Prevalence of cdt Gene in Campylobacter jejuni Strains Isolated from Surface Waters of Rasht, Iran

Background and Objective: Campylobacters are infectious zoonotic agents, and among the main bacterial causes of gastroenteritis in humans. Studies have shown that Campylobacter jejuni is of the main causes of infection among humans. Detection of these infectious agents in water resources is of great importance for maintaining the health of humans. Therefore, the aim of this study was molecular detection of C. jejuni strains in surface water samples collected from Rasht, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on 45 surface water samples collected from the city of Rasht. After culture and isolation of bacteria, the molecular detection of C. jejuni was carried out using hipO-specific primers. Presence of cytolethal distending toxin (cdt) gene in positive samples was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction using cdtC-specific primers. Results: Of 45 samples, seven (15.5%) were positive for C. jejuni contamination, five of which (71.4%) had the cdtC gene. Conclusion: The prevalence of toxin-producing C. jejuni in surface waters of Rasht is notable. Therefore, it is recommended to take necessary measures for controlling the spread of this microorganism.