Epidemiological studies of the incidence of pathogenic Campylobacter spp. amongst animals in Lagos metropolis

Faecal specimens were collected from different animal species (puppies, Guinea fowl, chicken and pigs) at different farm locations in Lagos (Inner City - Central urban area; peripheral City – rural/farminghouses; Rural - a farming and agricultural zone, where people raised their own domestic animals). In all, 200 animals were sampled out of which twenty (14%) were positive for Campylobacter, seventeen (17)of these (60.7) were positive for animals from peripheral zone, nine (9)(32.1%) were found positive for animals from the rural zone and two (2)(7.1%) were positive for animals obtained from the inner zone ofLagos metropolis. The trend of infection by Campylobacter as exemplified in this study was pig, two samples (7.1%); chicken, 7 samples (25%); sheep, two samples (7.1%); puppies, 0 (0.0%), and guinea fowl, 17 samples (60.7). The peripheral zone had more incidence of Campylobacter with an incidence rate in the order peripheral zone (8.5%» rural zone (4.5%) > inner zone (1.0%). The results ofbiochemical tests reveal that three (3) samples were positive for Campylobacter coli biotype II, seventeen (17) samples were positive for Campylobacter coli biotype I and one (1) sample for Campylobacter jejuni biotype I. These results are indicative that the epidemic of Campylobacter infection is possible amongst handlers of these farm animals