Genetic Characterization of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli Isolated From Broilers Using flaA PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Method in Shiraz, Southern Iran

Background: Thermophilic ca rupylo ba cters, pa rt ic ula tripylobucterjejuni and C. callare the ma in agents of human campylobacteriosis. Carnpylobacter contaminated chicken products is the most important source of foodborne gastroenteritis. Evaluation of genetic diversity among Compylobacter population is critical for understanding the epidemiology of this bacterium and developing effective control strategies against Campylobucter infections and other related disorders. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the polymorphism of thermophilic Campylobacter isolated from broiler fecal samples in Shiraz, southern Iran. Materials and Methods: Ninety Cam pylobacter isolates were recovered from broiler feces using enrichment process followed by cultivation method. The isolates were species typing on the basis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of 16SrRNA and multiplex PCR for determining two thermophilic species. To evaluate strain diversity of thermophilic Cumpylobacter isolates, flaA PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) was performed using Ddel restriction enzyme. Results: All 90 Campylobacler isolates confirmed by m-PCR were successfully typed using flaA-PCR-RFLP. Eleven different types were defined according to flaA-typing method and the RFLP patterns were located at three separate clusters in RFLP image analysis denc-Irogram. Conclusions: Campylobacterjejuni isolates significantly showed more variety than C. coil isolates. A relatively low genetic diversity existed among C. jejani and C. coil isolated from broilers in Shiraz, southern Iran. In our knowledge, this was the first report of genetic diversity among broiler originated human pathogen thermophilic campylobacters in Shiraz, southern Iran.