Prevalence and characteristics of Campylobacter species isolated from gallbladder of slaughtered sheep in Van, (Eastern) Turkey

To determine the prevalence of campylobacter species in gallbladder of sheep in Van, ( Eastern) Turkey, a total of 220 gallbladder samples from healthy slaughtered sheep were examined bacteriologically in October 2000 and 2002. Of the 110 samples examined each year, 27 ( 24.6%) and 24 ( 21.8%) campylobacter strains were isolated, respectively. Of the 27 campylobacter strains isolated in the year 2000, 14 ( 51.9%) were identified as C. jejuni, 7 ( 25.9%) C. fetus, 3 ( 11.1%) C. coli and 3 ( 11.1%) C. lari. Similar results were obtained in the study performed in 2002, but C. lari could not be isolated. Growth and biochemical characteristics of all identified Campylobacter species with some exceptions were typical of each species. Six of 13 examined C. fetus strains grew well at both 25 degrees C and 42 degrees C in thioglycollate medium and on blood agar. C. jejuni strains differed from C. coli only by Na-hippurate hydrolysis test. Results of the present study revealed that C. jejuni is the most common campylobacter species isolated from gallbladders of sheep. The thermophilic campylobacters in significant proportions may cause contamination of carcass during slaughter and transmission of the food-borne pathogens to humans.