Virulence profiling of Campylobacter spp., C. jejuni and C. fetus subsp. fetus abortions rise in sheep farms in Kashmir, India

Campylobacter spp. are the leading causes of ovine abortions leading to severe economic losses and a source of bacterial food borne illness in humans, posing a major public health concern. This study reports an increase in Brucella negative abortions in sheep farms in Kashmir, India in the last few years. Screening of sheep farms was carried to rule out Campylobacter abortion. Three Government sheep breeding farms in the Kashmir valley and some other private flocks were screened for the presence of C. jejuni and C. fetus subsp. fetus. A total of 217 samples comprising of 200 swabs (rectal and vaginal swabs; 100 each) from clinically healthy animals, ten vaginal swabs from cases of abortion and seven abomasal contents of the aborted fetuses were collected from sheep breeding farm Khimber (District, Srinagar), sheep breeding farm Goabal, the Mountain Research Centre for sheep and goats (MRCSG, SKUAST-K) (District, Ganderbal) and from private sheep breeders were screened. In the present study a total of 15.2% of samples were positive for different Campylobacter spp. by PCR. C. jejuni and C. coli were detected individually or coexisting by PCR in the rectal swabs from all farms, while C. fetus subsp. fetus was detected only in the vaginal swabs from private sheep farms and abortion samples. Additionally, C. jejuni was also isolated from vaginal swabs. A total of 5, 20 and 18 samples were confirmed positive by PCR for C. fetus subsp. fetus, C. jejuni and C. coli, respectively. The Campylobacter isolates obtained in the present study were screened for flaA, cdtB, cadF, wlaN, pldA, virB and dnaJ virulence determinants. However, the isolates harboured flaA, cdtB and cadF virulence determinants only. The recovery of virulent Campylobacter isolates from healthy sheep fecal swabs in the present study may have longer human health implications. The presence of abortive strains of C. jejuni and C fetus subsp. fetus in sheep farms has long term economic implications in the Kashmir valley. This study emphasizes the need for efforts to be taken on farms to prevent animal infections and minimizing human exposure to these pathogens through proper hygiene and production practices as suggested by World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).