Hamid Mahmoodipour - Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Behbahan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Behbahan, Iran
Omid Mahmoodipour - Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Behbahan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Behbahan, Iran
Maziar Mohammadi Niaei - Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Behbahan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Behbahan, Iran

Several potential virulence determinants have been proposed for Campylobacter jejuni and campylobacter coli, including motility, adherence, invasive capabilities, and toxin production. The best characterized Campylobacter toxin is the cytolethal distending toxin (cdt) which is encoded by three genes, cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC which are required for cytotoxicity.The purpose of this study was determined the prevalence of cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC genes in Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated from cattle. To perform the study 138 fecal samples were collected from cattle. All samples were subjected for isolation of Campylobacter spp. using prêt KB method and the presumptive isolates authenticated by DNA sequencing of 16srRNA genes. Finally, Campylobacter isolates assessed for detection of cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC genes. The results obtained indicated that 12 strains of Campylobacter spp. were isolated. Of all isolates 7 strains were identified as Campylobacter jejuni and the rest (5 isolates) was Campylobacter coli. prevalence of cdtA, cdtB, cdtC virulence genes in cattle were 66.66%, 83.33%, 83.33%, respectively. These data suggest that cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC genes are widespread among Campylobacter isolates. Therefore, Campylobacter strains isolated from cattle could be considered infectious agent for human.

cdtA, cdtB, cdtC genes, Campylobacters spp., cattle