Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparison of Cape Town and Skirrow's Campylobacter isolation protocols in humans and broilers in Morogoro, Tanzania

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Comparison of Cape Town and Skirrow's protocols used in isolation of Campylobacter in humans and broilers was carried out in a cross-sectional study in Morogoro, Tanzania. A total of 176 and 158 human stool and broiler intestinal samples were collected, respectively. While human stool samples were collected from selected health centers, broiler intestinal samples were obtained from selected farms and chicken markets. Samples were inoculated and cultured in duplicate using two protocols and prevalence of Campylobacter were established. In humans, the prevalence of Campylobacter isolates was significantly higher (P < 0.001) (21.6%) with Cape Town protocol than Skirrow's method (9.1%). Similarly, a higher prevalence (P < 0.05) in broilers was recorded in Cape Town protocol (77.8%) than Skirrow's method (66.5%). There was a moderate (0.53) Kappa test of agreement between Skirrow's and Cape Town protocols for human samples and substantial agreement (0.72) for broiler samples. This demonstrates that Cape Town protocol is superior over the Skirrow's protocol in Campylobacter isolation. Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter lari were the Campylobacter spp. isolated. In humans, C. jejuni accounted for 92.1% and 87.5% of all positive samples with Cape Town and Skirrow's protocols, respectively. In broilers, C. jejuni was isolated at 91.1% and 92.5% of all species obtained with Cape Town and Skirrow's protocols, respectively. This shows that C. jejuni is the common species that may be circulating from either broilers to humans or other animals and vice versa. The present study has introduced Cape Town protocol in Tanzania for Campylobacter isolation from human and animal samples, which is expected to improve the isolation of Campylobacter species. Cape Town protocol may also be a good alternative for use in routine isolation of Campylobacter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ali, A. M., Qureshi, A. H., Rafi, S., Roshan, E., Khan, I., Malik, A. M. and Shahid, S. A., 2003. Frequency of Campylobacter jejuni in Diarrhoea/Dysentery in Children in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, 53, 11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allos, B.M., 2001. Campylobacter jejuni infections: update on emerging issues and trends. Clinical and Infectious Diseases, 32, 1201–1206.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Atabay, H.I. and Corry, J.E.L., 1998. The isolation and prevalence of campylobacters from dairy cattle using a variety of methods. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 84, 733–740.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blaser, M.J., Berkowtz, I.D., La Force, F. M., Cravens, J., Reller, L.B. and Wang, W.L. L., 1979. Campylobacter enteritis: clinical and epidemiological features. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 9, 227-232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolton, F.J., Hutchinson, D.M. and Coates, D., 1984. Blood free selective medium for isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from faeces. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 19, 169–171.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bull S.A, Allen V.M, Domingue G, Jørgensen F, Frost J.A, Ure R., Whyte, R., Corry, J.E.L., Gillard-King, J. and Humphrey, T.J., 2006. Sources of Campylobacter spp. colonizing housed broiler flocks during rearing. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 72, 645–52.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chuma, I.S., 2008. Prevalence, risk factors and genetic relatedness among thermophilic Campylobacter from humans and chickens using RAPD-PCR in Morogoro, Tanzania, (Unpublished master dissertation, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania).

  • Coker, A. O. and Adefeso, A. O., 1994. The changing patterns of Campylobacter jejuni/coli in Lagos Nigeria after 10 years. East African Medical Journal, 71, 437-40.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coker, O.A., Isokpehi, D.R., Thomas, N.B., Kehinde, O.A. and Obi, L.C., 2002. Human campylobacteriosis in developing countries. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 8, 237-243.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corry, J. E., Post, D. E., Colin, P. and Laisney, M. J., 1995. Culture media for the isolation of campylobacters. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 26, 43–76.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coulombier, D., Fagan, R., Hathcock, L. and Smith, C., 2001. Epi Info 6 version 6.04. A word processing, database and statistical program for public health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Delaware, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donnison, A. 2003. Isolation of thermotolerant Campylobacter—review and methods for New Zealand laboratories prepared for the Ministry of Health. Client Report.

  • Engberg, J., On, S.L.W., Harrington, C.S. and Gerner-Smidt, P., 2000. Prevalence of Campylobacter, Arcobacter, Helicobacter, and Sutterella spp. in human fecal samples as estimated by a reevaluation of isolation methods for campylobacters. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 38, 286–291.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goossens, H., Vlaes, L., Galand, I., Van den Borre, C. and Butzler, J.P., 1989. Semi solid blood free selective motility medium for the isolation of campylobacters from stool specimens. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 27, 1077–1080.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horrocks S.M., Anderson R.C., Nisbet D.J., and Ricke S.C., 2009. Incidence and ecology of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli in animals. Anaerobe, 15, 18–25.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Humphrey, T., O'Brien, S., and Madsen, M. 2007. Campylobacters as zoonotic pathogens: a food production perspective. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 117, 237–257.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, D.N. and Bolton, F.J., 1984. Improved blood free selective medium for isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from faeces. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 37, 956–957.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karmali, M.A., Simor, A.E., Roscoe, M., Flemming, P.C., Smith, S.S. and Lane, J., 1986. Evaluation of blood free, charcoal based, selective medium for the isolation of Campylobacter organisms from faeces. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 23, 456-459.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kassa, T., Gebre-selassie, S. and Asrat, D., 2005. The prevalence of thermotolerant Campylobacter species in food animals in Jimma Zone, southwest Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, 19 (3), 225–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kusiluka, L.J.M., Karimuribo, E.D., Nonga, H.E. and Kambarage, D.M., 2009. Prevalence and health risks associated with thermophilic Campylobacter spp. in chickens consumed in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania. International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health (in press)

  • Lastovica, A.J., 2006. Emerging Campylobacter spp.: The tip of the iceberg. Clinical Microbiology Newsletter, 28(7), 49–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lastovica, A.J. and Le Roux, E., 2001. Efficient isolation of C. upsaliensis from stool. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 39(11), 4222–4223. doi:10.1128/JCM.39.11.4222-4223.2001.

  • Le Roux, E. and Lastovica, A.J., 1998. The Cape Town protocol: How to isolate the most campylobacters for your dollars pounds franc yen etc. In: A.J. Lastovica, D. Newell and E.E. Lastovica (eds), Proceedings of 9th International workshop on Campylobacter, Helicobacter and related organism. Institute of Child health Cape Town, South Africa, pp. 31–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindblom, G. B., Ahren, C., Changalucha, J., Gabone, R., Kaijser, B., Nilsson L.A, Sjogren, E, Svennerholm, A.M. and Temu, M., 1995. Campylobacter jejuni/coli and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) in faeces from children and adults in Tanzania. Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases, 27(6), 589–93.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • López, L., Castillo, F.J., Clavel, A. and C. Rubio M., 1998. Use of a selective medium and a membrane filter method for isolation of Campylobacter species from spanish paediatric patients. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 17, 489–492.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mdegela, R.H., Nonga, H.E., Ngowi, H.A. and Kazwala, R.R., 2006. Prevalence of thermophilic Campylobacter infections in humans, chickens and crows in Morogoro, Tanzania. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series B, 53, 116–121.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nachamkin, I. and Blaser M. J., 2000. Campylobacteriosis, 2nd edition. American Society for Microbiology. Washington.

    Google Scholar 

  • NCCLS., 2002. Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Disk Diffusion and Dilution Susceptibility Tests for Bacteria Isolated from Animals. National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS), Pennsylvania.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newell D. G. and Fearnley C. 2003. Sources of Campylobacter Colonization in Broiler Chickens. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 69(8), 4343–4351, doi:10.1128/AEM.69.8.4343-4351.2003.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nonga, H.E., Sells, P. and Karimuribo, E. D., 2009. Occurrences of thermophilic Campylobacter in cattle slaughtered at Morogoro municipal abattoir, Tanzania. Tropical Animal Health Production, doi:10.1007/s11250-009-9387-7.

    Google Scholar 

  • On, S.L.W. 1996. Identification Methods for Campylobacter, Helicobacter, and related organisms. American Society for Microbiology Journal, 9, 405–422.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rani, R., Pramanik, A.K. and Das, U., 2004. Role of exposure to domestic animals in the etiology of Campylobacter enteritis in children of rural community. Indian Veterinary Journal, 81, 971–973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao, M.R., Naficy, A.B, Savarino, S.J., Abu-Elyazeed, R., Wierzba, T.F. and Peruski, L.F., 2001. Pathogenicity and convalescent excretion of Campylobacter in rural Egyptian children. American Journal of Epidemiology, 154, 166–73.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reller, L.B., Mirret, S. and Reimer, L.G., 1983. Controlled evaluation of an improved selective medium for isolation of Campylobacter jejuni. In: M. Dunleavy (eds), Proceedings of the 83rd Annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, ASM Press, Washington D. C. pp. 274–357.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skirrow, M.B., 1977. Campylobacter enteritis: a new disease, Brother Medicine Journal, 2, 9–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Skirrow, M.B. and Benjamin, J., 1980. Differentiation of enteropathogenic campylobacters. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 33, 11–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stoyanchev, T., Vashin, I., Ring, C. and Atanassova, V. 2007. Prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in poultry and poultry products for sale on the Bulgarian retail market. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 92, 285–288. doi:10.1007/s10482-007-9154-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wisessombat, S., Kittiniyom, K., Srimanote, P., Wonglumsom, W., and Voravuthikunchai, S.P., 2009. A novel method and simple apparatus for the detection of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. in chicken meat products. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 76, 169–173.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors extend much thanks to Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC) for funding this work. Laboratory technicians in the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health are thanked for their technical assistance. Patients, owners, and workers of selected Health facilities, broiler farms, restaurants, and chicken markets are gratefully acknowledged for their good cooperation during sample collection.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mvomero District Council, P.O. Box 663, Morogoro, Tanzania

    Petro Jacob

  2. Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3021, Morogoro, Tanzania

    Robinson H. Mdegela & Hezron Emmanuel Nonga

Authors
  1. Petro Jacob
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robinson H. Mdegela
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hezron Emmanuel Nonga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hezron Emmanuel Nonga.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jacob, P., Mdegela, R.H. & Nonga, H.E. Comparison of Cape Town and Skirrow's Campylobacter isolation protocols in humans and broilers in Morogoro, Tanzania. Trop Anim Health Prod 43, 1007–1013 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9799-z

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9799-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation