| MicrobeID.com |
| The Bad Bug Book |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
1. Name of the Organism:
Campylobacter jejuni (formerly known as Campylobacter fetus subsp.
jejuni)
Campylobacter jejuni is a Gram-negative slender, curved, and motile rod.
It is a microaerophilic organism, which means it has a requirement for
reduced levels of oxygen. It is relatively fragile, and sensitive to
environmental stresses (e.g., 21% oxygen, drying, heating,
disinfectants, acidic conditions). Because of its microaerophilic
characteristics the organism requires 3 to 5% oxygen and 2 to 10%
carbon dioxide for optimal growth conditions. This bacterium is now
recognized as an important enteric pathogen. Before 1972, when
methods were developed for its isolation from feces, it was believed to
be primarily an animal pathogen causing abortion and enteritis in sheep
and cattle. Surveys have shown that C. jejuni is the leading cause of
bacterial diarrheal illness in the United States. It causes more disease
than Shigella spp. and Salmonella spp. combined.
Although C. jejuni is not carried by healthy individuals in the United
States or Europe, it is often isolated from healthy cattle, chickens, birds
and even flies. It is sometimes present in non-chlorinated water sources
such as streams and ponds.
Because the pathogenic mechanisms of C. jejuni are still being studied,
it is difficult to differentiate pathogenic from nonpathogenic strains.
However, it appears that many of the chicken isolates are pathogens.
2. Name of Disease:
Campylobacteriosis is the name of the illness caused by C. jejuni. It is
also often known as campylobacter enteritis or gastroenteritis.
Campylobacter jejuni (formerly known as Campylobacter fetus subsp.
jejuni)
Campylobacter jejuni is a Gram-negative slender, curved, and motile rod.
It is a microaerophilic organism, which means it has a requirement for
reduced levels of oxygen. It is relatively fragile, and sensitive to
environmental stresses (e.g., 21% oxygen, drying, heating,
disinfectants, acidic conditions). Because of its microaerophilic
characteristics the organism requires 3 to 5% oxygen and 2 to 10%
carbon dioxide for optimal growth conditions. This bacterium is now
recognized as an important enteric pathogen. Before 1972, when
methods were developed for its isolation from feces, it was believed to
be primarily an animal pathogen causing abortion and enteritis in sheep
and cattle. Surveys have shown that C. jejuni is the leading cause of
bacterial diarrheal illness in the United States. It causes more disease
than Shigella spp. and Salmonella spp. combined.
Although C. jejuni is not carried by healthy individuals in the United
States or Europe, it is often isolated from healthy cattle, chickens, birds
and even flies. It is sometimes present in non-chlorinated water sources
such as streams and ponds.
Because the pathogenic mechanisms of C. jejuni are still being studied,
it is difficult to differentiate pathogenic from nonpathogenic strains.
However, it appears that many of the chicken isolates are pathogens.
2. Name of Disease:
Campylobacteriosis is the name of the illness caused by C. jejuni. It is
also often known as campylobacter enteritis or gastroenteritis.
| The United States Food and Drug Administration's Bad Bug Book: Campylobacter jejuni |