title: Prevalence, enumeration and strain variation of Arcobacter species in the faeces of healthy cattle in Belgium.
abstract: Arcobacter species were isolated from faeces of healthy cattle on three unrelated Belgian farms, using a quantitative isolation protocol. Isolates were identified by m-PCR and characterized by modified ERIC-PCR. The Arcobacter prevalence on the three farms ranged from 7.5 to 15%. The prevalence in dairy cattle ranged from 5.9 to 11% and for young cattle and calves, the prevalence was determined as 18.9 and 27.3%, respectively. Of the 276 animals examined, eight had a bacterial load of more than 10(2) cfu/g faeces and low levels were detected in 22 animals using enrichment. The Arcobacter excretion ranged from 0 to 10(4) cfu/g faeces. Arcobacter cryaerophilus was the dominant species isolated from cows, but co-colonizations occurred in 26% of the Arcobacter excreting animals. Characterization of the 164 isolates showed a large heterogeneity and animals could be colonized with more than one genotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Driessche
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Houf
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vangroenweghe
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Zutter
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Hoof
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020640:Arcobacter / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001530:Belgium; D002417:Cattle / Q000382:microbiology*; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000662:veterinary; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial