Doctoral Degrees (Food Science)

Permanent URI for this collection

https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/537

Browse

Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Food Science) by Subject "Arcobacter species"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The prevalence of Campylobacter and Arcobacter species in ostriches from South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-04) Shange, Nompumelelo; Gouws, Pieter Andries; Hoffman, Louwrens C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Food Science.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The overall aim of this thesis was to determine the prevalence of Campylobacter and Arcobacter species in ostriches from South Africa. In humans Campylobacter and Arcobacter species can cause of gastroenteritis, Guillian Barré syndrome, septicaemia and bacteraemia. Previous research has indicated that the consumption of contaminated poultry meat is the main route of infection for humans and by extension poultry species are deemed primary reservoirs of Campylobacter and Arcobacter species. Currently, there is a lack of information regarding Campylobacter and Arcobacter species in relation to ostriches from South Africa. Artificially and naturally reared ostrich chicks at the age of 2, 4, 6 and 12 weeks were sacrificed, and caeca samples were excised. Campylobacter spp. (C. jejuni) was detected in artificially reared chicks, on the 12th week. A persistent presence of Arcobacter (A. skirrowii) was detected from the 2nd until 12th week of life for both artificially and naturally reared ostrich chicks. Additionally, cohorts that belonged to the same batch as the sacrificed ostrich chicks, regardless of the rearing process were sampled at the slaughter age of 10 and 12 months. Arcobacter spp. (A. skirrowii) and Campylobacter spp. (C. jejuni) were isolated from 56-70% of slaughter age birds. Cloacal swabs were also obtained from live ostriches reared on 30 different farms situated in South Africa (Oudtshoorn). Cloacal swabs were processed with family specific PCR (n = 168 pooled cloacal swabs), the Cape Town protocol (n = 836 cloacal swabs), ISO 10272-1:2006 (n = 836 cloacal swabs) and a selective Arcobacter spp. method (n = 415 cloacal swabs). Family specific PCR determined an average prevalence of 24.63%. The ISO 10272-1:2006 method and Cape Town Protocol determined a prevalence of 16.83% and 0% for Campylobacterspp., respectively. For Arcobacter spp. a prevalence of 18.80% and 39.14% was determined with the Cape Town protocol and selective Arcobacter spp. method, respectively. Higher prevalence levels were determined when ostriches were sampled during spring and autumn, respectively. Higher prevalence levels were also detected in ostriches reared on farms that made use of borehole water. Higher prevalence levels were seen for ostriches reared on farms with wild water birds. During slaughter, Arcobacter spp. were detected at a prevalence level of 73% at post-skinning. At post-evisceration, 73% and 83% of samples were contaminated with Campylobacter spp. and Arcobacter spp., respectively. At post-chilling, 66% and 67% were contaminated with Campylobacter spp. and Arcobacter spp., respectively. Additionally, a second study to evaluate the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. and Arcobacter spp. was conducted to see whether routine testing was required for abattoirs. E. coli and coliforms were also enumerated to determine the occurrence of faecal contamination during slaughter. Overall, a low occurrence of Campylobacter spp. (0.98% and 0%), Arcobacter spp. (1.31% and 1.64%), E. coli (0.13 log cfu/g) and coliforms (0.53 log cfu/g) was determined for all three abattoirs. Antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter spp. and Arcobacter spp. isolated from ostriches and ostrich meat was determined. Campylobacter spp. and Arcobacter spp. isolates were generally resistant to antibiotics in the following order cephalothin, vancomycin and erythromycin and tetracycline. The majority of Campylobacter spp. (92.86%) and Arcobacter spp. (80.95%) isolates exhibited multi-drug resistance. Overall, this research shows that ostriches from South Africa can be considered as potential carriers of species belonging to the Campylobacteraceae family and infection can occur at young age. Carcasses can be contaminated during slaughter and species carried by ostriches can be resistant to essential antibiotics; ultimately highlighting the need for routine testing of Campylobacter and Arcobacter species.