Monitoring and molecular detection of antibiotic resistance of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in organic and conventional turkey production in Germany

The development of organic turkey production increased in recent years. The antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter isolated from organic reared turkeys in Germany not vigorously tested. This study provides information about antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter isolated from turkeys reared on organic and conventional farms in Germany. Ninety six Campylobacter strains (41 C. jejuni and 55 C. coli) isolated from different free-range turkey flocks and 151 C. jejuni and 79 C. coli isolated from conventional turkey flocks in Germany. The in vitro antimicrobial sensitivity profile was done using a broth microdilution test. Molecular detection of genes responsible of ciprofloxacin, tetracycline was investigated. All investigated Campylobacter from organic turkey (n = 96) were sensitive to gentamicin, erythromycin, streptomycin, and chloramphenicol. Most of C. jejuni isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, tetracycline and naladixic acid (56.0%, 51.3% and 56.0%), respectively. While 44.0%, 73.0% and 74.6% of C. coli isolates were resistant to tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid, respectively. Replacement of the Thr-86→Ile in the gyrA gene, and the presence of the tet(O) gene were the mainly identified resistance mechanisms against fluoroquinolones and tetracycline, respectively. The antimicrobial resistance rates in organically farmed turkey were markedly lower than those observed in conventionally produced turkeys in Germany. Streptomycin and erythromycin resistance was observed only in conventional rearing systems. Marked differences were diagnosed in resistance of C. jejuni and C. coli isolated from different rearing systems. This study considered first report scoped on the antimicrobial resistance profile of Campylobacters isolated from organic turkey farms in Germany. These results also reinforce the need to develop strategies and implement specific control procedures to reduce the development of antimicrobial resistance. Monitoring and molecular detection of Antibiotic resistance of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in organic and conventional turkey production in Germany. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281776903_Monitoring_and_molecular_detection_of_Antibiotic_resistance_of_Campylobacter_jejuni_and_Campylobacter_coli_in_organic_and_conventional_turkey_production_in_Germany [accessed Dec 28, 2015].