title: Campylobacter coli infection in pet birds in southern Italy.
abstract: Avian species are considered as the main reservoir of Campylobacter spp. However, few data are available on the presence of this microorganism in pet birds. This study was therefore performed to determine the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in pet birds bred in southern Italy. Faecal samples were collected from 88 cages housing different species of pet birds and examined by bacteriological culture and polymerase chain reaction. A total of 13.6% of the cage samples were positive for Campylobacter coli. Other Campylobacter spp. were not found. The study shows that C. coli can be isolated from the cages of apparently healthy pet birds, which should therefore be considered as potential carriers of C. coli and a possible source of infection for humans and companion animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via della Veterinaria 1, 80137, Naples, Italy. ludovico.dipineto@unina.it.
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dipineto
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via della Veterinaria 1, 80137, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borrelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via della Veterinaria 1, 80137, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via della Veterinaria 1, 80137, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Violante
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via della Veterinaria 1, 80137, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Orazio
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via della Veterinaria 1, 80137, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Varriale
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via della Veterinaria 1, 80137, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Tamara Pasqualina
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via della Veterinaria 1, 80137, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fioretti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D001717:Birds; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D017000:Campylobacter coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D057805:Pets; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Avian species; Campylobacter coli; Campylobacter spp.; Pet birds; Zoonosis