Abstract

Two hundred and sixty faecal samples obtained with rectal swabs from dogs were studied for Campylobacter isolation. The samples were placed on Preston broth and incubated at 43° C for 12 h under a microaerophilic atmosphere. Then, they were seeded on Skirrow agar and incubated under the same conditions for 48 h. Campylobacter species were identified by conventional methods (morphological, biochemical and cultural test), Lior's biotypes and protein profiles were examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, under reducing conditions. The prevalence of thermo-tolerant Campylobacter species was 7.3%. Fifteen out of 19 Campylobacter jejuni biotype II isolates were used in electrophoresis. Strain 1522 was employed as reference strain. Analysis of the protein profiles of the electrophoretic banding patterns presented good correlation with biochemical tests. All isolates presented a protein band greater than 40-46 Kd and minor differences in mobility of 40-50 Kd. Four strains lacked the flagellin (62-64 Kd band). The fact that protein electrophoresis presented heterogeneity among strains of the same species and biotypes reinforces their importance as discriminative methods of epidemiological value.