Prevalence and genotype diversity of Campylobacter jejuni in hunted reared pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in Finland

Abstract Campylobacter spp., especially C. jejuni, is the most common zoonotic pathogen in humans worldwide. In Nordic countries, the prevalence of C. jejuni in broilers, which is an important reservoir of human infections, is generally low. Thus, other sources of domestically acquired infections be...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rauni Kivistö, Mikaela Sauvala, Maria Fredriksson-Ahomaa, Johanna Björkroth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-08-01
Series:Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-023-00698-7
_version_ 1797752612743806976
author Rauni Kivistö
Mikaela Sauvala
Maria Fredriksson-Ahomaa
Johanna Björkroth
author_facet Rauni Kivistö
Mikaela Sauvala
Maria Fredriksson-Ahomaa
Johanna Björkroth
author_sort Rauni Kivistö
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Campylobacter spp., especially C. jejuni, is the most common zoonotic pathogen in humans worldwide. In Nordic countries, the prevalence of C. jejuni in broilers, which is an important reservoir of human infections, is generally low. Thus, other sources of domestically acquired infections besides chicken meat need to be considered. Game birds are known to carry a variety of zoonotic agents, including Campylobacter. The aim of this study was to investigate Campylobacter spp. carriage in a flock of reared pheasants at hunting in two successive samplings to better understand the dynamics of Campylobacter infections in pheasants. Overall, 72% of the intestinal samples were positive for Campylobacter spp. by direct culture on mCCDA. C. jejuni was the only species identified. The isolates were genotyped using whole genome sequencing (WGS), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and ad hoc whole genome MLST (wgMLST). Two distinct C. jejuni clones were identified among the 18 isolates studied, representing MLST sequence types (STs) ST-45 and ST-699. The ST-45 isolates were closely related to previous human clinical isolates using core genome MLST (cgMLST). In contrast, the ST-699 isolates forming the dominant clone in the latter sampling were quite distinct from previously described cgMLST profiles from different hosts and sources worldwide. In conclusion, the intestine of reared pheasants is commonly colonized by C. jejuni and may carry genotypes relevant to infections in livestock and humans. Hygienic measures are needed to limit the spread of infection in reared flocks. Especially farmers and hunters having direct contact with pheasant offal need to be aware of the associated zoonosis risk to protect themselves and their working dogs alike. Biosecurity measures to improve the safety and reduce the zoonosis risk associated with pheasant farming should be further investigated.
first_indexed 2024-03-12T17:07:00Z
format Article
id doaj.art-4b6374b88c0140c98943576ea8a5844f
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1751-0147
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-12T17:07:00Z
publishDate 2023-08-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
spelling doaj.art-4b6374b88c0140c98943576ea8a5844f2023-08-06T11:21:15ZengBMCActa Veterinaria Scandinavica1751-01472023-08-016511510.1186/s13028-023-00698-7Prevalence and genotype diversity of Campylobacter jejuni in hunted reared pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in FinlandRauni Kivistö0Mikaela Sauvala1Maria Fredriksson-Ahomaa2Johanna Björkroth3Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of HelsinkiDepartment of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of HelsinkiDepartment of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of HelsinkiDepartment of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of HelsinkiAbstract Campylobacter spp., especially C. jejuni, is the most common zoonotic pathogen in humans worldwide. In Nordic countries, the prevalence of C. jejuni in broilers, which is an important reservoir of human infections, is generally low. Thus, other sources of domestically acquired infections besides chicken meat need to be considered. Game birds are known to carry a variety of zoonotic agents, including Campylobacter. The aim of this study was to investigate Campylobacter spp. carriage in a flock of reared pheasants at hunting in two successive samplings to better understand the dynamics of Campylobacter infections in pheasants. Overall, 72% of the intestinal samples were positive for Campylobacter spp. by direct culture on mCCDA. C. jejuni was the only species identified. The isolates were genotyped using whole genome sequencing (WGS), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and ad hoc whole genome MLST (wgMLST). Two distinct C. jejuni clones were identified among the 18 isolates studied, representing MLST sequence types (STs) ST-45 and ST-699. The ST-45 isolates were closely related to previous human clinical isolates using core genome MLST (cgMLST). In contrast, the ST-699 isolates forming the dominant clone in the latter sampling were quite distinct from previously described cgMLST profiles from different hosts and sources worldwide. In conclusion, the intestine of reared pheasants is commonly colonized by C. jejuni and may carry genotypes relevant to infections in livestock and humans. Hygienic measures are needed to limit the spread of infection in reared flocks. Especially farmers and hunters having direct contact with pheasant offal need to be aware of the associated zoonosis risk to protect themselves and their working dogs alike. Biosecurity measures to improve the safety and reduce the zoonosis risk associated with pheasant farming should be further investigated.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-023-00698-7CampylobacteriosisC. jejuniGame birdHuntingOne HealthPathogen
spellingShingle Rauni Kivistö
Mikaela Sauvala
Maria Fredriksson-Ahomaa
Johanna Björkroth
Prevalence and genotype diversity of Campylobacter jejuni in hunted reared pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in Finland
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
Campylobacteriosis
C. jejuni
Game bird
Hunting
One Health
Pathogen
title Prevalence and genotype diversity of Campylobacter jejuni in hunted reared pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in Finland
title_full Prevalence and genotype diversity of Campylobacter jejuni in hunted reared pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in Finland
title_fullStr Prevalence and genotype diversity of Campylobacter jejuni in hunted reared pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in Finland
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence and genotype diversity of Campylobacter jejuni in hunted reared pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in Finland
title_short Prevalence and genotype diversity of Campylobacter jejuni in hunted reared pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in Finland
title_sort prevalence and genotype diversity of campylobacter jejuni in hunted reared pheasants phasianus colchicus in finland
topic Campylobacteriosis
C. jejuni
Game bird
Hunting
One Health
Pathogen
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-023-00698-7
work_keys_str_mv AT raunikivisto prevalenceandgenotypediversityofcampylobacterjejuniinhuntedrearedpheasantsphasianuscolchicusinfinland
AT mikaelasauvala prevalenceandgenotypediversityofcampylobacterjejuniinhuntedrearedpheasantsphasianuscolchicusinfinland
AT mariafredrikssonahomaa prevalenceandgenotypediversityofcampylobacterjejuniinhuntedrearedpheasantsphasianuscolchicusinfinland
AT johannabjorkroth prevalenceandgenotypediversityofcampylobacterjejuniinhuntedrearedpheasantsphasianuscolchicusinfinland