Campylobacteriosis

Campylobacter jejuni bacteria,
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Image provider: Janice Carr CDC

Campylobacteriosis, also called Campylobacter enteritis, is a bacterial infection caused by Campylobacter organism. It is most often dignosed in young animals and is potentially transmissible to people.

Campylobacter are mainly spiral-shaped, S-shaped or curved, rod-shaped bacteria. Currently, there are 17 species and 6 subspecies assigned to the genus Campylobacter, of which the most frequently reported in human and animal diseases are C. jejuni and C. coli.

Campylobacter organisms commonly are found as normal bacteria of gastrointestinal tracts in dogs and cats, rodents, and many other animals. Campylobacter acquisition by animals occurs early in life and may lead to disease and death, but most animals become lifelong carriers. ²

Signs of infection include diarrhea (with or without blood), loss of appetite, vomiting, and fever. Diarrhea may last for 5 to 15 days and is sometimes bile-stained. Occasionally, chronic diarrhea lasting for months may occur. ³

Treatment with antibiotics is usually effective and is recommended in invasive cases when bacteria invade the intestinal mucosa cells and damage the tissues. But antimicrobial administration is not routinely advocated in uncomplicated cases and supportive therapy is recommended. Basic practices of isolation, use of appropriate protective equipment, and proper cleaning and disinfection are the mainstays of control.⁴

Although people can acquire campylobacteriosis from their infected pet dogs and cats, Campylobacter infections are really associated with food poisoning. In the food supply, Campylobacter infections are caused via consumption of infected poultry, unpasteurized milk, and untreated water. Campylobacter is a leading cause of bacterial diarrheal disease worldwide; in the United States, it is estimated to affect 2.4 million people every year. Campylobacteriosis is a common cause of travelers’ diarrhea. The percentage of bacterial travelers’ diarrhea caused by Campylobacter ranges from 1%–2% in Mexico to 28% in Thailand. The infectious dose is thought to be small, typically fewer than 500 organisms. ⁶

References

1. Richard W. Nelson, C. Guillermo Couto. Small Animal Internal Medicine.
2. Campylobacteriosis
3. Campylobacter: molecular and cellular biology
4. Campylobacter
5. Enteropathogenic bacteria in dogs and cats: diagnosis, epidemiology, treatment, and control. Marks SL, Rankin SC, Byrne BA, Weese JS.
6. Campylobacter Enteritis. Melissa Viray, Michael Lynch

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