Prevalence of Campylobacter Species in Sokoto River, Sokoto State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Campylobacter species in Sokoto River. A total of 32 water samples were collected from Sokoto River and analyzed using cultural isolation techniques and biochemical characterization. Of the 32 water samples collected, 22 (68.75%) were Campylobacter positive. The Campylobacter species were identified using biochemical methods. The species identified from this study were Campylobacter jejuni 12 (54.55%), Campylobacter coli 8 (36.36%), Campylobacter fetus 1 (4.55%) and Campylobacter hyointestinalis 1 (4.55%).The isolation of Campylobacter species from surface water in this study is of serious public health importance as untreated drinking water has been implicated as the cause of sporadic infections and outbreaks of Campylobacteriosis worldwide. This is the first study on the prevalence of Campylobacter in surface water in this region.