Campylobacter in Cattle in Norway
Author Information
Author(s): Johnsen G, Zimmerman K, Lindstedt B-A, Vardund T, Herikstad H, Kapperud G
Primary Institution: National Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway
Hypothesis
What is the frequency and genetic diversity of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in cattle from South-western Norway?
Conclusion
Cattle are a significant and stable reservoir for Campylobacter jejuni in the study area, with high carriage rates in calves compared to adults.
Supporting Evidence
- C. jejuni was isolated from 26% of the cattle examined.
- The carriage rate was higher in calves (46%) than in adults (29%).
- 83% of bovine isolates fell into three distinct clusters with 95–100% similarity.
- 58% of human isolates showed more than 90% similarity with bovine isolates.
- The study area has one of the highest incidence rates of human campylobacteriosis in Norway.
Takeaway
This study found that many cattle in Norway carry a germ called Campylobacter, which can make people sick. Young calves are more likely to have it than adult cows.
Methodology
The study involved sampling intestinal contents from 804 cattle and using AFLP genotyping to analyze the genetic diversity of Campylobacter isolates.
Potential Biases
The culturing methods may have selected for certain Campylobacter species, potentially skewing the data.
Limitations
The study faced deviations in the intended sampling schedule and only included isolates from one herd for AFLP typing.
Participant Demographics
Cattle from 333 herds across 16 municipalities in Rogaland County and 8 municipalities in Vest-Agder County, Norway.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0002
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 23–29%
Statistical Significance
p=0.0002
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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