Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, species, and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of Campylobacter isolated from turkey feces and flies from turkey farms. Additionally, the diversity and correlations between susceptibility profiles of fly and fecal isolates were investigated.
Methods: Visits were made to 31 conventional turkey flocks. At each visit, 12 fecal samples and 10 flies were collected. Campylobacter was isolated and enumerated on selective media (mCCDA), speciated (C. jejuni vs. C. coli) by multiplex PCR and characterized for susceptibility to a panel of antibiotics.
Results: The majority (92.6 %) of flocks were positive for Campylobacter both in fecal and fly samples. Most antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of isolates from feces were represented among those from flies. However, isolates from flies tended to exhibit greater diversity of antimicrobial susceptibility profiles than those from feces – 2.45 different profiles/flock in flies vs. 1.92 in feces.
Significance: The prevalence and diversity of Campylobacter spp. from turkeys and putative insect vectors, especially flies, remain poorly characterized. The findings suggest that flies from turkey farms are commonly Campylobacter-positive and may exhibit a greater diversity of Campylobacter than suggested by analysis of isolates from feces. The data will add to the body of literature on this subject and expand into the untapped area of the role of the fly in the spread of not just Campylobacter, but associated antibiotic resistances as well.