7.6 Campylobacter species

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Figure 19 Campylobacter are curved rods with a characteristic seagull appearance and corkscrew motility
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An image of Campylobacter.

Figure 19 Campylobacter are curved rods with a characteristic seagull appearance and corkscrew motility

What are the main characteristics of Campylobacter?

Answer

Campylobacter are Gram-negative, oxidase-positive microaerophilic bacteria requiring incubation at atmospheres enriched with 3–5% CO2. Some species, for example, Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli, are thermophilic and grow well at 42°C.

Many species of Campylobacter are commensals of the intestinal tract of birds and mammals. C. jejuni and C. coli are among the most frequently reported bacterial causes of human gastroenteritis globally, but in farm animals these organisms remain harmless, except C. jejuni, that was found to be a cause of abortion in sheep.

Disease-causing Campylobacter species in animals include:

  • C. fetus subspecies fetus: an important cause of abortions in cows and sheep.
  • C. fetus subspecies venerealis: a venereally transmitted organism causing bovine genital campylobacteriosis, a subclinical infection of bulls that causes early abortion and infertility in cows.
  • C. hepaticus: recently associated with acute necrotic hepatitis in laying hens.

7.5.1 Isolation of E. faecium and E. faecalis

7.6.1 Isolation of Campylobacter species