Identification and Characterization of Campylobacter Species in Livestock, Humans, and Water in Livestock Owning Households of Peri-urban Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A One Health Approach

Abstract

<i>Campylobacter</i> is the most common cause of bacterial infectious diarrhea and acute gastroenteritis globally, and is recognized as a significant zoonotic pathogen. Antimicrobial resistance amongst <i>Campylobacter</i> isolates is a significant global concern. A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify and characterize <i>Campylobacter</i> species in humans, animals and water sources in livestock owning households of peri-urban Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and to characterize antimicrobial resistance. A total of 519 fecal samples from humans (<i>n</i> = 99), livestock (<i>n</i> = 179), poultry (<i>n</i> = 69), and water (<i>n</i> = 172) were collected. Samples were cultured for viable <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. and multiplex PCR utilized for the identification and confirmation. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was assessed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. was detected in 67/519 (13.0%) of the total tested samples, and the household level prevalence of <i>Campylobacter</i> was 42.4%. The prevalence of <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. was: humans (10.1%), cattle (18.5%), poultry (13.0%), sheep (13.3%), goats (7.1%), and water (10.5%). <i>Campylobacter jejuni</i> and <i>C. fetus</i> were the most frequently isolated species, followed by <i>C. coli</i>. The majority of isolates obtained from human samples had co-occurrence with isolates from cattle, poultry or water samples from the same household. The use of stored water, the practice of indoor and outdoor manure collecting, and animal species <i>Campylobacter</i> positivity were significantly associated with greater odds of human <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. positivity. All <i>Campylobacter</i> isolates from humans, poultry, sheep, goats and water, and 96.0% of isolates from cattle were resistant to at least one or more of the tested antimicrobials, with 95.5% of isolates resistant to three or more classes of antimicrobials. A One Health approach is recommended to further investigate <i>Campylobacter</i> species infections, and other zoonotic infectious diseases, in the livestock owning populations in Ethiopia, where there is close interaction between humans, animals and the environment.