Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Thermophilic Campylobacter Species from Poultry Meat and Cloacal Swabs

The aim of this study was to isolate thermophilic Campylobacter species from broiler carcasses and feces and to determine the antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes of the isolates. The isolation rates of thermophilic Campylobacter species in cloacal swab and carcass/meat samples were 16% and 43.33%, respectively. The presence of virulence genes such as dnaJ, racR, ciaB, pldA, cadF, and virB11 in cloacal isolates were determined as 82.22%, 20%, 13.33%, 17.77%, 20%, and 0%, respectively. The rates of the same genes in isolates obtained from chicken meats were 62.07%, 34.48%, 27.59%, 27.59%, 17.24%, and 0%, respectively. The rates of tet(O), blaOXA-61, aphA-3–1, and cmeB genes in cloacal isolates were 22.22%, 0%, 17.78%, and 37.78%, respectively, while the rates of the same genes in isolates obtained from chicken meats were 10.35%, 0%, 3.45%, and 34.48%, respectively. As a result of enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR) analysis, based on a 70% similarity rate, eight unique types and two clusters in chicken meat and carcass isolates and one unique type and four clusters in cloacal isolates were determined. The data obtained in this study demonstrated that thermophilic Campylobacter species represent a significant public health concern due to their high prevalence and antibiotic resistance, particularly in carcass and meat samples intended for human consumption.

Cite this article as: Taş, O., & Fındık, A. (2026). Isolation and molecular characterization of thermophilic campylobacter species from poultry meat and cloacal swabs. Acta Veterinaria Eurasia, 52, 0254, doi: 10.5152/actavet.2026.25254.