Distribution of Arcobacter species among livestock in Japan

A survey was conducted to examine the distribution of Arcobacter species among livestock in Japan. During May 1.999 and May 2000, fecal samples from cattle (n = 332) and swine (n = 250), chicken cloacal swabs (n = 234), and vaginal swabs of cattle (n = 61) and swine (n = 15) were submitted for the isolation of Arcobacter species. Arcobacter species were isolated from 3.6 and 10.0% of the cattle and swine fecal samples, respectively, along with 14.5% of chicken cloacal swabs. No significant seasonal. differences were observed. Species-specific polymerase chain reaction assay showed that A. butzleri was the most prevalent species (83.3, 60.0 and 47.1% of the cattle, swine and chicken isolates, respectively), followed by A. cryaerophilus 1B (16.7, 36.0 and 55.9% of the cattle, swine and chicken isolates, respectively). Of the samples from vaginal swabs, 8.1 and 13.3% were positive for Arcobacter in cattle and swine, respectively. This is the first report demonstrating the distribution of Arcobacter species among livestock in Japan. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.