Aim: The present
study was conducted to determine the presence and prevalence of Campylobacter
species in ground water in Sokoto, Sokoto State.
Materials and Methods:
The prevalence of Campylobacter species was determined by collecting a total of
74 water samples from wells in Sokoto over a period of four months from May to
August 2011 and analyzed using cultural isolation techniques and biochemical
characterization.
Results: Totally 39 (52.70%) water samples were
Campylobacter positive. The species identified were Campylobacter jejuni 23
(58.97%), Campylobacter coli 11 (28.21%) and Campylobacter hyointestinalis 5
(12.82%).
Conclusion: Based on this study, the isolation of Campylobacter
species from ground water (wells) in this study is of serious public health
importance as untreated water has been implicated as the cause of sporadic
infections and outbreaks of Campylobacteriosis worldwide.
Keywords:
Campylobacter, prevalence, public health, Sokoto, water, well.
