Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Campylobacter strains isolated from foodanimals in Belgium

Campylobacter spp. are a frequent cause of diarrhoea in man, originating mo stly from poultry. It has been suggested that the veterinary use of antibio tics is largely responsible for resistance in human isolates, particularly to quinolones. During a 6 month period from June to December 1998, 677 Camp ylobacter isolates were obtained from healthy poultry and pigs. Samples wer e taken at Belgian slaughterhouses. Species identification was performed by biochemical tests, multiplex PCR and SDS-PAGE of whole-cell proteins. The in vitro susceptibility to six antimicrobial drugs was determined by the ag ar dilution method. Campylobacter jejuni was found more often in poultry th an Campylobacter coli (79% C. jejuni versus 21% C. coli). In pigs the situa tion was reversed (6 versus 94%). Erythromycin resistance was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in C. coli, particularly in C. coli isolated from pigs ( 67.2%). Alarmingly high rates of resistance to ciprofloxacin were also note d, particularly for C. coli from broilers (62.1%). The latter indicates tha t resistance of Campylobacter in humans could derive from animals.