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Author Spotlight: Development of an Enhanced Protocol for Rapid and Accurate Isolation of Campylobacter from Food Products
Published on: February 23, 2024
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Developing a selective culturing approach for Campylobacter hepaticus
Sheaaz G J Sakur1,2, Sarah L Williamson2, Anthony Pavic2
1School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camden, New South Wales, Australia.
Plos One
|May 31, 2024
Summary
Developing selective media for Campylobacter hepaticus (C. hepaticus) is crucial for diagnosing Spotty Liver Disease (SLD) in chickens. Bolton agar with blood, supplemented with specific antimicrobials, shows the most promise for isolating this pathogen.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Poultry Disease Diagnostics
- Bacteriology
Background:
- Campylobacter hepaticus causes Spotty Liver Disease (SLD) in chickens, leading to mortality and production losses.
- Current isolation methods for C. hepaticus rely on bile samples, hindering fecal and environmental diagnosis.
- A selective growth medium is needed to improve SLD diagnosis and impact assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate different media formulations for the selective isolation and growth of Campylobacter hepaticus.
- To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of C. hepaticus isolates.
- To identify an optimal selective medium for routine diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Growth trials of five C. hepaticus isolates on various agar bases (HBA, SBA, Bolton, Preston, BHI) with blood and/or bile.
- Incubation under microaerophilic conditions at 42°C for 10 days.
- Antimicrobial sensitivity testing against 14 agents using HBA plates.
Main Results:
- Bolton agar supplemented with blood supported the best growth of C. hepaticus.
- Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) media and the addition of bile inhibited C. hepaticus growth.
- All isolates were resistant to trimethoprim and vancomycin; four were also resistant to rifampicin and bacitracin.
Conclusions:
- Bolton agar with blood is the most effective base medium for C. hepaticus growth.
- Selective media incorporating vancomycin and trimethoprim may be suitable for C. hepaticus isolation.
- Bile addition is detrimental to C. hepaticus isolation and should be avoided.
