Campylobacter Flashcards by Gillian Charisse Abonal

Identify the bacteria

S-shaped, spirally curved (one or more spirals), Gram-negative, pleomorphic rods
Motile by single polar flagellum at one or both ends
Microaerophilic (3%-5% CO2), aerobic/anaerobic & oxidase positive

Campylobacter

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Does Campylobacter use carbohydrates, Yes or No?

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What are major virulence factors of Campylobacter spp.? (6)

1.) flagella
2.) adhesins
3.) endotoxin (LPS)
4.) cytotoxin
5.) enterotoxin (C. jejuni)
6.) S-layer protein (C. fetus)

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Non-pathogenic Campylobacter spp. are found on where?

mucous membranes of genital & intestinal tracts

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What is the environmental survival like for Campylobacter spp.?

Survives poorly in dry, oxygen-rich environments

Thrives in moist, microaerophilic conditions

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Which diagnostic samples are used for Campylobacter detection? (4)

1.) preputial washings
2.) cervical mucus
3.) aborted fetal tissues (liver & abomasal contents)
4.) placenta

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What diagnostic methods are used for Campylobacter? (5)

1.) microscopy (gram/silver stain)
2.) culture
3.) PCR
4.) fluorescent antibody test (FAT)
5.) phenotypic testing

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Which diagnostic test is most sensitive and specific for herd-level screening?

PCR and FAT

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Why is culture of Campylobacter often supplemented with PCR or FAT?

due to its fastidious nature & low viability in samples

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Which 2 mediums can be used to selectively culture Campylobacter spp.?

Skirrow’s
Campy-BAP agar w/ antibiotics to inhibit contaminants

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Why is it difficult to isolate Campylobacter from clinical specimens?

fragile, fastidious, sensitive to oxygen
samples must be handled promptly & appropriately

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2 subspecies of Campylobacter fetus

C. fetus subsp. fetus
C. fetus subsp. venerealis

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Immune component against C. fetus that is immunodominant?

99-kDa S-layer protein

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What does the S-layer protein in C. fetus do?

prevents complement binding & phagocytosis

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Where is C. fetus subsp. venerealis found? (2)

preputial cavity of bulls
reproductive tract of cows

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How is C. fetus subsp. venerealis transmitted? (2)

venereally during natural breeding or
AI w/ contaminated semen

What disease does C. fetus subsp. venerealis cause in cattle? Characterized by infertility, irregular estrus (repeat breeding), early embryonic death, occasional abortion (mostly in first-time calvers).

Bovine genital campylobacteriosis

Pathogenesis of C. fetus subsp. venerealis in cows? (3 steps)

colonize vagina & cervix
ascend to uterus
endometritis & embryo loss

What is the role of bulls in C. fetus subsp. venerealis infection?

Asymptomatic carriers

Older bulls (4+ y/o) that are asymptomatic carriers of C. fetus subsp. venerealis harbor the bacteria in deeper crypts of which part of its body?

Preputial epithelium

What immune response helps clear C. fetus subsp. venerealis infection in cows?

Humoral immunity
* local IgA
* systemic IgG

How long does it take for cows to clear C. fetus subsp. venerealis naturally?

3 – 6 months

How is C. fetus subsp. fetus transmitted?

Ingestion (oral)

What does C. fetus subsp. fetus infection do to cattle?

sporadic abortion

What does C. fetus subsp. fetus infection do to sheep?

abortion storms (multiple abortions)

What other conditions can C. fetus subsp. fetus cause? (2)

* metritis * fetal liver necrosis

What is a characteristic histopathologic finding in C. fetus subsp. fetus infections?

Necrotic foci in fetal liver

What are typical lesions in C. fetus subsp. fetus associated abortion? (2)

* necrotic foci in fetal liver * placentitis w/ thickened & edematous cotyledons

Is abortion caused by Campylobacter usually accompanied by systemic illness in the dam, Yes or No?

No dams are often clinically normal apart from abortion or infertility

Can Campylobacter be vertically transmitted, Yes or No?

Yes C. fetus subsp. fetus can infect fetus via hematogenous spread in dam

What is the typical outcome of ovine abortion due to Campylobacter? (2)

* late-term abortion * stillbirth or weak lambs

Which Campylobacter sp. causes the following diseases? * primarily enteric * diarrhea and enterocolitis * occasional abortion in sheep * mastitis in cattle

Campylobacter jejuni

What is a key immune component against C. jejuni?

Intestinal IgA and systemic IgM/IgG

How is Campylobacter controlled in cattle herds? (5)

1.) AI w/ antibiotic-treated semen 2.) culling of infected bulls 3.) preputial washing 4.) vaccination w/ bacterins esp. cows (C. fetus subsp. venerealis) 5.) good biosecurity

How is Campylobacter treated?

1.) penicillin 2.) streptomycin - most commonly used 3.) tetracyclines (prophylaxis) 4.) uterine/preputial irrigation 5.) preputial infusion (bulls)

What is the zoonotic significance of or public health risk associated with Campylobacter spp.? (2)

* C. jejuni - foodborne gastroenteritis in humans (from poultry, milk, water) * C. fetus - infect immunocompromised people * C. fetus subsp. fetus - bacteremia, septicemia, meningitis, abortion

Which Campylobacter species is most associated with avian infections? It is a normal commensal of poultry intestines, but significant for public health.

Campylobacter jejuni

Diseases caused by C. jejuni? (5)

1.) diarrhea 2.) enterocolitis 3.) occasional abortion 4.) mastitis 5.) avian infectious hepatitis.