Prevalence in Bulk Tank Milk and Epidemiology of Campylobacter jejuni in Dairy Herds in Northern Italy

• DOI: 10.1128/aem.03784-13
• Publication Date: 2014-01-11T04:25:57Z
• Authors: Valentina Bianchini; Laura Borella; Valentina Benedetti; Antonio Parisi; Angela Miccolupo; Eliana Santoro; Camilla Recordati; Mario Luini
• Keywords: Multilocus sequence typing; Bulk tank; Udder; Campylobacter coli; Bovine milk

ABSTRACT Thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. are frequently the cause of human gastroenteritis and have assumed more importance in Italy following increased consumption raw milk. Our objectives were to determine prevalence genotypes dairy herds investigate possible sources bulk milk contamination. Bulk from ( n = 282) was cultured for Enterobacteriaceae . At three jejuni -positive farms, bovine feces, pigeon intestines, milk, water points also investigated. Isolates identified by PCR genotyped using multilocus sequence typing (MLST). C. detected 34 (12%) samples. The strains belonged 14 types, most common clonal complexes CC-21, CC-48, CC-403. No association demonstrated between presence high levels farms examined, isolated feces (25/82 [30.5%]), intestines (13/60 [21.7%]), (10/24 [41.7%]), (4/16 [25%]). MLST revealed lineages that but distinct cattle pigeons. In one herd, with same genotype repeatedly a cow an udder infection. results showed suggested excretion, addition fecal matter, may be route analysis indicated pigeons probably not relevant transmission