Objective: Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most important agents of acute bacterial gastroenteritis. In this study, the prevalence of virulence and toxin genes that played an important role in the pathogenesis of campylobacter infections were investigated.

Materials and Methods: For this purpose, the prevalance of flaA, flaB, cdtABC, cdtA, cdtB, cdtC, virB11, cj0588, cadFR1B, ciaB, pldA and dnaJ genes of 126 C. jejuni strains isolated from acute gastroenteritis cases, and analyzed using a molecular method in Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey, between March 2010 - March 2011, were analyzed in the study. The related genes were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results: Among 126 C. jejuni isolates tested were positive for flaB (n=122; 96.8%), cadFR1B (n=120; 95.2%), dnaJ (n=116; 92.1%), flaA (n=111; 88.1%), cdtA (n=110, 87.3%), cdtC (n=103 81.7%), pIdA (n=87;69.0%), ciaB (n=72; 57.1%), cdtABC (n=72; 57.1%), cj0588 (n=65; 51.6%), cdtB 56 (44.4%), virB11 (n=123; 18.2%) genes. It was also found that only one isolate had all of the investigated 12 virulence genes.

Conclusion: Although, the prevalence rates of toxin and virulence genes analyzed in C. jejuni in this study are generally compatible with the results previously reported in the literature, it was seen that identification rate of the cdtB gene was low. In our country only one relevant study has been conducted so far, we think that the results obtained from this study will contribute to the studies related to the epidemiology, and pathogenedis of campylobacter infections.