Aims: Campylobacter is the most widely reported zoonotic bacterial agent that causes enteric disease in humans worldwide with millions of cases recorded far exceeding salmonellosis in Europe and United States. The objective of this study was to determine the occurrence of Campylobacter in dogs and cats and their associated risk factors. Methodology and results: A total of 101 rectal swabs were collected from both pets (n=40) and stray dogs (n=61) for the study. Similarly, a total of 86 rectal swabs were taken from stray cats (n=46) and pet cats (n=40) from client pets at a university veterinary hospital and from stray dogs and cats from animal shelters. Campylobacter were isolated by culture, identified by biochemical tests and confirmed and speciated, using mPCR assay. The result showed occurrence of Campylobacter in stray dogs and stray cats were 16.3% and 32.6% respectively, while in pet dogs and cats were 12.5 % each. Based on the mPCR assay, three species of Campylobacter were identified in dogs namely Campylobacter upsaliensis (66.6%), C. jejuni (6.7%) and C. heliviticus (20%), while C. upsaliensis (55%), C. helviticus (20%) and C. jejuni (6.7%) were identified in cats. The risk factors for the presence of Campylobacter in the animals were analysed but none was significantly associated, however the occurrence in cats was found higher in adults, females, those kept outdoors and residing in town areas, multipets household, cats with no history of being given antibiotics in past infections and being fed on raw meat and fish while the occurrence of Campylobacter was high in dogs of local breeds, females, of young age, being kept outdoors and fed raw meat and fish. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: These findings showed that Campylobacter were quite prevalent in both stray and pet dogs and cats which may contaminate other animals and spread in the environment as Campylobacters. It is of public health concern as humans can contract the disease if they do not practice proper hygiene after coming into contact with an infected animal or contaminated environment.

Aims: Antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is increasing gradually towards those antibiotics that are frequently used leading to limited therapeutic options due to multidrug resistance. The objectives of the study were to investigate the antibiotic resistance profiles of S. pseudintermedius isolates from pet and stray dogs and cats in Selangor, Malaysia and to detect the resistance genes (mecA and BlaZ) within the isolates. Methodology and results: A total of 200 stray and pet dogs and cats were sampled. The samples were cultured onto Mannitol Salt agar and all the presumptive colonies were subcultured, then identified using biochemical tests and confirmed by PCR assay targeting the nuc gene. The isolates were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility test against 12 antibiotics. Twenty three isolates (11.5%) were positive to S. pseudintermedius (stray cats, 11/50; stray dogs, 9/50; pet dogs, 3/50 and pet cats, 0/50). One hundred percent (100%) of the S. pseudintermedius isolates were found to be resistant to penicillin, erythromycin and tetracycline while they showed 100% susceptible to oxacillin, amoxicillinclavulanic acid, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, cephalexin and rifampicin. The blaZ gene which codes for β-lactamases production was found in all of the isolates that were resistant to penicillin but not to methicillin. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: A high number of S. pseudintermedius from dogs and cats developed antibiotic resistance which is a public health concern.

Aims:Campylobacter infection is one of the leading bacterial food-borne illness and most frequently reported in humans in developed countries. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of multidrug resistant (MDR) Campylobacterand the risk factors associated with their occurrence in broiler chicken meat retailed in markets. Methodology and results:A total of 210 samples consisting of 140 chicken meat and 70 swabs from weighing scales and cutting boards were collected. Isolates were cultured by passive filtration method, identified by biochemical tests and confirmed using PCR assay.Thirty-two(32/210) 15.2% were positive for Campylobacterof which (25/210) 11.9%, (6/210) 2.9% and (1/210) 0.5% were Campylobacter jejuni, C.coli andC.upsaliensis respectively. The isolates showed high resistance to ampicillin (62.5%), enrofloxacin (56.3%) and nalidixic acid (50.0%), while only 3.1% were resistant to streptomycin. Multidrug resistant isolates (resistance to at least one antibiotics in three classes or more) was high at 71.9%. The risk factors significantly (p<0.05) associated with Campylobactercontamination on chicken’smeat included poor workers hygiene {OR: 5.250 (95% CI: 0.988-27.895)}, wearing improper work attire {OR: 2.700 (95% CI: 1.144-6.374)}, poor protective equipment {OR 38.50 (95% CI: 2.915-508.463)}, poor environment/stall hygiene {OR 44.00 (95% CI: 2.193-882.66)}, and using tiled counter top surface {OR 6.667 (95% CI: 0.597-74.506). Conclusion, significance and impact of study:The finding of this study affirmed that lack or poor work hygiene, unclean environmental stall and protective equipment are associated with high occurrence of multidrug resistant Campylobacterspecies isolated from chicken meat