Vol. 45, No. 3, 2001 content next

THE OCCURRENCE AND TYPING OF Campylobacter coli STRAINS IN PIGS

Steinhauserová, I., Fojtíková, K., Matiašovic, J.*

Department of Meat Hygiene and Technology
University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno
The Czech Republic		 *Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics
University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno
The Czech Republic

Summary

The authors evaluated the occurrence of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. in healthy and sick piglets up to the age of 8 weeks. Of a total of 225 samples of rectal swabs of piglets with enteritic diseases, Campylobacter spp. were found in 49%, of which Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter jejuni and atypical strains represented 81%, 17%, and 2%, respectively. In rectal swabs of healthy piglets, Campylobacter spp. were found in 41% of cases, of which Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni represented 84% and 16%, respectively. Campylobacter coli strains were typed by using the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) product with the restriction enzyme HinfI. Four C. coli types were found and confirmed by sequencing. The types most frequently found were III (46%) and I (31%), while type II was found in only 6% of strains, and 17% of strains had no cutting site (type IV). In evaluating the incidence of individual C. coli types on farms, no link between individual types and the frequency or severity of the disease was demonstrated.

Key words: Campylobacter spp.; PCR-RFLP; piglet; typing

References

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Folia Veterinaria / 2001