Review of the Food-borne Zoonoses Research ... - ARCHIVE: Defra

Project code: OZ0612
Project title: The epidemiology of campylobacter infection in dogs
in the context of the risk to humans
Start date (dd/mm/yy): 18/07/2005
End date (dd/mm/yy): 16/07/2008
£228,351
Total cost:
Affiliation: University of Liverpool
Sub-contractor(s):
Abstract of research
Campylobacter is the most common bacterial cause of human gastroenteritis in England
and Wales. Most cases are due to Campylobacter jejuni infection, although C. coli and
other species including C. upsaliensis may also be involved. Most cases of
campylobacteriosis in man are non-epidemic, and there tends to be a higher prevalence
in children. Poultry meat has always been considered to be a major source of human
campylobacteriosis, but campylobacter are also found in a number of other species,
including dogs. The prevalence of infection in dogs appears to be high (up to 56%) and
there is evidence that dogs may be a risk factor for human infection. Humans have
frequent contact with dogs and dog faeces, and clearly where faecal pathogens such as
campylobacter are present there may be considerable opportunities for zoonotic
transmission.
This proposal addresses the risk of human campylobacter infection from dogs. Although
there is epidemiological evidence of an association between campylobacter in dogs and
disease in humans, there is little information on specific risk factors for this. Specifically,
we will
• determine the prevalence of campylobacter carriage in dogs in a community-based
census study, in selected kennel populations and in the wider population. • identify risk
factors associated with campylobacter carriage in dogs, including human, household,
and management variables.
• determine the population structure of the campylobacter isolates from dogs in relation
to human strains. C.jejuni isolates will be examined in collaboration with Dr K Dingle,
University of Oxford.
The study will also provide a resource for small animal infectious disease surveillance.
More specifically we will
• create a microbiological and epidemiological data archive which could be used, with
further funding, as a surveillance resource for other zoonotic, or potentially zoonotic
canine faecal pathogens. In this context it has been agreed with Defra that as part of this
project the samples will be screened for Salmonella spp.
• provide added value to the contact network studies between dogs, and dogs and
humans already funded by VLA/Defra (PU/T/PSC/04(22)).
• produce a template for future surveillance studies on small animal pathogens, both in
kennelled populations and in the community.
• provide a small animal project input into the proposed National Centre for Zoonosis
Research, to be based at the University of Liverpool.
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