DETECTION OF TOXIGENIC EFFECTS PRODUCED B Y CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI AND CAMPYLOBACTER-COLI STRAINS ISOLATED FROM BOVINE

The presence of both, enterotoxic and cytolethal distending toxin (CDL T) factors were established in 13 strains of C. jejuni and 8 of C. col i isolated from bovine faeces. The ligated rat intestinal loop test an d HeLa cell cultures were used, respectively. The results showed that 7.7% of culture filtrates obtained from C. jejuni and 75.0% of those o btained from C. coli presented enterotoxic capacity. Moreover, 69.2% o f the cell suspensions of C. jejuni strains and 75.0% of C. coli strai ns presented fluid accumulation in the intestinal loops. With respect to the CDLT factor, it was possible to establish that 81.0% of the Cam pylobacter strains tested produce this factor (100% of C. jejuni strai ns and 50.0% of C. coli strains). Bearing in mind the pathogenic prope rties of the strains studied, the pathovar F-S+C+ was the most frequen t corresponding to 8 strains of C. jejuni and to 1 of C. coli. They we re able to produce CLDT and fluid accumulation when their viable cells were inoculated.