title: Prevalence and shedding patterns of Campylobacter spp. in longitudinal studies of kennelled dogs.
abstract: Dog ownership is considered a risk factor for campylobacteriosis in humans. This study investigated the prevalence and shedding of Campylobacter spp. in kennelled dogs. Faecal samples (n=399) were collected in longitudinal studies from 52 dogs in two kennels. Campylobacter spp. were isolated using charcoal-based selective agars and direct PCR. The prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in dogs in boarding kennels ranged from 46% (95% CI 22, 72) on entry, to 50% (95% CI 30, 70) overall, and in dogs in 'rescue' kennels from 68% (95% CI 49, 84) on entry to 73% (95%, CI 56, 87) overall. C. upsaliensis was isolated from 62% (95% CI 48, 73) of the dogs, whilst C. jejuni was isolated from 15% (95% CI 7, 26) of animals. The majority of infected dogs entered the kennels already carrying Campylobacter spp., and remained infected throughout their stay. However, in some cases, shedding appeared to commence after kennelling. Given that the prevalence of C. upsaliensis and C. jejuni was relatively high in dogs from both boarding and rescue kennels, such animals may pose a zoonotic risk.
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Groups, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UK. Electronic address: b.n.parsons@liv.ac.uk.
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Groups, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Groups, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Pinchbeck
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Groups, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Christley
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Groups, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gaskell
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Groups, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Leahurst, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dawson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057138:Bacterial Shedding; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D058885:Multilocus Sequence Typing / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology