Serogroups and biotypes of human strains of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated in France

Isolation and characterization of Campylobacter spp. from domestic animals and poultry in south of Iran

A total of 455 domestic animals (cow, horse and camel) and poultry from south of Iran were surveyed for fecal carriage of Campylobacter spp. Out of all collected fecal samples, the highest isolation rate of Campylobacter was recorded among poultry (35%), followed by horse (27%) and cow (21%) while, lowest isolation rate was recorded among camel. Of the 85 Campylobacter strains isolated, 76 were classified as catalase positive Campylobacter. Out of them, high frequency of occurrence was belonged to Campy. jejuni. Furthermore, catalase positive Campylobacter spp. were isolated from all the sources of investigation, other than camel. The results obtained from biotyping of the isolates indicated Camp. lari biotype I followed by Camp. jejuni and Camp. coli biotypes I existed in high frequency; while Camp. jejuni biotype II and untypable Campylobacter existed in low frequency. Overall, domestic animals and poultry other than camels are vehicle of Campylobacter in the area of investigation therefore, the people who living in this area may be infected via feces of domestic animals and poultry.

Occurrence of Campylobacter jejuni in Shiraz, Southwest Iran

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the occurrence of Campylobacter jejuni among other bacterial agents of acute diarrhea.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Over a period of 3 months, 114 specimens of acute diarrhea were collected from patients aged 2-58 years referred to Nemazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. The samples were tested for bacterial pathogens causing acute diarrhea.

RESULTS

Of the 114 samples, 40 proved to be positive for bacterial enteric pathogens: C. jejuni 11 (9.6%), Salmonella spp.18 (15.8%) and Shigella spp. 11 (9.6%). Maximum prevalence of C. jejuni was observed in patients aged 11-15 years. Significantly more females than males were infected with all diarrheal agents (p <0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed the presence of C. jejuni as a significant cause of gastroenteritis in Shiraz, Southwest Iran.

Campylobacter enteritis in Saudi Arabia

A 12-month survey on the incidence of campylobacter infection in 1217 patients with diarrhoea was carried out in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Campylobacters were isolated from 55 (4.5%) patients, second in prevalence to salmonellas (6.2%). Shigellas were isolated from 4.2% of patients. Campylobacter isolation rates were high in children of all ages, as well as in young adults (36.5% of all isolates were from adults aged 20-39 years). Isolation rates peaked in September and November. Analysis of the results showed that 69% were Campylobacter jejuni (mostly biotype IV) and 31% C. coli. Serogroups 5 and 23 (Penner scheme) and phage type 125 (Preston scheme) were most frequently isolated. Resistance to erythromycin and tetracycline was observed in 7.3 and 32.7% of the isolates. Campylobacters are an important cause of bacterial enteritis in Saudi Arabia, both in adults and in children, and should be sought routinely.

Campylobacter enteritis in Portugal: epidemiological features and biological markers

From 1984 to 1989, stool samples from 2811 gastroenteritis cases were examined for the presence of Campylobacter jejuni and C. Coli, Salmonella, Shigella and Yersinia species. Isolation rates were: Campylobacter jejuni and C. Coli, 5.3%, Salmonella spp., 14.8%, Shigella spp., 4.6% and Yersinia enterocolitica, 1.1%. Age group distribution analysis shows a higher Campylobacter isolation rate in children under one year of age. Seasonal distribution revealed a peak incidence in winter as in other Mediterranean countries. Predominant biotypes were C. jejuni I (51%), C. jejuni II (21.5%) and C. coli I (18.8%). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing did not reveal resistance to erythromycin. Thirty of the strains harboured plasmids with 7 different profiles.

Application of different chromosomal DNA restriction digest fingerprints to specific and subspecific identification of Campylobacter isolates

Eleven strains comprising representatives of different subspecies, biotypes, and serotypes of Campylobacter jejuni and reference strains of C. coli, C. fetus subsp. fetus, C. hyointestinalis, and C. sputorum subsp. sputorum were studied to assess the utility of different DNA profiles for measuring fine differences between allied bacteria. Strains were compared by analyses of HaeIII and XhoI digest patterns of chromosomal DNA and Southern blot hybridization patterns of XhoI digests obtained with an Escherichia coli 16S + 23S rRNA gene probe. Visual comparisons and numerical analyses of the HaeIII and XhoI digest patterns both revealed clear differences between the five Campylobacter species and between representatives of C. jejuni subspecies and biotypes. Only strains with the same Penner serotype gave identical total digest polymorphisms. The advantages of XhoI total digests and Southern blot hybridization patterns were that they were less complex than the HaeIII patterns and easier to compare visually. However, numerical analysis of XhoI data resulted in reduced discrimination. We conclude that DNA fingerprinting using either HaeIII or XhoI fragment polymorphisms has considerable potential as a generally applicable method for identification of Campylobacter isolates, especially at the infrasubspecific level.

Distribution of serotypes and biotypes of thermophilic campylobacters in the Federal Republic of Germany: a comparison with other countries

Thermophilic Campylobacter isolates from infected humans from the southwest of the FRG were bio- and serotyped according to Lior's scheme. Serotyping was performed with a commercially available test kit (Sopar, Brussels). C. jejuni represented about 87% of the isolates with Biotype I representing about 50% of the isolates. C. coli was found in 12% of the isolates and C. laridis in less than 1%. The most frequently identified serotypes were LIO 8, LIO 7 and LIO 4. The results are compared with investigations from seven other countries and with one investigation from northern Germany.