2. Campylobacter

3. Characteristics of Campylobacter
Discovered by Theodor Escherich in 1886
Campylobacteraceae family
Gram negative curved rod, up to 5-8 mm in length
Microaerobic; some require high H2
Non-spore-forming
Highly motile (corkscrew motility)
Highly susceptible to killing
~800,000 cases (3rd)
Surface lipooligosaccharides (LOS)
Poorly understood
Image from Wikipedia

4. Nomenclature of Campylobacter
Campylobacteraceae
Campylobacter (17 species)
Arcobacter (6 species)
Sulfurospirillum (6 species)
C. jejuni subsp. jejuni and C. coli of most concern

5. Growth and survival characteristics
Why is this a pathogen again?
Temperature range for growth and survival
Thermotolerant (C. jejuni), mesophilic (C. fetus)
D55C ~ min, D60C < 1 min
pH range
Oxygen sensitive (especially at low cell densities)
Survival outside host is temperature dependent

6. Growth and survival characteristics
Survival outside of the host
C. jejuni
Pasteurized milk (25d/4C, 3d/25C)
Stream water (1-4 weeks/4C, 4d/25C)
Sensitive to oxygen
Grows in atmospheric conditions only in high cell densities
Catalases/superoxide dismutases
Very tricky to work with in the lab
Transport back to the lab

7. Serotyping Lior method (1982) Penner method (1980)
Antisera to formaldehyde killed Campylobacter
At least 21 different Lior groups
Penner method (1980)
Antibodies developed to the LOS layer
At least 23 different Penner types
Heat stable, given “HS” designation (ie. HS:1, HS:2)
Can be used as first step of characterization during an outbreak investigation

8. Isolation rate (all Campylobacter)
Species/source
Average % positive
Chicken
33-53%
Turkey
56%
Duck, goose, pheasant
32%
Cattle
45%
Swine
27%
Sheep, lamb, goats
33%
Seafood
16%
Miller and Mandrell, 2005

9. Reservoirs Species Reservoir Frequency among Campy Human disease
Animal disease
C. jejuni subsp. jejuni
Cattle, birds, pets
Common (77%)
diarrhea, GBS, RA
diarrhea, abortion
C. coli
Pigs, birds, poultry, cats
Common (11%)
diarrhea
C. upsaliensis
Domestic pets, poultry
Uncommon (4.5%)
C. consisus
Humans
Uncommon (1.4%)
periodontal
C.fetus subsp. fetus
Cattle, sheep
Uncommon (0.6%)
abortion, systemic illness
abortion
C. lari
Birds, dogs
Uncommon (0.2%)
diarrhea, urinary tract
C. hydrointestinalis
Cattle, pigs, deer
Uncommon (0.1%)
enteritis

10. Seasonality

11. Disease About 80% believed to be foodborne
3rd most common bacterial cause (~800,000 cases)
Infectious dose ~ cfu
Mostly sporadic (vs. outbreak)
Incubation period
“Generic” disease
Malaise, fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea
Self-limiting
May continue to shed organisms up to 2-3 weeks
However….

12. Severe complications Guillain-Barre syndrome Reactive arthritis
Rare, ~ cases
Ascending paralysis (most cases)  muscle weakness/pain  difficulty walking  vision/speech
Autoimmune disease
LOS HS:19 (especially) antigenically related to GM1 and GD1a (component of motor neurons)
No known cure, only alleviation of symptoms; lifetime disease
More common in men and women between 30-50
Reactive arthritis
Swelling of joints, urethra, eyes
More common in teenagers and men under 40
No known cure; lifetime disease

13. Outbreaks http://wwwn.cdc.gov/foodborneoutbreaks/Default. aspx#
See Outbreak Database at bottom of website

14. Control
On farm
Good sanitary practices; minimize spread among animals and birds

15. Control (Recommendations of FSIS)
On farm
Good sanitary practices; minimize spread among animals and birds
Plant
Minimize cross-contamination
Pasteurize
Individual
Recognize prevalence
Clean (hands, cutting boards, etc), separate, cook, chill (pretty much universal)

16. On the horizon: Arcobacter
More recently recognized, emerging foodborne pathogen
Related but different from Campylobacter
A. butzleri, A. cryaerophilus most common
A. butzleri is 4th most common “Campylobacter-like” disease (3.5% of cases); A. cryaerophilus isolated about 0.5% of cases
Disease
Lots of unknowns