title: Genotypic characterisation and cluster analysis of Campylobacter jejuni isolates from domestic pets, human clinical cases and retail food.
abstract: The genetic similarity of Campylobacter jejuni isolates from pets, compared to human clinical cases and retail food isolates collected in Ireland over 2001-2006 was investigated by cluster analysis of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) fingerprinting profiles. Comparison of the PFGE profiles of 60 pet isolates and 109 human isolates revealed that seven (4.1%) profiles were grouped in clusters including at least one human and one pet C. jejuni isolate. In total six (1.6%) of 60 pet and 310 food profiles were in clusters with at least one food and one pet C. jejuni isolate. The detection of only a small number of genetically indistinguishable isolates by PFGE profile cluster analysis from pets and from humans with enteritis in this study suggests that pets are unlikely to be an important reservoir for human campylobacteriosis in Ireland. However, genetically indistinguishable isolates were detected and C. jejuni from pets may circulate and may contribute to clinical infections in humans. In addition, contaminated food fed to pets may be a potential source of Campylobacter infection in pets, which may subsequently pose a risk to humans.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Food Safety, School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. E.Acke@massey.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Acke
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: Aoife
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.forename: Kevina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McGill
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lawlor
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Madden
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scates
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McNamara
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Boyd R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Seamus
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fanning
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Whyte