farm animals and thereby potentially contaminate the food chain, resulting in human infections. A one health approach is needed to combat the occurrence and transmission of the disease in animals and humans.

Keywords: Campylobacter, rat, cat

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Cite this article

Shahna, R.S., Jolly, D., Sunil, B., Menon, K.V. and Vinod Kumar, K. 2024. Occurrence of Campylobacteriosis in cats and rats in Thrissur, Kerala. J. Vet. Anim. Sci. 55(2):325-329

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51966/jvas.2024.55.2.325-329

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