fa تحقيقي Original Paper <div><strong>ABSTRACT</strong><br> <strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Background and Objective<em>:</em></strong><em> Campylobacters</em> are infectious zoonotic agents, and among the main bacterial causes of gastroenteritis in humans. Studies have shown that <em>Campylobacter jejuni</em> 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 <em>C. jejuni</em> strains in surface water samples collected from Rasht, Iran.<br> <strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Methods:</strong> 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 <em>C. jejuni</em> was carried out using hipO-specific primers. Presence of cytolethal distending toxin (cdt) gene in positive samples was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction using <em>cdtC</em>-specific primers.<br> <strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Results:</strong> Of 45 samples, seven (15.5%) were positive for <em>C. jejuni</em> contamination, five of which (71.4%) had the <em>cdtC</em> gene.<br> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> The prevalence of toxin-producing <em>C. jejuni</em> in surface waters of Rasht is notable. Therefore, it is recommended to take necessary measures for controlling the spread of this microorganism.<br> <strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Keywords: </strong><em>Campylobacter jejuni</em>, Surface water, <em>cdt</em> gene, PCR.</div> Campylobacter jejuni, Surface water, cdt gene, PCR. 36 40 http://mlj.goums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-451&slc_lang=fa&sid=1 Keyvan Roshanjo 100319475328460012539 100319475328460012539 No Department of Microbiology, Islamic Azad University, Rasht Branch, Rasht, Iran Leila Asadpour asadpour@iaurasht.ac.ir 100319475328460012540 100319475328460012540 Yes Department of Microbiology, Islamic Azad University, Rasht Branch, Rasht, Iran Mohammad Reza Shiri Shahsavar 100319475328460012541 100319475328460012541 No Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, Faculty of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Arash Hemmati 100319475328460012542 100319475328460012542 No Department of Microbiology, Islamic Azad University, Rasht Branch, Rasht, Iran