CAMPHYLOBACTER JEJUNI

Typical Organisms

Gram-negative rods with comma, S, or

"gull-wing" shapes.
Motive, with a single polar flagellum
No spore & no capsule
Epidemiological data
•Campylobacter is 1 of 4 key global causes of diarrhoeal
diseases. It is considered to be the most common
bacterial cause of human gastroenteritis in the world.
•Campylobacter infections are generally mild, but can be
fatal among very young children, elderly, and
immunosuppressed individuals.

The burden of foodborne diseases, including

Campylobacteriosis, is substantial: every year almost 1
in 10 people fall ill and 33 million of healthy life years are
lost. Foodborne diseases can be severe, especially for
young children. Diarrhoeal diseases are the most
common illnesses resulting from unsafe food, with 550
million people falling ill yearly (including 220 million
children under the age of 5 years). Campylobacter is 1 of
the 4 key global causes of diarrhoeal diseases.
Pathogenesis

The infection by oral route from food, drink,

or contact with infected animals or animal
products(Milk, meat products ).

Susceptible to gastric acid (about 104

organisms)
Symptoms
•Incubation: 4-8d
•Bacteremia: <1% C. jejuni
•Reactive arthritis
•diarrhea
•malaise
•fever
•abdominal pain
Virulence Factor
•Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) with endotoxic
activity
•Cytopathic extracellular toxins and
enterotoxins have been found
Control
•The source of infection
may be food (eg, milk,
under-cooked fowl) or
contract with infected
animals or humans and
their excreta.
Prevention

• Campylobacter can survive on our hands. Wash our hands thoroughly with
soap and water.
• Keep raw poultry away from other foods. Use separate cutting boards and
clean them properly.
• All poultry and foods containing poultry, such as sausages and casseroles,
should be cooked to reach a minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.
• Drink Pasteurized Milk.
• Do Not Drink Untreated Water.
Diagnostic LaboratoryTests
•Specimens: Diarrheal stools
•Smears: Gram-stained smears of
stool may show the typical "gull-
shaped" rods.
Culture characters:
•They are microaerophilic, best growth at
42°C in atmosphere containing 5% 02 & 10%
CO2. They grow on a selective medium called
Skirrow's medium (containing lysed blood
agar and vancomycin, polymyxin &
trimethoprim).
•Method of transmission:
• Usually, fecal-oral. Domestic animals such
as cattle, chicken and dogs serve as a source of
infection. Food and water contaminated with
animal feces are the major source of human
infection.
•Serology can he useful in patients presenting with aseptic arthritis or Guillain-Barre' syndrome after
about of diarrhea, Complement fixation test and ELISA tests can detect recent infection with C. jejuni
•Treatment:
• Erythromycin, nalidixic acid and tetracyclines.
•Partially sensitive to ampicillin.

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