Study of Campylobacter spp. Carriage in Poultry Farms in Kindia Prefecture (Republic of Guinea)

Introduction: In the field of food safety, Campylobacter is an emerging hazard whose importance is increasing over the years.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in poultry farms in the Kindia prefecture in order to protect the health of the population.

Methods: This is a prospective and descriptive study on the carriage of Campylobacters spp. which lasted 7 months, from 25 June 2016 to 24 January 2017.

Results: Of 120 samples of droppings taken from modern farms, 33.3% were found to contain Campylobacters. Carriage was high in all farms: 100 in the Cheick Taliby farm, 90% in the Kinyéya farm, 60% in the Samorya farm, 70% in Bamban and 80% in Monastère Saint Croix. In Kindia's main market, the rate of Campylobacter spp. carriage in droppings was 73.3%. Carriage of Campylobacter spp. in eggs at the two modern farms was 38.3%, with 50% at the Couvoir de Kahéré and 26.7% at the Avi Leydi farm. Campylobacter spp. carriage was 80% on the Cheick Taliby and Claudine farms, compared with 40% on the Monastère Saint Croix farm. Campylobacters spp. were carried in eggs at the Kindia market (58.3%). Campylobacters pp. were carried in 17.9% of droppings from modern farms, 42.6% from semi-modern farms and 39.5% from traditional farming. Contamination of water supplies and drinking troughs by Campylobacters spp. was 16.67% for water. The rate of contamination of drinking troughs was high on the Couvoir de Kahéré farm, at 33.33% compared with 0% on the Avi Leydi farm. However, the borehole water after analysis did not contain Campylobacter spp. Carriage of feed stocks by Campylobacters spp. on the two modern farms (Couvoir de Kahéré and Avi Leydi) was 0.0%. However, it was 83% in the feed troughs at the Couvoir de Kahéré and 50% at the Avi Leydi farm. Campylobacter spp. contamination of water taken from troughs on semi-modern farms was 70.83%. All samples taken from troughs on the Cheick Taliby farm and those on the Kinyéya farm were contaminated, representing a 100% Campylobacter spp. carriage rate, compared with 75% on the Claudine farm and 50% on the Bamban, Monastère Saint Croix and Samorya farms. In the food stocks of the semi-modern farms, all the samples were positive for Campylobacter spp. in particular in the Cheick Taliby farm, i.e. 100%, the Kinyéya and Claudine farms had a carriage rate of 83.83%, followed by the Monastère Saint Croix farm with 66.66% and the Samorya farm with 33.33%. The overall carry rate for food stocks was 69.44%. On the other hand, 91.66% of feed was carried in the troughs. In the water troughs of traditional chickens sold at the Kindia market, Campylobacter spp. contamination was around 75%, whereas the number of water bottles contaminated by Campylobacter spp. was 33.3%. In the food stocks of traditional chickens sold at the Kindia market, the rate of Campylobacter spp. contamination was 33.3%. On the other hand, 62.5% of traditional chicken feeders contained Campylobacter spp.

Conclusion: Our results show that Campylobacter spp. is widely circulated on poultry farms in the Kindia prefecture through eggs, feed, droppings and drinking water.