The prevalence of four virulence genes in strains of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from broilers in Serbia

Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of human diarrheal disease. The objective of this research study was to determine the prevalence of different virulence genes in isolates recovered from broiler meat at slaughterhouses in Serbia. Out of 115 Campylobacter spp. samples recovered, a total of 35 isolates were identified as C. jejuni on the basis of morphological, biochemical-based detection, multiplex PCR, and sequencing of the highly conserved region of the dnaJ gene encoding the DnaJ Hsp40 family protein. The isolates were screened for the presence of four pathogenic genes. namely flaA, cadF, cdtB, and cgtB, which are responsible for the expression of adherence, colonization cytotoxin production in C. jejuni, and the onset of Guillain-Barre syndrome. The isolates showed a wide variation in the presence of these genes. All the isolates were positive for flaA. Furthermore, a high genetic heterogeneity in the C. jejuni population was found in this study, showing a pattern partially different from other reported virulence genes. Of the C. jejuni studied. 94.3%. 97.1% and 5.7% were positive for cadF. cdtB and cgtB, respectively. This study provides initial data on the prevalence and distribution of flaA, cadF, cdtB, and cgtB genes in C. jejuni isolated from broiler meat in Serbia.