Isolation of thermophilic Campylobacters from Norwegian dogs and cats

A total of 147 dogs and 85 cats was surveyed for faecal carriage of thermophilic Campylobacters. Isolates were obtained from 33 (22.4 %) of the dogs and from 10 (11.8 %) of the cats investigated. The isolation rates recorded for diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic dogs and cats were not significantly different. Likewise, Campylobacters were isolated with about equal frequencies from puppies and mature dogs as well as from bitches and male dogs. Nineteen canine and 7 feline strains were biotyped and serotyped. A large majority (88.5 %) of these 26 strains belonged to serotypes previously recovered from human G. coli and C. laridis constituted 7.7 % and 3.8 %, respectively. Three strains belonged to serotypes previously recovered from human patients in Norway.