Migratory Birds of Central Washington as Reservoirs of 'Campylobacter jejuni'

摘要

Migratory ducks, Canada geese, and sandhill crane from the Pacific North American Flyway have been screened for Campylobacter spp. Two hundred ninety-eight samples from these birds were examined and the carrier rates detected were as follows: sandhill crane, 81 percent; ducks, 73 percent; and Canada geese, 5 percent. All isolates were identified as Campylobacter jejuni. To the authors' knowledge this is the first report of the isolation of C. jejuni from sandhill crane. The high carrier rates in both the sandhill crane and migratory ducks indicated that these bird populations may play a significant role in the dissemination of the bacterium. Because of their migratory habits, these birds may be particularly important in spreading C. jejuni to remote areas.