Antibiotic susceptibility profiling and virulence potential of Campylobacter jejuni isolates from different sources in Pakistan

Objective:To determine antibiotic resistance patterns and virulence potential of Campylobacter jejuni(C.jejuni) isolates from clinical human diarrheal infections,cattle and healthy broilers.Methods:Antibiotic sensitivity patterns of C.jejuni isolates were determined by Kirby Bauer Disc Diffusion assay.These isolates were then subjected to virulence profiling for the detection of map A(membrane-associated protein).cadF(fibronectin binding protein).wlaN(beta-1.3-galaclosyltransferase) and neu AB(sialic acid biosynthesis gene).Further C.jejuni isolates were grouped by random amplification of polymorphic DNA(RAPD) profiling.Results:A total of436 samples from poultry(n=88).cattle(n=216) and humans(n=132) from different locations were collected.Results revealed percentage of C.jejuni isolates were 35.2%(31/88).25.0%(54/216) and 11.3%(15/132) among poultry,cattle and clinical human samples respectively.Antibiotic susceptibility results showed that similar resistance patterns to cephalothin was ie.87.0%,87.1%and 89%among humans,poultry and cattle respectively,followed by sulfamethoxazolc+trimcthoprim 40.0%,38.7%and 31.0%in humans,poultry and cattle and Ampicillin 40%,32%and 20%in humans,poultry and cattle respectively.Beta-lactamase activity was detected in 40.00%humans.20.37%cattle and 32.25%in poultry C.jejuni isolates.CadF and mapA were present in all poultry,cattle and human C jejuni isolates.wlauN was not detected in any isolate and neu AB was found in 9/31(36%) poultry isolates.RAPD profiling results suggested high diversity of C.jejuni isolates.Conclusions:Detection of multidrug resistant C.jejuni strains from poultry and cattle is alarming as they can be potential hazard to humans.Moreover,predominant association of virulence factors,cadF and map A(100%each) in C.jejuni isolates from all sources and neuAB(36%) with poultry isolates suggest the potential source of transmission of diverse types of C.jejuni to humans.