Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter isolates from poultry offals

The aim of the study was to determine the presence of Campylobacter strains in poultry by-products and define antimicrobial resistance of isolates. In total, 400 samples were tested among which 300 included the liver, heart and stomach, and 100 samples represented the contents of the cecum. The samples were taken from chickens and turkeys in the slaughterhouse after evisceration. The prevalence of Campylobacter in chicken samples was 100% with regards to the contents of cecum and offal. The turkey origin Campylobacter strains were noted in 76% of the livers, 78% hearts and 82% gizzards. The samples of cecum contents were positive in 60%. Species analysis of the strains isolated showed C. jejuni as dominant. The estimation of sensitivity to antibiotics showed that Campylobacter strains were most frequently resistant to quinolones and tetracyclines. Resistance to ciprofloxacin was detected among 52.7% and 5205% chicken and turkey origin strains. The same was noted regarding nalidixic acid, resistance to which was shown in 56% and 58.5% isolates, respectively. Regarding tetracyclines, the highest resistance of the strains from chicken and turkey was detected to doxycyclinum in 61.3% and 53.3% of isolates, respectively. However the highest sensitivity was showed to erythromycin, gentamicin and chloramphenicol. Only one C. coli strain from turkey offal was resistant to gentamicin. Simultaneously multi drug resistance was defined. The aimed studies showed that 62% of C. jejuni and 53.3% of C. coli strains from chicken offal were resistant to two or more agents. In turkey origin isolates MDR was detected in 54.7% of C. jejuni and 53.3% of C. coli strains.