Wild-bird feces as a source of Campylobacter jejuni infection in children's playgrounds in Iran. (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abdollahpour, Nooshin; Zendehbad, Bamdad; Alipour, Adeleh; Khayatzadeh, Jina
• Is Part Of: Food control. Volume 50(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 378
• Page End: 381
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: Campylobacter spp. -- Campylobacter jejuni -- Wild birds -- Public health -- PCR; Food -- Quality -- Periodicals; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food handling -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Qualité -- Contrôle -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Qualité -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Analyse -- Périodiques; Hygiène alimentaire -- Périodiques; Food -- Analysis; Food handling; Food -- Quality; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 664.07
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2014.09.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-7135

Abstract

Abstract: Wild birds are important to public health, and they carry immerging zoonotic pathogens as a reservoir host. They often cause acute gastroenteritis in humans. Many playgrounds in parks are natural habitats for wild birds. Children's behavior, the frequent hand-mouth contact in this age group, is also likely to increase the risk of eating infective material. In this study, we looked into the likelihood that contamination by wild-birds of children's playground is a source of human infection. We did that by estimating the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in fresh and dried wild-bird fecal samples. From July to August, 2013, we collected 200 samples of fresh and dried feces from 5 publicly accessible children's playgrounds in Mashhad, Iran. Our data by using a cultural method and a test, showed that 17.5% of feces samples contained Campylobacter spp. It was significantly ( P < 0.05) more prevalent in the fresh samples (23.85%) than the dried samples (5.7%). We only detected one species of Campylobacter spp. from wild birds in this study. In conclusion, the results of this study showed wild bird species may set up a reservoir for Campylobacter spp. They could be of risk to humans. As far as we are aware, this is the first study in Iran to isolate Campylobacter spp. from children's playgrounds. Highlights: The objective was to determine the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. isolated from wild-bird fecal samples in Mashhad, Iran. Campylobacter spp. were found in 17.5% of feces samples. We only detected one species of Campylobacter ( Campylobacter jejune ) from wild birds in this study. Campylobacter spp. were significantly ( P < 0.05) more prevalent in the fresh samples (23.85%) than the dried samples (5.7%).