Free Access
Issue
Vet. Res.
Volume 36, Number 3, May-June 2005
Emerging or re-emerging bacterial zoonoses
Page(s) 351 - 382
DOI https://doi.org/10.1051/vetres:2005012
How to cite this article Vet. Res. (2005) 351-382
Vet. Res. 36 (2005) 351-382
DOI: 10.1051/vetres:2005012

Campylobacter

John E. Moorea, Deborah Corcoranb, James S.G. Dooleyc, Séamus Fanningd, Brigid Luceye, Motoo Matsudaf, David A. McDowellg, Francis Mégraudh, B. Cherie Millara, Rebecca O'Mahonyd, Lisa O'Riordana, Michele O'Rourked, Juluri R. Raoi, Paul J. Rooneya, Andrew Sailsj and Paul Whyted

a  Northern Ireland Public Health Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast BT9 7AD, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
b  Molecular Diagnostics Unit, Cork Institute of Technology, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland
c  School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
d  Centre for Food Safety, Faculties of Agriculture, Medicine & Veterinary Medicine, University College, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
e  Department of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Ireland
f  Laboratory of Molecular Biology, School of Environmental Health Sciences, Azabu University, Sagamihara, 229-8501, Japan
g  Department of Food Studies, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
h  Laboratoire de Bactériologie, CHU Pellegrin, Place Amélie Raba-Léon, 33076 Bordeaux, France
i  Department of Applied Plant Science, Queen's University, The Agriculture and Food Science Centre, Newforge Lane, Belfast, BT9 5PX, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
j  Health Protection Agency, Institute of Pathology, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon tyne NE4 6BE, United Kingdom

(Received 6 December 2004; accepted 1 February 2005)

Abstract - Species within the genus, Campylobacter, have emerged over the last three decades as significant clinical pathogens, particularly of human public health concern, where the majority of acute bacterial enteritis in the Western world is due to these organisms. Of particular concern are the species, C. jejuni and C. coli, which are responsible for most of these gastrointestinal-related infections. Although these organisms have already emerged as causative agents of zoonoses, several aspects of their epidemiology and pathophysiology are only beginning to emerge. Trends in increasing antibiotic resistance are beginning to emerge with oral antibiotics, which may be the drug of choice for when it is necessary to intervene chemotherapeutically. This review wishes to examine (i) emerging clinical aspects of the disease, such as Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS), (ii) the association between these organisms and poultry as a natural host, (iii) environmental aspects of Campylobacter epidemiology, (iv) the emergence of atypical campylobacters (v) emerging trends in antibiotic resistance, (vi) adoption of modern methods for the detection of campylobacters.


Key words: epidemiology / poultry / PCR / zoonosis / antibiotic resistance

Corresponding author: John E. Moore jemoore@niphl.dnet.co.uk

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2005