Genus Campylobacter

Question 1

Classification

Answer 1

Family: campylobacteriaceae
Genus: campylobacter

11 species

Most important ones:

• Campylobacter jejuni
• Campylobacter Coli
• campylobacter fetus

Reservoire: intestinal tract of poultry

Transmission: faecal-oral route

Question 2

Morphology

Answer 2

Gram negative rods

Comma, spiral or “Gull-winged” appearance

Motile —> single polar flagellum

Question 3

Growth characteristics

Answer 3

Microaerophilic: grows best in the presence of 5% O2 + 10% CO2

Thermophilic:
Grows well at 42oC (expect C.fetus)

Oxidase & catalase positive

Do not ferment carbohydrate

Question 4

Antigenic structure

Answer 4

O antigens

Heat-labile Capsular antigens

Flagella antigens

Question 5

Virulence factors

Answer 5

Endotoxin
Motility
Invasiveness:

Cause septicemia/bacteremia

Question 6

Disease

Answer 6

Enterocolitis - bloody diarrhea

Guillain-Barré syndrome = ascending paralysis
»> demyelination of peripheral nerves (from lower limbs to head)

Reactive arthritis = “rider’s syndrome”

Bacteremia: due to invasiveness

Question 7

Laboratory diagnosis

Answer 7

Microscopy: Gram-stained smear

Culture: in special agar (e.g. Skirrow’s agar) at 42oC in high-CO2, low O2 atmosphere

Serologic tests not useful

Question 8

Treatment and prevention

Answer 8

Treatment:

• usually symptomatic treatment only
• erythromycin for severe disease

Prevention:

• public health measures (e.g. sewage disposal, chlorination of water supply, hand washing prior to food handling)
• no prevention vaccine or drug is available