Risk factors for the carriage of Campylobacter upsaliensis by dogs in a community in Cheshire
- C. Westgarth, BSc, PhD,
- L. Nicolson, BSc,
- G. L. Pinchbeck, BVSc, CertES, PhD, DipECVPH, MRCVS,
- R. M. Christley, BVSc, DipVCS, MVCS, DipECVPH, PhD, MRCVS,
- S. Dawson, BVMS, PhD1,
- C. J. Porter, BSc, PhD,
- R. J. Birtles, BSc, PhD,
- N. J. Williams, BSc, PhD,
- R. M. Gaskell, BVSc, PhD2 and
- C.A. Hart, MB, BS, BSc, PhD, FRCPCH, FRCPath3
- 1 , Department of Veterinary Clinical Science
- 2 Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE
- 3 Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX
- carri.westgarth@liverpool.ac.uk
Abstract
Samples of faeces were taken from 183 healthy pet dogs in a census-based, cross-sectional study in Cheshire; culture methods were used to detect any Campylobacter species and a direct PCR was used to detect Campylobacter upsaliensis. Forty-six of the dogs were positive for C upsaliensis by either culture or direct PCR, giving a prevalence of 25˙1 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval [CI] 19˙0 to 32˙1 per cent). One sample was positive by culture for Campylobacter jejuni (95 per cent CI 0˙0 to 3˙0 per cent) and one for Campylobacter lari. Multivariable logistic regression identified risk factors for the carriage of C upsaliensis by a dog as: living with another dog that also carried C upsaliensis; being small rather than medium-sized; being less than three years old; living in a household that kept fish; being fed commercial dog treats; and being fed human food titbits, particularly in the dog's bowl.
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