Isolation and characterization of Campylobacter species from Camel (Camelus dramedarius) in Sokoto State, Northwestern Nigeria

The isolation and characterization of Campylobacter species from camel was carried out in Sokoto state, Nigeria. A total of 504 faecal specimens from camels were analyzed for the presence of Campylobacter species by standard culture techniques. Isolates were characterized by conventional phenotypic tests and confirmed by latex agglutination. The thermophilic Campylobacter species (C. jejuni, C. coli, and C .lari) were subjected to biotyping. Out of the 504 faecal specimens collected and analysed, 57(11.3%) were positive for Campylobacter isolation and 102 isolates were recovered from the positive samples. Thirteen (12.8%) of the isolates were not viable for further characterization, while 51 (50.0%), 14(13.7%), 12(11.8%) and 8(7.8%) were C. jejuni, C.Sputorum subsp. sputorum, C. coli and C. upsaliensis isolates respectively. Campylobacter lari was also isolated at 4(3.9%) isolation rate. The rate of isolation of C.jejuni biotypes are biotypes I (51.0%), II (27.5%), III (1 3.7%) and IV (7.8%), while biotypes of C. coli are I (58.3%), II (41.7%) and the biotypes of C. lari I (25.0%) and II (75.0%) respectively. The isolation of Campylobacter species and identification of the different biotypes is an indication that camels in the state are reservoir of human infection with Campylobacter species.