Investigation of arcobacters in meat and faecal samples of clinically healthy cattle in Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the presence of Arcobacter spp. in minced beef meat (n = 97) and rectal faecal samples (n = 200) collected from cattle immediately after slaughter at a local abattoir in Turkey.


RESULTS
Meat samples were examined using three different isolation procedures (CAT-supplemented media, de Boer arcobacter isolation method and membrane filtration method), but only one method (CAT-supplemented media) was employed for faecal samples. The isolated Arcobacter strains were identified by genus- and species-(multiplex) specific PCR assays. Arcobacter spp. were isolated from 5 and 9.5% of meat and faecal samples respectively. Although the only Arcobacter sp. found in meat samples was Arcobacter butzleri, all three pathogenic species--A. butzleri, A. cryaerophilus and A. skirrowii--were detected in the rectal swabs. No Arcobacter was isolated when the de Boer method was used for minced meat samples but the same five meat samples were found positive for arcobacters when CAT-supplemented media and membrane filtration method were used.


CONCLUSIONS
The membrane filtration method was found to be superior to the CAT-supplemented media, because it led to a reduction in competing microflora. However, the necessity for one filter and medium for each sample makes this method somewhat expensive. The multiplex-PCR (m-PCR) assay shortened significantly the time required for the identification of Arcobacter spp. and also removed the possibility of false positive results due to other campylobacteria.


CONCLUSIONS
This study reports the isolation of Arcobacter spp. in cattle for the first time in Turkey. The m-PCR assay enables the identification and differentiation of all arcobacters simultaneously in one-step PCR.
Ongör
H
H
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Firat, Elazig, Turkey.
Cetinkaya
B
B
Açik
M N
MN
Atabay
H I
HI
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D020640:Arcobacter / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002417:Cattle / Q000382:microbiology*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods; D005516:Food Microbiology; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D014421:Turkey
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003470:Culture Media