Molecular detection of virulence genes in Campylobacter species isolated from livestock production systems in South Africa

Campylobacter species are a major cause of foodborne bacterial infections in both developed and developing countries worldwide.Campylobacter jejuni is responsible for the majority of infectio ns.This study was con ducted to identify virule nceassociated genes in Campylobacter species isolated from livestock production systems in South Africa.A total of 250 fecal samples consisting of cattle(n=50),chickens(n=50),goats(n=50),sheep(n=50)and pigs(n=50)were randomly collected from livestock in Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa between April and October 2018.The samples were an a lyzed for the presence of virule nee genes in Campylobacter species using molecular PCR-based methods.It was found that 77 and 23%of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli respectively were isolated from all the livestock samples.There were positive significant(P<0.05)correlations amongst all the virulenee genes that were investigated.Chisquare and Fisher's exact tests were implemented to test for the effect of livestock species on the presenee or absenee of virule nee gen es.The study dem on strated that most of livestock species can pote ntially cause zoonotic infecti on s and food pois oning due to the high prevale nee of Campylobacter.The high prevale nee of virule nee genes highlights the sign ifica nee of Campylobacter\r\livestock production systems in South Africa.This requires the implementation of one-health approaches to reduce the impact of foodborne and zoonotic diseases for the welfare of human and animal health.