Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences

Abstract
Campylobacter species are one of the foremost causes of foodborne gastroenteritis globally, often linked to poultry products. The present study determined the occurrence and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Campylobacter species isolated from layers and broilers sampled at local market abattoirs in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Four hundred intestinal tracts eviscerated from layers (n = 200) and broilers (n = 200) were collected and processed using standard microbiological methods for isolation of Campylobacter. Presumptive Campylobacter isolates were confirmed using biochemical tests, and species identification was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The overall occurrence of Campylobacter species in the sampled chickens was 33.1% (125/400), with Campylobacter coli (17.5% = 70/400) being more frequently isolated than Campylobacter jejuni (13.8% = 55/400). The occurrence of Campylobacter species was higher in layers (33.5% = 67/200) than broilers (29.0% = 58/200), though the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.3315). PCR results showed amplicon sizes of 735 base pairs (bp) and 500 bp for hippurase genes and aspartokinase genes of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli, respectively. The Campylobacter isolates from both the layer and broiler chickens showed remarkable resistance to ciprofloxacin (71.6% vs. 79.3%), tetracycline (98.5% vs. 94.8%), ampicillin (97.0% vs. 93.1%), nalidixic acid (65.7% vs.72.4) and erythromycin (64.2% vs. 48.3%). However, the isolates, exhibited susceptibility to chloramphenicol (88.1% vs. 89.7%) and gentamicin (77.6% vs. 89.7%). Intermediate resistance rate, in a range of 4.5% to 13.4% was observed among the isolates. The study revealed a fairly high occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in the layers and broilers sampled in the study area, and a high level of resistance of the isolates to some antibiotics. These findings emphasize the need for improved biosecurity measures in poultry production and marketing systems, as well as judicious antibiotic use in poultry farms in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Further researches are recommended, to address foodborne illnesses in Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Keywords: Campylobacter species; Occurrence; Chickens; Antibiotic susceptibility patterns; Maiduguri, Nigeria.

How to cite this article:
Abubakar D, Baba AS, Ali KB, Manasa YS and Ameh JA (2026). Occurrence of Campylobacter species in chickens reared in Maiduguri, Nigeria, and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns. Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences, 16(1): 1525 – 1533.

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