Campylobacter and Salmonella are frequently implicated as the cause of gastro-intestinal disease in cats. Prevalence in healthy cats is unclear as most UK studies have examined animals which either had clinical signs of disease or were from rescue centers with potential for increased horizontal transmission. These organisms have potential to cause human disease and therefore knowledge of prevalence in asymptomatic animals gives an indication of the potential zoonotic risk of pet ownership.

The aim of the study was to determine prevalence of these organisms in kittens aged 9-20 weeks, presenting to veterinary practitioners in the UK for vaccination.

Clients of 14 UK veterinary practices submitted one faecal sample per kitten and a completed questionnaire investigating origin of the kitten, signalment and faecal consistency. Fifty-four sets of samples and valid questionnaires were included in the study. A follow up-questionnaire was completed 4-8 months later. Routine enteric bacterial culture was performed upon receipt. Samples were frozen and PCR performed as a batch. Samples were analysed for the presence of Campylobacter/Salmonella/E.coli using a novel Triplex PCR developed at the University of Bristol. Samples that were Campylobacter positive by either culture or Triplex PCR were speciated using multiplex PCR.

One kitten was positive for Salmonella by culture (1.8%. 95%CI 0.44-9.7%). No clinical signs were reported prior to sampling and at follow-up. No Salmonella was detected using PCR. Five samples were positive for Campylobacter spp. (9.2%. 95%CI 4.1-19.9%) by routine culture. Four cats were asymptomatic at sampling and at follow-up and 1 cat had mildly soft faeces at sampling and at follow up, no veterinary attention was required. PCR identified Campylobacter spp. in a further 4 samples but did not detect campylobacters in the culture positive samples. None had clinical signs prior to sample collection or follow-up. Overall 9/54 (16.6% 95%CI 9-28.8%) samples were positive for Campylobacter spp. When further characterised using Multiplex PCR, C. upsaliensis was detected in one sample positive by routine culture and C. jejuni in 2 Triplex PCR positive samples.

This study highlights the high prevalence of Campylobacters in this population of animals and that carriage of the organism was not associated with clinical signs. The disparity in detection of the organism between methodologies may reflect death of the organism during transport, DNA disruption during transport and storage and differing sensitivities of the tests.