Campylobacteriosis Comprehensive Veterinary and Public Health Study Guide

Complete 100-card vocabulary study set reviewing the epidemiology, clinical pathology, post-mortem signs, diagnostics, and prevention of campylobacteriosis based on CFSPH lecture material.

Family Campylobacteriaceae

The taxonomic bacterial family to which all Campylobacter organisms belong.

Campylobacter morphology

Gram-negative, microaerophilic, curved or spiral-shaped rods.

Microaerophilic

The physiological oxygen requirement characteristic of Campylobacter species, requiring reduced-oxygen conditions for persistence and growth.

Campylobacter jejuni

A major pathogen causing enteritis in humans and domestic animals, as well as late-term abortions and infertility in sheep.

Campylobacter coli

A Campylobacter species primarily associated with enteritis in domestic animals and humans via fecal–oral spread.

Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis

A bacterial subspecies causing bovine genital campylobacteriosis, characterized by venereal transmission, infertility, and abortion in cattle.

Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus

A bacterial subspecies causing infertility and abortion in sheep and cattle, and opportunistic septicemia in humans.

Campylobacter lari

A Campylobacter species that can cause disease but appears to be of minor clinical importance in domestic animals.

Campylobacter hyointestinalis

A Campylobacter species capable of causing disease that is considered of minor clinical importance in domestic animals.

Campylobacter upsaliensis

A minor veterinary Campylobacter species that can occasionally produce clinical disease in domestic animals.

Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni

The historical taxonomic name previously used to refer to Campylobacter jejuni.

Vibrio fetus var. intestinalis

An older, alternative taxonomic designation formerly used for Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus.

Proliferative ileitis of hamsters

An enteric disease condition in hamsters in which uncharacterized Campylobacter species may be pathogenically involved.

Porcine proliferative enteritis

A swine gastrointestinal condition that may involve uncharacterized Campylobacter species.

Proliferative colitis of ferrets

A lower gastrointestinal disorder of ferrets implicated as potentially involving uncharacterized Campylobacter species.

Avian hepatitis

A poultry condition in which Campylobacter has been implicated as an etiologic agent, though this association remains unproven.

Survival of C. jejuni at $4^\circ\text{C}$

Can persist for a few weeks to a few months under moist, reduced-oxygen conditions.

Survival of C. jejuni at room temperature

Survives for only a few days under ambient conditions.

Tolerance of Campylobacter to $-20^\circ\text{C}$

Sub-freezing condition that certain strains of Campylobacter are able to tolerate.

Survival of C. jejuni in feces

Can remain viable in fecal matter for up to $9$ days.

Survival of Campylobacter in milk

Maintains viability in milk for up to $3$ days.

Survival of Campylobacter in water

Persists and remains viable in water for $2\text{--}5$ days.

Survival in vaginal discharges

Remains viable on bedding or pasture under field conditions for several days.

Survival of C. fetus in liquid manure

Persists and remains infectious for $24$ hours.

Survival of C. fetus in soil

Can survive and persist in soil for up to $20$ days.

Theodor Escherich

German scientist who published articles in 1886 describing spiral bacteria in the colons of children dying of cholera infantum.

Cholera infantum

The clinical condition in which spiral bacteria were described in pediatric colons by Escherich in 1886.

1968 isolation milestone

The year Campylobacter was first isolated from human feces, proving critical to its recognition as a human enteric pathogen.

1970s milestone

The decade during which Campylobacter species became fully recognized by medical science as human pathogens.

Mid-1900s veterinary milestone

The historical era in which Campylobacter species were first isolated from animals suffering from abortion and sterility.

Annual U.S. C. jejuni incidence

Approximately $20$ reported cases per $100{,}000$ people each year.

Worldwide diarrheal share

The proportion of global diarrhea cases attributed to campylobacteriosis, estimated at $5\text{--}14\%$.

High-risk human populations

Very young children in developing nations, children and young adults in developed nations, and immunosuppressed persons.

Duration of human C. jejuni diarrhea

Typically self-limiting, resolving spontaneously within $7\text{--}10$ days.

Relapse rate of human campylobacteriosis

Occurs in approximately $10\text{--}25\%$ of infected human patients.

Case-fatality ratio of C. jejuni

Estimated at $1\text{ in }1{,}000$, with deaths primarily restricted to individuals with cancer or other debilitating illnesses.

Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS)

An acute, rapidly progressive polyneuropathy developing after approximately $1\text{ in }1{,}000$ diagnosed Campylobacter infections.

Guillain–Barré syndrome prognosis

Up to $5\%$ of affected patients may die, and $30\%$ or more suffer residual weakness or permanent neurological deficits.

Five leading foodborne pathogens in the U.S. (2011)

Norovirus, non-typhoidal Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter spp. ($845{,}024$ cases), and Staphylococcus aureus.

Feline intestinal carriage

The asymptomatic carriage rate of Campylobacter reported in domestic cats, ranging from $0\%$ to $45\%$.

Canine intestinal carriage

The asymptomatic carriage rate of Campylobacter reported in domestic dogs, ranging from $1.6\%$ to $75\%$.

High-risk small animal environments

Animal shelters, pet shops, research laboratory colonies, stray populations, and rural animals exposed to livestock.

Asymptomatic bovine carriage

Isolation of C. jejuni from the feces of $25\text{--}100\%$ of healthy, asymptomatic cattle.

Healthy ovine gallbladder carriage

The documented isolation rate of C. jejuni from the gallbladder of $11\%$ of healthy sheep.

Turkey ceca carriage rate

The proportion of commercial turkey cecal samples positive for Campylobacter, reported at $100\%$.

Droppings prevalence in chickens and ducks

Campylobacter isolated from $83\%$ of chicken droppings and $88\%$ of duck droppings.

Meat contamination rates

Campylobacter jejuni contamination reported in approximately $30\%$ of retail chicken meat and $5\%$ of red meat samples.

Wild bird reservoir prevalence

Isolation of Campylobacter spp. from $50\%$ of urban pigeons, $35\%$ of migratory birds, and $20\text{--}70\%$ of seagulls.

Highly pathogenic chick mortality

A mortality rate of up to $32\%$ observed in newly hatched chicks infected with virulent isolates.

Typical ovine abortion rate

A baseline abortion rate of $10\text{--}20\%$ observed in sheep flocks experiencing campylobacteriosis.

Naïve flock abortion rate

A severe epidemic abortion rate reaching $70\text{--}90\%$ following the introduction of Campylobacter into a naïve sheep flock.

Ovine post-abortion ewe mortality

Approximately $5\%$ mortality occurring in aborting ewes as a direct consequence of secondary metritis.

Fecal–oral transmission route

The principal route of spread for C. jejuni and C. coli via direct contact, contaminated food, water, or environmental fomites.

Ovine reproductive transmission route

Spread occurring through oral or direct exposure to vaginal discharges, aborted fetuses, and infected placenta from aborting ewes.

Dietary sources of human infection

Ingestion of undercooked poultry or red meat, unpasteurized raw milk, raw clams, contaminated foodstuffs, or unchlorinated water.

Mechanical vectors (Houseflies)

Insects that mechanically carry and transfer viable Campylobacter organisms between hosts or food sources.

Ingestion transmission of C. fetus subsp. fetus

Oral acquisition of infection in cattle, sheep, and goats following contact with feces, aborted fetuses, or vaginal fluids.

Bovine venereal transmission

Sexual transmission of C. fetus subsp. venerealis and C. fetus subsp. fetus via coitus or contaminated semen and breeding equipment.

Asymptomatic carrier bulls

Infected bulls that show no clinical signs of genital campylobacteriosis but persistently shed C. fetus during mating.

Chronic carrier state in cows

The prolonged carrier status in which cows infected with genital Campylobacter can harbor and shed the organism for years.

Human species distribution

Nearly all human campylobacteriosis is caused by C. jejuni, with other Campylobacter species accounting for approximately $1\%$.

Incubation period of C. jejuni gastroenteritis

An incubation interval ranging from $1\text{--}10$ days, most commonly presenting within $2\text{--}5$ days.

Clinical signs of human C. jejuni gastroenteritis

Watery or sticky diarrhea containing visible or occult blood, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, and myalgia.

Time course of acute human symptoms

Gastroenteritis signs that typically diminish within $2\text{--}3$ days, leading to complete spontaneous recovery in $7\text{--}10$ days.

Uncommon human complications

Sequelae occurring after C. jejuni gastroenteritis, including reactive arthritis, hemolytic uremic syndrome, and systemic septicemia.

Rare human extraintestinal complications

Meningitis, recurrent colitis, acute cholecystitis, massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage, mesenteric adenitis, and appendicitis.

Opportunistic profile of C. fetus in humans

Systemic bacterial infection predominantly attacking patients with debilitating pre-existing diseases such as cancer, diabetes, or cirrhosis.

Incubation period of human C. fetus infection

The interval between exposure and onset of systemic symptoms, usually lasting $3\text{--}5$ days.

Dominant clinical signs of human C. fetus infection

Fever as the only consistent symptom, frequently accompanied by abdominal pain, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly.

Vascular and invasive complications of human C. fetus

Subacute endocarditis, pericarditis, septic arthritis, thrombophlebitis, peritonitis, pneumonia, and meningoencephalitis.

Clinical presentation of canine campylobacteriosis

Watery or bile-streaked diarrhea containing mucus or blood, decreased appetite, vomiting, and occasional fever lasting $3\text{--}7$ days.

Clinical presentation of calf campylobacteriosis

Thick, mucoid diarrhea with occasional flecks of blood, with or without an accompanying fever.

Age-dependent poultry susceptibility

Newly hatched chicks and poults develop acute lethal enteritis, whereas poultry older than one week do not usually become ill.

Bovine genital campylobacteriosis

A venereal infection of cattle caused by C. fetus subsp. venerealis and C. fetus subsp. fetus, causing infertility and early embryonic death.

Mucopurulent endometritis

A localized uterine inflammatory discharge developed by cows infected with C. fetus, occurring in the absence of systemic signs.

Ovine reproductive campylobacteriosis

Late-term abortions, stillbirths, and weak lambs in sheep caused by C. fetus subsp. fetus or C. jejuni.

Persistent shedding in sheep

The phenomenon where ewes recover from abortion with protective immunity but continue shedding Campylobacter in their feces.

Canine post-mortem lesions

Pathological findings characterized primarily by a congested and edematous colon.

Calf post-mortem lesions

Gross post-mortem findings of mild to severe hemorrhagic colitis and enlarged, edematous mesenteric lymph nodes.

Chick post-mortem lesions

Gross lesions including jejunal distention, disseminated hemorrhagic enteritis, and focal hepatitis.

Aborted bovine fetal post-mortem lesions

Autopsy findings of bronchopneumonia, mild fibrinous pleuritis, or peritonitis.

Bovine placental post-mortem lesions

Mild placentitis with hemorrhagic cotyledons and an edematous intercotyledonary area.

Aborted ovine fetal post-mortem lesions

Autolyzed fetal tissues with characteristic $1\text{--}2\text{ cm}$ orange or yellow necrotic foci within the liver.

Ovine placental post-mortem lesions

Placentitis presenting with hemorrhagic necrotic cotyledons and edematous or leathery intercotyledonary zones.

Darting motility

The characteristic rapid motility observed on dark-field or phase-contrast microscopy used for presumptive diagnosis of Campylobacter.

Gram stain morphology

Microscopic appearance of Campylobacter as Gram-negative, curved, gull-wing, or spiral rods.

Isolation requirements for Campylobacter

The necessary use of selective media or filtration techniques due to the fragile nature of Campylobacter in clinical specimens.

Viable-but-non-culturable (VBNC) state

A dormancy survival state entered by Campylobacter in unfavorable environments, such as low pH or prolonged cold temperatures.

Molecular and phenotypic strain identification

Biochemical testing, antigen testing, and restriction endonuclease DNA analysis used to identify Campylobacter species and strains.

Danish broiler screening program

A national agricultural control system utilizing PCR-based assays to screen poultry broiler flocks for Campylobacter.

Cervical mucus IgA

Mucosal diagnostic antibodies persisting for several months in approximately $50\%$ of cows infected with genital campylobacteriosis.

Vaginal mucus agglutination test (VMAT)

A herd diagnostic assay where individual responses vary, necessitating sampling of at least $10$ cows or $10\%$ of the herd.

Bull sheath washing collection protocol

A diagnostic protocol requiring two collections spaced approximately one week apart for culture or immunofluorescent antibody testing.

Vaginal culture unreliability

Diagnostic culture limitation immediately following bovine abortion because C. fetus is fragile and present in very low numbers.

Limitations of systemic serology in cattle

Serum antibodies are not useful for genital campylobacteriosis because they frequently react to nonpathogenic Campylobacter species.

Supportive treatment in humans

Fluid and electrolyte replacement therapy, serving as the standard and primary treatment for human Campylobacter enteritis.

Role of antibiotics in human enteritis

Reserved for severe, systemic, or prolonged illness; unproven for mild cases, though they shorten the duration of bacterial shedding.

Metaphylaxis in ovine abortion outbreaks

Administration of antibiotics to pregnant ewes during an active outbreak to prevent exposed animals from aborting.

Bovine genital campylobacteriosis vaccination

Commercial bacterins utilized for prophylaxis and therapy in cattle; vaccinated cows may nevertheless remain chronic carriers.

Disinfection and thermal inactivation standards

Chemical inactivation via $1\%$ sodium hypochlorite, $70\%$ ethanol, or $2\%$ glutaraldehyde; thermal death at $121^\circ\text{C}$ for $\ge 15$ minutes (moist) or $160\text{--}170^\circ\text{C}$ for $\ge 1$ hour (dry).