Campylobacter

CAMPYLOBACTER
Diseases
C. jejuni is a frequent cause of enterocolitis, especially in children. C. jejuni. Other Campylobacter species are rare causes of systemic infection, particularly bacteremia.
Important Properties
Campylobacters are curved, gram-negative rods that appear either comma- or Sshaped. They are microaerophilic, growing best in 5% oxygen rather than in the
20% present in the atmosphere. C. jejuni grows well at 42°C, whereas Campylobacter intestinalis4 does not—an observation that is useful in microbiologic diagnosis.
Pathogenesis & Epidemiology
Domestic animals such as cattle, chickens, and dogs serve as a source of the organisms for humans. Transmission is usually fecal–oral. Food and water contaminated with animal feces are the major sources of human infection. Foods,
such as poultry, meat, and unpasteurized milk, are commonly involved. Puppies with diarrhea are a common source for children. Human-to-human transmission occurs but is less frequent than animal-to-human transmission. Inflammation of the intestinal mucosa often occurs, accompanied by blood in stools. Systemic infections (e.g., bacteremia) occur most often in neonates or debilitated adults.
Clinical Findings
Enterocolitis, caused primarily by C. jejuni, begins as watery, foul-smelling diarrhea followed by bloody stools accompanied by fever and severe abdominal pain. Systemic infections, most commonly bacteremia, are caused more often by C. intestinalis. Gastrointestinal infection with C. jejuni is associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome, the most common cause of acute neuromuscular paralysis. Guillain-Barré syndrome is an autoimmune disease attributed to the formation of antibodies against C. jejuni that cross-react with antigens on neurons.
Laboratory