Antonio Gargiulo

Prevalence of thermotolerant Campylobacter in pheasants (Phasianus colchicus)

The present study was undertaken with the aim to evaluate the prevalence of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. in living pheasants in Italy. To achieve this goal, a total of 240 living pheasants, equally shared between female and male birds, were examined. Thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. was isolated in 104 out of 204 (43.3%) living pheasants analysed. Campylobacter coli (100%) and Campylobacter jejuni (13.5%) were identified by polymerase chain reaction. Adult pheasants showed a significantly higher prevalence value (P < 0.05) than younger pheasants.

Prevalence of thermotolerant Campylobacter in partridges (Perdix perdix)

Aim:  To estimate the prevalence of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. in commercially reared partridges (Perdix perdix) in southern Italy.

Survey of Campylobacter jejuni in stray cats in southern Italy.

Aim:  To evaluate the presence of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. in stray cats in southern Italy.

Campylobacter spp. and Birds of Prey

SUMMARY A total of 170 birds of prey admitted to two Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centers of Italy were examined. Birds were divided by diurnal (n  =  15) and nocturnal (n  =  7) species, sampled by cloacal swabs, and examined for Campylobacter spp. by cultural and molecular methods. Campylobacter spp. were isolated in 43 out of the 170 (25.3%) birds of prey examined. Among these, 43/43 (100%) were identified as Campylobacter jejuni and 10/43 (23.3%) were identified as Campylobacter coli recovered from mixed infections. Diurnal birds of prey showed a significantly higher prevalence value (P  =  0.0006) for Campylobacter spp. than did nocturnal birds of prey. RESUMEN Nota de Investigación—Campylobacter spp. y las aves de presa. Se examinaron un total de 170 aves de presa admitidas en los Centros de Rescate y Rehabilitación de Especies Silvestres en Italia. Las aves fueron divididas en especies diurnas (n  =  15) y nocturnas (n  =  7) que fueron muestreadas por hisopos de cloaca, y estos fueron examinados para Campylobacter spp., mediante métodos de cultivo y moleculares. Se aisló Campylobacter spp. en 43 de las 170 (25.3%) aves de presa examinadas. Entre estos aislamientos, 43/43 (100%) fueron identificados como Campylobacter jejuni y 10/43 (23.3%) fueron identificados como Campylobacter coli recuperado de infecciones mixtas. Las aves de presa diurnas mostraron un valor de prevalencia significativamente mayor (P  =  0.0006) para Campylobacter spp. en comparación con las aves de presa nocturnas.

Survey of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 in urban pigeons (Columba livia) in the city of Napoli, Italy

Abstract Recently, several studies have demonstrated that pigeon is an important reservoir of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of this pathogen in urban pigeons in the city of Napoli. The sampling was carried out during the period November 2005/July 2006. The city was subdivided in 56 quadrants by Geographical Information System. Each quadrant was analysed three times. From each quadrant, 3 pigeons were analysed by cloacal swabs. A total of 504 cloacal swabs was obtained. We isolated four E. coli O157:H7 strains. By multiplex PCR, all strains carried eae and stx2 genes, whereas only one strain carried the stx1 gene. 2/4 isolated strains carried hly gene which is considered a hallmark of human pathogenic strains. Our results indicate that pigeon faces are a source of E. coli O157:H7 for birds, mammals and humans.

Survey of Escherichia coli O157 in captive frogs.

To evaluate the presence of Escherichia coli O157, cloacal swabs were collected from 60 adult frogs kept as pets and analyzed by culture methods and multiplex polymerase chain reaction for stx1, stx2, and E. coli attaching and effacing (eae) and hly genes. The pathogen was isolated from two samples and both carried stx2 gene. This is believed to be the first report of natural E. coli O157 infection in living frogs.

Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) genes in common teals (Anas crecca).

To evaluate the presence of Campylobacter spp. and related cdt genes, cloacal swabs were collected from 70 common teals (Anas crecca) and analyzed by culture methods and polymerase chain reaction. In addition, C. jejuni were examined also for the presence of wlaN gene. This is believed to be the first report of Campylobacter spp. in common teal and our results confirm the very common occurrence of C. jejuni (n=40) and C. coli (n=13) in waterfowls. Furthermore, the cdt genes were frequently present in both C. jejuni and C. coli isolated. Moreover, seven C. jejuni isolates carried also the wlaN gene which is presumably involved in the expression of ganglioside mimics in Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Cytolethal Distending Toxin Genes in Laying Hens

SUMMARY. As no data are available on the prevalence of cytolethal distending toxin (cdt) genes carried by Campylobacter spp. in laying hens, this study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the prevalence of both Campylobacter spp. and cdt genes in 1680 laying hens from four different farms. The samples were analyzed by culture methods and by polymerase chain reaction. Campylobacter spp. were isolated from 1097/1680 cloacal swabs. Among the isolates, 913 were identified as Campylobacter jejuni whereas 345 were identified as Campylobacter coli. All isolates carried cdt genes. The results presented here confirm the very common occurrence of C. jejuni and C. coli in laying hens and underline that the cdt genes may also be frequently present in both C. jejuni and C. coli isolates from laying hens.

Microbiological survey of birds of prey pellets.

A microbiological survey of 73 pellets collected from different birds of prey species housed at the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center of Napoli (southern Italy) was performed. Pellets were analyzed by culture and biochemical methods as well as by serotyping and polymerase chain reaction. We isolated a wide range of bacteria some of them also pathogens for humans (i.e. Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium, Campylobacter coli, Escherichia coli O serogroups). This study highlights the potential role of birds of prey as asymptomatic carriers of pathogenic bacteria which could be disseminated in the environment not only through the birds of prey feces but also through their pellets.

Prevalence of enteropathogenic bacteria in common quail (Coturnix coturnix)

The study was aimed at evaluating the prevalence of enteropathogenic bacteria (i.e. Campylobacter spp., shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp.) in common quail (Coturnix coturnix). To achieve this goal, 70 common quails were collected during the hunting season in the Campania region (southern Italy). From each bird, cloacal swab samples were collected and subjected to culture methods, polymerase chain reaction and serotyping. The results of the present study showed a prevalence of 21.4% and 5.7% for Campylobacter spp. and shigatoxin-producing E. coli, respectively. In contrast, no Salmonella spp. was isolated. These findings show that common quail, as migratory birds, may constitute an environmental carrier of these pathogens representing a source of infection for other birds, livestock and humans.