Prevalence and Biotypes of Campylobacter Species Isolated from Sheep in Sokoto State, Nigeria

Rectal swabs (feacal) samples were collected from 518 sheep across Sokoto state and processed for Campylobacter organisms. Of a total of 518 samples, 93(18.0%) yielded Campylobacter organisms. The Campylobacter species isolated in this study were Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter lari and Campylobacter upsaliensis. The most frequently isolated Campylobacter species was C. jejuni (79.6%), while C. upsaliensis had the lowest isolation rate of 2.2%. Biotyping of the isolates indicated that C. jejuni biotype I (44.6%) and C. coli biotype I (72.7%) were the most common biotypes while all the C. lari isolates were biotype II. The isolation of Campylobacter organisms and the identification of C. jejuni biotype I and C. coli biotype I from sheep in this study is a clear indication of the presence of Campylobacter in sheep in Sokoto state. Campylobacter organisms must be considered as potential agent of ovine enteritis and abortion as well as a serious public health problem.