Survival rates of thermotolerant Campylobacter species in a transport and enrichment medium under different environmental conditions

Simple media and conditions for inter-laboratory transport of Campylobacter jejuni isolates

BACKGROUND

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most important agents of zoonotic disease. Production as well as companion animals can be the infectious source for Campylobacteriosis in humans. Hence, epidemiological research on animal colonization, survival in food of animal origin, and human Campylobacteriosis is of high priority. As such studies involve worldwide co-operations and should include further typing of isolates in reference centers, using a reliable method for transportation is essential. In the case of C. jejuni, a pathogenic and microaerophilic bacterium, special safety precautions as well as particular transport conditions that guarantee survival of isolates are required.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to test various media and temperatures for the transportation of C. jejuni under aerobic conditions and to identify a cheap, effective and easy method that is appropriate for long distance transportation and can be applied by most veterinary/medical laboratories with a basic infrastructure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We examined Mueller-Hinton (MH) agar with and w/o 2% horse blood and m-CCDA at room temperature and 2 ± 2 (SD)°C under atmospheric conditions for survival of Campylobacter strains.

RESULTS

MH agar with 2% horse blood, suitable transport vials, and an optimum temperature of 2 ± 2°C provided survival of three Campylobacter type strains for at least one month under atmospheric conditions. This was validated by a transport test in which 101 isolates were shipped from Turkey to Austria. All isolates could be recultured and 97% survived more than one month in the transport medium.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that the described approach is suitable for inter-laboratory transport of C. jejuni isolates.