title: Prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in a cross-sectional study of dogs attending veterinary practices in the UK and risk indicators associated with shedding.
abstract: Campylobacteriosis is a major cause of gastroenteritis in humans and some studies have suggested that dog ownership is a risk factor for the condition. To determine the prevalence, species distribution, and risk indicators for Campylobacter spp. infecting dogs attending veterinary practices in UK, faecal samples were collected in a cross-sectional study from 249 dogs with and without clinical signs. The prevalence of Campylobacter spp. was 38% (95% CI 32, 44), with Campylobacter upsaliensis accounting for 94 (98%) of the isolates and Campylobacter jejuni for the remainder. Multivariable analysis indicated that younger dogs were more likely to carry C. upsaliensis and the high prevalence of this pathogen supports the hypothesis that dogs, particularly younger animals, may be an important source of C. upsaliensis infection for humans. However the prevalence of C. jejuni, the most common Campylobacter spp. associated with disease in humans, was low (1.2%, 95% CI 0.3, 3).
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Groups, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UK. b.n.parsons@liv.ac.uk
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ryvar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stavisky
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Pinchbeck
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Birtles
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Christley
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: German
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Radford
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gaskell
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dawson
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D044885:Campylobacter upsaliensis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D015047:Zoonoses