n epidemiological investigation ofCampylobacterin pig and poultry farms in the Mekong delta of Vietnam

SUMMARYCampylobacterare zoonotic pathogens commonly associated with gastroenteritis. To assess the relevance ofCampylobacterin Vietnam, an economically transitioning country in SE Asia, we conducted a survey of 343 pig and poultry farms in the Mekong delta, a region characterized by mixed species farming with limited biosecurity. The animal-level prevalence ofCampylobacterwas 31·9%, 23·9% and 53·7% for chickens, ducks and pigs, respectively.C. jejuniwas predominant in all three host species, with the highest prevalence in pigs in high-density production areas.Campylobacterisolates demonstrated high levels of antimicrobial resistance (21% and 100% resistance against ciprofloxacin and erythromycin, respectively). Multilocus sequence type genotyping showed a high level of genetic diversity withinC. jejuni, and predictedC. coliinter-species transmission. We suggest that on-going intensification of animal production systems, limited biosecurity, and increased urbanization in Vietnam is likely to result inCampylobacterbecoming an increasingly significant cause of human diarrhoeal infections in coming years.