Campylobacter
spp. are an important cause of bacterial gastroenteritis frequently isolated from animal, poultry and environmental samples. In this study, we investigated the zoonotic potential of
Campylobacter spp. by comparing prevalence rates and species in 394 children with diarrhoea and 652 animals in Vellore using PCR-based tools. Eighteen children (4.5%) had campylobacteriosis, a majority of whom had co-pathogens (15/18) and most were infected with
Campylobacter jejuni (16/18). A few
C. coli and mixed infections with both species were also seen. Among the animal samples, 16/25 chicken samples (64%) were positive and all were found to be
C. jejuni.
