Drug resistance of Campylobacter from livestock and poultry in Qingdao, Shandong, 2017–2018

ObjectiveTo investigate the spread and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter in poultry and livestock in Qingdao, Shandong during 2017 to 2018.

MethodsWe collected cloaca, anal, caecum and meat samples of poultry and livestock in poultry/pig farms, slaughter houses, and rural produce markets in Qingdao for Campylobacter isolation. Species identification and antibiotic susceptibility test of the isolates were performed. RE-cmeABC and erm(B) genes were detected by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

ResultsIn this study, 730 samples of livestock and poultry were collected in Qingdao from 2017 to 2018. A total of 235 strains (34.66%) of Campylobacter were isolated and identified, including 131 (55.74%) strains of Campylobacter jejuni and 104 (44.26%) strains of C. coli. Among these isolates, 147 (29.40%, 147/500) were detected in chickens, 80 (47.06%, 80/170) in ducks, 8 (13.33%, 8/60) in pigs, respectively. The results of antibiotic susceptibility test showed that C. coli was more resistant to ciprofloxacin (100.00%), tetracycline (99.04%), kanamycin (96.15%), erythromycin (92.31%), gentamicin (92.31%), clindamycin (87.50%) and,florfenicol (53.85%), and C. jejuni was more resistant to tetracycline (100.00%), ciprofloxacin (98.47%), kanamycin (70.99%) and.florfenicol (61.83%). PCR results indicated that 12 strains (5.11%) were positive for erm (B) gene and 125 strains (53.19%) were positive for RE-cmeABC gene.

ConclusionThis study suggests that it is necessary to further monitor antibiotic resistance of Campylobacter and related mechanism in livestock and poultry in Qingdao to provide theoretical basis for the control of the spread of antibiotic resistant Campylobacter.