FLAGELLIN-A GENE RESTRICTION-FRAGMENT-LENGTH-POLYMORPHISM PATTERNS OFCAMPYLOBACTER SPP. ISOLATES FROM BROILER PRODUCTION SOURCES

The purpose of this study was to determine the potential reservoirs fo r Campylobacter spp. that provide the initial sources involved with br oiler chicken colonization during poultry production. We characterized the flagellin A gene (flaA) of the organism by restriction fragment l ength polymorphism (RFLP) for 59 isolates of the bacterium provided du ring an epidemiological study. Isolates were obtained from three broil er production houses existing at separate locations. They were culture d and isolated from other (nonbroiler) domestic farm animals, wild bir ds, rodents, feed, farmers' boots, chicken feathers, and chicken intes tinal materials. Eight distinctive flaA types were found in two Of the houses. In one house, at least five flaA types (4,6,8,15, and 21) wer e characterized from the poultry production environment, with three ty pes isolated and identified from the chicken intestinal tract. flaA ty pe 15 was found in flies, on boots, and in chicken intestinal samples. In another house, a distinctive diversity of flaA types existed (4,7, 43, and 53). At least three flaA types found in samples from chicken i ntestinal tracts were also found in warm-blooded animals outside of th e poultry house (domesticated animals, wild birds, and vermin).