Abstract

Introduction: The Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the main responsible of campylobacteriosis in intestinal diseases. Campylobacteriosis is endemic in developing countries. Present study is aimed to indicate the prevalence of Campylobacter species in adult patients in East Azerbaijan province of Iran using PCR and culture methods. Material and methods: 1020 stool samples (498 men and 522 women) were collected and examined from adult patients in East Azerbaijan province, Iran during June-December 2016 year. Samples obtained with inflammatory criteria like fecal leukocytes (WBC >= 5) had been selected and isolated through fecal lactoferrin detection test. The samples with WBC >= 5 and lactoferrin positive samples were selected for Campylobacter detection by culture and PCR methods. Some necessary information like age, sex, place of habituation, living with animals were asked and recorded. Results: Campylobacter species were obtained from 79 (35.4) samples out of 223 by multiplex PCR which consisted of 55 C. jejuni (24.7 ), 17 C. coli (7.6 ) and 7 mixed infection with both species (3.1 ). The significant correlations were seen between the prevalence of Campylobacter and patients who lived in rural places with animals or who had a daily contact with poultry. Conclusion: Investigation of Campylobacter jejuni prevalence in Northwest of Iran showed this bacterium can be one of the most important pathogens in inflammatory diarrheal cases. The observed risk factors for Campylobacter diarrhea were poor sanitary monitoring and the presence of animals in habituation places.