Study of zoonotic Campylobacter fetus from reptile

• Main Authors: Yi-Jyun Jhou, 周怡君
• Other Authors: Kwong-Chung Tung
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/24434948496924436956

碩士 === 國立中興大學 === 獸醫微生物學研究所 === 98 === Campylobacter spp. is one of the most commonly seen bacterial enteropathy in the world. Among them, Campylobacter jejuni is the most common causative agents of the gastrointestinal disease in human and C. fetus is the primary cause of campylobacter bacteriemia. Investigation reports of Campylobacter spp. in reptiles are scarce, and due to the increasing popularity of reptiles as pets today it is ought to further evaluate the potential risks in reptile rearing. This research was done by collecting exotic and wildlife, hand-reared and pet reptile feces from exotic and wildlife animal rescue center and outpatient department in National Chung Hsing University (NCHU), and other hand-reared and pet reptile organizations. In total, 179 reptile fecal samples were collected from the exotic and wildlife outpatient department in NCHU. Biochemistry tests,and API CAMPY commercial kit were used to identify the bacteria,and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was also used for the 16S rRNA genetic sequencing. Among the 179 cases, 16 samples were tested positive in 179 cases and the positive percentage was 8.94. Prevalence of Campylobacter, in chelonians, lizards and snakes were 11.56% (12/103), 5.36% (3/56) and 5.00% (1/20), respectively, using animal species as positive percentage criteria. Preliminary results of the biochemistry tests and penelic sequencing results indicated that the species of Campylobacter isolated from samples was C. fetus but it was unable to differentiate between C. fetus subspecies fetus and C. fetus subspecies venerealis. Method of differentiating C. fetus subspecies by using Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR) for the C. fetus subspecies specific genetic analysis. Results from the comparative analysis of existing known genetic sequence showed that most of the samples were consistent with the C. fetus subspecies venerealis specific gene. This study can provide an effective subspecies differentiating method and discussion of the subspecies distribution in reptiles and the possibility of its zoonotic property.