The Epidemiology of Campylobacter Infection in Dogs in Context of the Risk of Infection to Humans

Campylobacter is the most common bacterial cause of human gastroenteritis in England and Wales. Most cases are due to Campylobacter jejuni infection, though Campylobacter coli and other species including Campylobacter upsaliensis may also be involved. Most cases of campylobacteriosis in man are non-epidemic, and there tends to be a higher prevalence in children. Poultry meat has always been considered to be a major source of human campylobacteriosis, but campylobacter are also found in a number of other species, including dogs. The prevalence of infection in dogs appears to be high (up to 56%) and there is evidence that dogs may be a risk factor for human infection. Humans have frequent contact with dogs and dog faeces, and clearly where faecal pathogens such as campylobacter are present there may be considerable opportunities for zoonotic transmission. <P>

This proposal addresses the risk of human campylobacter infection from dogs. Although there is epidemiological evidence of an association between campylobacter in dogs and disease in humans, there is little information on specific risk factors for this. <P>Specifically, we will: <UL> <LI> Determine the prevalence of campylobacter carriage in dogs in a community-based census study, in selected kennel populations and in the wider population. <LI> Determine the risk factors for campylobacter carriage in dogs, including human, household, and management variables.<LI> Determine the population structure of the campylobacter isolates from dogs in relation to human strains. </ul> This will be done in collaboration with Dr K Dingle, University of Oxford. <P>
The study will also provide a resource for small animal infectious disease surveillance. More specifically we will<ul> <LI> Create a microbiological and epidemiological data archive which could be used, with further funding, as a surveillance resource for other zoonotic, or potentially zoonotic canine faecal pathogens. In this context it has been agreed with DEFRA that as part of this project the samples will be screened for Salmonella spp. <LI> Provide added value to the contact network studies in dogs already funded by DEFRA. <LI> Produce a template for future surveillance studies on small animal pathogens, both in kennelled populations and in the community. <LI> Provide a small animal project input into the proposed National Centre for Zoonosis Research, to be based at the University of Liverpool.