Significant antimicrobial resistance found in Campylobacter from East African poultry and humans

EAST AFRICA – A groundbreaking study has revealed that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is alarmingly widespread in Campylobacter strains found in humans and poultry in East Africa. 

According to the research, approximately 75 percent of Campylobacter isolates from both human and poultry samples in Tanzania and Kenya displayed resistance to common antimicrobials, underscoring a growing threat to public health in the region.

Campylobacter, a leading cause of foodborne illnesses globally, is particularly concerning in sub-Saharan Africa, where chicken meat is a staple of many diets. 

In this region, human campylobacteriosis is often linked to the consumption of chicken meat, highlighting the critical connection between poultry farming practices and human health.

The study, published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Emerging Infectious Diseases, employed whole genome sequencing (WGS) to analyze Campylobacter isolates from poultry farms in Tanzania and clinics in Kenya. 

This research represents one of the largest WGS-based studies of Campylobacter in Africa to date and provides valuable insights into the growing issue of AMR in the region.

Campylobacter isolates from 649 chicken cloacal swab specimens and human clinical cases were examined, resulting in the identification of 178 Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolates. 

Overall, the study found a high prevalence of AMR in both C. jejuni and C. coli isolates, with a particularly worrying rate of multidrug resistance (MDR) in poultry isolates.

While approximately 2.5 percent of poultry isolates showed multidrug resistance, the figure for human isolates was even more alarming, with over 40 percent of isolates exhibiting resistance to multiple antibiotics. 

Commonly observed resistance was to tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, and sulphonamides, drugs often used in both human and veterinary medicine. 

Genetic links between human and poultry isolates

One of the study’s most striking findings was the genetic similarity between human and poultry isolates, suggesting a significant link between the poultry industry and human infections. 

Many of the Campylobacter isolates shared previously unreported sequence types (STs), highlighting the regional specificity and complexity of the pathogen’s genetic makeup. 

The diversity of the sequence types, as well as their presence across multiple farms and in both human and poultry samples, points to the possibility of widespread transmission pathways within the food chain, potentially exacerbated by insufficient biosecurity measures on farms and in food handling.

The findings of this study underscore the urgent need for more robust surveillance systems to monitor foodborne pathogens like Campylobacter in low-resource settings. 

Researchers emphasised the role of whole genome sequencing (WGS) in enhancing the ability to track the spread of antimicrobial resistance and identify emerging resistant strains. 

They also highlighted the importance of addressing antimicrobial use in both the food and healthcare sectors to reduce the pressure driving AMR.

In particular, the study calls for better governance and regulation of antimicrobial use in poultry farming, as well as increased biosecurity measures on farms to prevent the spread of resistant pathogens. 

Without these interventions, the risk of AMR spreading from animals to humans will likely continue to rise, posing significant challenges for both public health and food safety in East Africa.

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