Question

- What are the genomics and proteomics features of the isolate (Campylobacter Hepaticus) and compare them to those of other common Campylobacter species.

  - The risk of antibiotic resistant plasmids present in bacteria isolated from poultry sources.

Answer 1

When chickens are infected with Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter coli , they remain largely asymptomatic, but when infected with, Campylobacter hepaticus, Spotty Liver Disease (SLD) can occur in them. In the chicken, C. hepaticus has been detected in the liver, small intestine and caecum etc. Apart from difference in pathgenicity, the survival and colonization mechanisms of C. hepaticus is complex and different from others.. This bacteria adapt to proliferate in challenging host environment in which they are found. Also according to some biochemical experiments some in silico metabolic predictions in them are confirmed. Unlike other Campylobacter sp., C. hepaticus can encodes glucose and polyhydroxybutyrate metabolism pathways. This capability or the metabolic plasticity of C. hepaticus, helps them to survive in the competitive, energy and nutrient crisis environment of the chicken.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of the cell with or without resistant plasmid, is a global health threat. The main reason behind this is antimicrobial usage in animal production .Poultry meat is one of those which is mostly consumed worldwide. Poultry flocks are often raised under intensive conditions to treat disease, as promote growth using large amount of antibiotics. Antimicrobial resistance in the poultry pathogens can cause failure in treatment. This may lead to a chain of problems like , lack of poultry production, lack of production and quality compromise of meat and eggs, all these leading to economic losses. Also they become a source of resistant bacteria or resistant genes which can ultimately pose a threat that to human health.