Campylobacter

• formerly grouped with vibrios (campylo

= curved)

• species reservoir human disease

• C. jejuni birds,animals diarrhea

• C. fetus cattle, sheep septicemia
• C. coli pigs diarrhea
 Campylobacter jejuni
• wide spread, common human pathogen (at
least as Salmonella or Shigella) – warm
season
• in animals  enteritis, abortion, sepsis
• characteristics:
• g- rod „gull wing“ shape, motile with single
polar phlagellum, non-spore forming
• oxidase and catalase positive
• does not ferment carbohydrates
 Campylobacter jejuni
• pathogenesis:
• p.o., multiplication – small intestine
epithelium, inflamation, diarrhea (even
bloody)
• endotoxic activity, enterotoxins -
significance
• clinical symptoms:
• abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, limited
 Campylobacter jejuni
• Laboratory dg.:
• a/ microscopy – g- „gull wing“ shaped rods
• dark field – motility
• b/ cultivation –
• C. jejuni - selective media with charcole
(remove toxic oxigen radicals) and ATB
(growth of other feces bacteria supressed)
• microaerophylic athmosphere - reduced O2,
added CO2, +42oC - 43oC  typical bacterial
colonies (watery) - colorless or gray
 Campylobacter jejuni
• Dif. Dg. Campylobacter fetus - lower
temperature, microaerophylic athmosphere,
Identification: biochemical tests

• Therapy of Campylobacter infections:

• Erythromycin, tetracyclins, clindamycin

• Prevention: proper food preparation,

consumption of pasteurized milk,
prevention of water contamination
 Helicobacter pylori
• 1982 – spiral-shaped g- bacilli associated
with gastritis, peptic ulcer, carcinoma
(formerly – Campylobacter pylori)
• investigators (Marshall) - Nobel prize 2005!
• Characteristics:
• g- bacillus, polar flagella
• microaerophilic conditions (~ C. jejuni)
• supplemented media, growth 3 – 6 days,
+37oC
• oxidase and catalase positive, motile
• strong production of urease
 Helicobacter pylori
• pathogenesis:
• Helicobacter pylori found in deep mucous
layer near epithelial surface (neutral pH),
production of protease  modifies the
mucous acid diffusion, cellular reaction
• strong urease activity –
• person-to-person transmission
• ingestion  gastritis, hypochlorhydria
• strong association between Helicobacter
infection and gastric ulcer
• clinical findings – gastritis, peptic ulcer
 Helicobacter pylori - Laboratory dg.
Specimens:
• gastric biopsy (gastroscopy)
• Blood for serum antibodies

• Microscopy: g- spiral bacilli

• Cultivation: transparent flat colonies  1 – 2 mm
• Serology examination: Elisa, IgM in acute
infection, IgG, IgA persist – high titer in chronically
infected
• Urease testing: direct from the patient
• labeled urea ingestedif H. pylori present 
labeled CO2 from patient´s breath
• Medium containing urea
 Helicobacter pylori
• Therapy:
• ATB combined with bismuth; metronidazole,
amoxicillin, (tetracyclin), bismuth
• Eradication of H. pylori in up to 95% of
patients

• Epidemiology:
• 40 – 60 (80) % prevalence in persons older
than 60 years, also asymptomatic