Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) produced by Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated from chikens by tissue culture method in Isfahan

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most common bacterial cause of diarrheal disease in humans throughout the world.Contamination is mainly linked to the consumption of undercooked food products contaminated with Campylobacters. The most characterized toxin proposed is CDT, which has been detected in several Campylobacter species. With regard to the role of broiler chickens in transmission of campylobacter to human and the possible role of CDT in the pathogenesis of Campylobacter, detection of Campylobacter producing CDT is necessary. In this study 368 rectal swabs were collected from chikens. All the specimens were cultured on Skirrows & Blood agar and incubated in microaerophilic conditions at 42º C for 48-72 h. Hella cell was applied to detect CDT in C.jejuni and coli. Campylobacter strains were isolated from 114 (31%) of 368 chicken (101 C. jejuni and 13 C.coli). Toxin production in C. jejuni and C. coli was 94% and 76.9 % respectively. It seems that the majority of C.jejuni and C.coli produce CDT although C. jejuni produces a higher titer.