Fecal Campylobacter jejuni shedding in healthy dogs and dogs with acute diarrhea in central New York

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni infection among apparently healthy dogs versus dogs with acute diarrhea in central New York, identify risk factors for infection among dogs, and characterize the isolates to evaluate potential risk to public health. Methods: In this prospective study, fecal samples were collected from dogs from January 2022 through September 2023. Exposure data on each dog were obtained via client questionnaire. Real-time PCR was used to detect C jejuni, and positive samples were subjected to bacteriologic culture. Isolate characterization via antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing was performed. Results: A total of 212 dogs were included. The prevalence of fecal C jejuni shedding as detected by PCR did not differ significantly between healthy dogs and dogs with acute diarrhea. Campylobacter jejuni PCR-positive status was more common among puppies (14.3%) than adults (2.8%), and it was more common among dogs that had recently consumed table scraps or trash (9.6%) versus dogs without that history (2.0%). Conclusions: A history of acute diarrhea was not significantly associated with C jejuni PCR-positive status, although the relatively small number of dogs with diarrhea precluded a robust comparison to healthy dogs. Clinical Relevance: Campylobacter jejuni was identified in healthy dogs and dogs with acute diarrhea, underscoring the potential for zoonotic transmission. Puppies and cases with a history of consuming table scraps or food waste may be at increased risk.