Identification of Campylobacters isolated from dogs by using biotypes and protein electrophoretic patterns

Two hundred and sixty faecal samples obtained with rectal swabs from dogs w ere studied for Campylobacter isolation. The samples were placed on Preston broth and incubated at 43 degrees C for 12 h under a microaerophilic atmos phere. Then, they were seeded on Skirrow agar and incubated under the same conditions for 48 h. Campylobacter species were identified by conventional methods (morphological, biochemical and cultural test), Lior's biotypes and protein profiles were examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, unde r reducing conditions. The prevalence of thermo-tolerant Campylobacter spec ies was 7.3%. Fifteen out of 19 Campylobacter jejuni biotype II isolates we re used in electrophoresis. Strain 1522 was employed as reference strain. A nalysis of the protein profiles of the electrophoretic banding patterns pre sented good correlation with biochemical tests. All isolates presented a pr otein band greater than 40-46 Kd and minor differences in mobility of 40-50 Kd. Four strains lacked the flagellin (62-64 Kd band). The fact that prote in electrophoresis presented heterogeneity among strains of the same specie s and biotypes reinforces their importance as discriminative methods of epi demiological value.