Abstract
Campylobacter species are responsible for majority of zoonotic food-borne gastroenteritis worldwide, posing more serious threats among the young, the aged and the immuno-compromised. This study determined infection rates and characterised Campylobacter species isolated from dogs presented to selected Veterinary clinics in Jos, Nigeria using a multiplex PCR. The study analyzed 341 faecal sample from 146 (42.8%) male and 195 (57.2%) female dogs, of which 81 were positive revealing an overall infection rate of 23.8%. Breed based infection rates showed significant variation (p<0.05) and ranged between 10.5% and 39.8%. Infection rates in relation to dog types also varied significantly (p<0.05) and ranged between 12.4% and 42.4%. Infection rates based on condition of faeces varied significantly (p<0.05) and ranged between 12.3% and 48.1%. Adults and puppies recorded infection rates of 25.8% and 16.4% respectively while the 30.4% and 15.0% recorded by females and males respectively varied significantly (p<0.05, OR=0.4027, 95% CI=1.437-4.290). Clinic based infection rates varied significantly (p<0.05) between 9.0% and 45.8%. PCR identified Campylobacter jejuni in 41 (50.6%), C. coli in 31 (38.3%) and mixed infections in 9 (11.1%) of the 81 positive samples revealing overall species based infection rates of 12.0%, 9.1% and 2.6% respectively. Majority of C. coli (9.9%), C. jejuni (18.5%) and mixed infections (6.2%) were isolated from dogs with normal, mucoid and diarrhoeic faeces respectively. Campylobacter was more prevalent among indigenous, hunting as well as dogs with mucoid faeces. Campylobacter coli, C. jejuni and mixed infections were more commonly associated with dogs that had normal, mucoid and diarrhoeic faeces respectively.

Key words: Isolation, characterisation, thermophilic Campylobacter, multiplex PCR, food-borne zoonosis