Bovine and Pig Carcasses as a Source of Campylobacter in Poland: A Reservoir for Antimicrobial-Resistant Campylobacter coli.

Campylobacter is one of the most common causes of foodborne bacterial infections worldwide. Why poultry has been shown to be one of the most significant sources of these bacteria, ruminants, especially cattle, are also responsible for a high number of human Campylobacter jejuni, and to a lesser extent Campylobacter coli, infections. In this study, bovine and pig carcasses in Poland were investigated for the presence of Campylobacter and for their antimicrobial resistance. A total of 204 swabs from bovine carcasses and 355 swab samples from pig carcasses were tested during 2014-2018. Campylobacter was identified in 129 (36.3%) of the pig and in 11 (5.4%) of the bovine carcasses, respectively. The pig isolates were classified as C. coli (121; 34.1%) or C. jejuni (8; 2.3%), whereas the bovine Campylobacter were identified either as C. jejuni (8; 3.9% isolates) or C. coli (3; 1.5% strains). Resistance of the isolates (n = 140) to erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, streptomycin, and tetracycline revealed that the vast majority of C. coli was resistant to streptomycin (106 isolates; 85.5%), tetracycline (97; 78.2%), nalidixic acid (90; 72.6%), and ciprofloxacin (88; 71.0%). Among C. jejuni isolates (n = 16) the resistance rates to all antibiotics were lower than in C. coli, irrespective of the origin. A total of 74 of 121 (61.2%) C. coli isolates from the pig carcasses and one of three such isolates from the bovine samples were multiresistant. Most of the C. coli (64 isolates; 85.3%) had the ciprofloxacin+nalidixic acid+streptomycin+tetracycline resistance profile. The results suggest that pig and bovine carcasses may be an underestimated reservoir of Campylobacter, especially for C. coli in pigs. The high antimicrobial resistance rates of such strains to streptomycin, quinolones, and tetracyclines highlight the need for monitoring of these bacteria in such food and food products.

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli autotransporter genes exhibit lineage-associated distribution and decay.

BACKGROUND: Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are major global causes of bacterial gastroenteritis. Whilst several individual colonisation and virulence factors have been identified, our understanding of their role in the transmission, pathogenesis and ecology of Campylobacter has been hampered by the genotypic and phenotypic diversity within C. jejuni and C. coli. Autotransporter proteins are a family of outer membrane or secreted proteins in Gram-negative bacteria such as Campylobacter, which are associated with virulence functions. In this study we have examined the distribution and predicted functionality of the previously described capC and the newly identified, related capD autotransporter gene families in Campylobacter. RESULTS: Two capC-like autotransporter families, designated capC and capD, were identified by homology searches of genomes of the genus Campylobacter. Each family contained four distinct orthologs of CapC and CapD. The distribution of these autotransporter genes was determined in 5829 C. jejuni and 1347 C. coli genomes. Autotransporter genes were found as intact, complete copies and inactive formats due to premature stop codons and frameshift mutations. Presence of inactive and intact autotransporter genes was associated with C. jejuni and C. coli multi-locus sequence types, but for capC, inactivation was independent from the length of homopolymeric tracts in the region upstream of the capC gene. Inactivation of capC or capD genes appears to represent lineage-specific gene decay of autotransporter genes. Intact capC genes were predominantly associated with the C. jejuni ST-45 and C. coli ST-828 generalist lineages. The capD3 gene was only found in the environmental C. coli Clade 3 lineage. These combined data support a scenario of inter-lineage and interspecies exchange of capC and subsets of capD autotransporters. CONCLUSIONS: In this study we have identified two novel, related autotransporter gene families in the genus Campylobacter, which are not uniformly present and exhibit lineage-specific associations and gene decay. The distribution and decay of the capC and capD genes exemplifies the erosion of species barriers between certain lineages of C. jejuni and C. coli, probably arising through co-habitation. This may have implications for the phenotypic variability of these two pathogens and provide opportunity for new, hybrid genotypes to emerge.

Campylobacter coli Clade 3 Isolates Induce Rapid Cell Death In Vitro.

Campylobacter bacteria are major human enteropathogens. Campylobacter coli shows less genetic diversity than C. jejuni and clusters into three clades, of which clade 1 includes most human and farm animal isolates, while environmental C. coli isolates mainly belong to clades 2 and 3. Recently, we sequenced the whole genomes of eight C. coli clade 2 and 3 isolates cultivated from water, and here we studied their interaction with human HT-29 colon cancer cells compared to that of clinical clade 1 isolates. All C. coli clade 3 isolates already caused cell necrosis 1 to 2 h after inoculation, whereas none of the clade 1 and 2 isolates analyzed induced cell death. Isolates from clades 2 and 3 adhered to epithelial cells better than clade 1 isolates, but all isolates induced similar levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8). Alignment and phylogenetic analysis of the translated putative virulence genes cadF, flpA, iamA, ciaB, and ceuE revealed clade-specific protein sequence variations, with clade 1 and 2 sequences being more closely related and clade 3 sequences being further apart, in general. Moreover, when RNA levels were measured, clade 3 isolates showed significantly lower levels of expression of cadF, iamA, and ceuE than clade 2 isolates, while flpA expression levels were higher in clade 3 isolates. The cytolethal distending toxin genes were also expressed in clades 2 and 3, although there was no difference between clades. Our findings demonstrate differences between the effects of C. coli clade 1, 2, and 3 isolates on human cells and suggest that C. coli clade 3 might be more virulent than clade 2 due to the observed cytotoxicity.IMPORTANCECampylobacter coli is a common zoonotic cause of gastroenteritis in humans worldwide. The majority of infections are caused by C. coli clade 1 isolates, whereas infections due to clade 2 and 3 isolates are rare. Whether this depends on a low prevalence of clade 2 and 3 isolates in reservoirs important for human infections or their lower ability to cause human disease is unknown. Here, we studied the effects of C. coli clade 2 and 3 isolates on a human cell line. These isolates adhered to human cells to a higher degree than clinical clade 1 isolates. Furthermore, we could show that C. coli clade 3 isolates rapidly induced cell death, suggesting differences in the virulence of C. coli The exact mechanism of cell death remains to be revealed, but selected genes showed interesting clade-specific expression patterns.

Clinical impact of the type VI secretion system on virulence of Campylobacter species during infection.

BACKGROUND: The clinical course of Campylobacter infection varies in symptoms and severity depending on host factors, virulence of the pathogen and initiated therapy. The type VI secretion system (T6SS) has been identified as a novel virulence factor, which mediates contact-dependent injection of enzymes and toxins into competing bacteria or host cells and facilitates the colonisation of a host organism. We aimed to compare the clinical course of Campylobacter infection caused by strains with and without the T6SS and identify possible associations between this putative virulence factor and the clinical manifestations of disease. METHODS: From April 2015 to January 2017, patients with detection of Campylobacter spp. were identified at the University Hospital of Basel and the University Children's Hospital of Basel and included in this case-control study. Presence of the T6SS gene cluster was assayed by PCR targeting the hcp gene, confirmed with whole genome sequencing. Pertinent clinical data was collected by medical record review. Differences in disease- and host-characteristics between T6SS-positive (case) and -negative (control) were compared in a uni- and multi-variable analysis. Hospital admission, antibiotic therapy, admission to intensive care unit, development of bacteraemia and in-hospital mortality were considered as clinical endpoints. RESULTS: We identified 138 cases of Campylobacter jejuni infections and 18 cases of Campylobacter coli infections from a paediatric and adult population. Analyses were focused on adult patients with C. jejuni (n = 119) of which 16.8% were T6SS-positive. Comparisons between T6SS-positive and -negative C. jejuni isolates did not reveal significant differences regarding clinical manifestations or course of disease. All clinical endpoints showed a similar distribution in both groups. A higher score in the Charlson Comorbidity Index was associated with T6SS-positive C. jejuni isolates (p < 0.001) and patients were more likely to have a solid organ transplant and to be under immunosuppressive therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our study does not provide evidence that T6SS is associated with a more severe clinical course. Interestingly, T6SS-positive isolates are more commonly found in immunocompromised patients: an observation which merits further investigation.

Detection of virulence genes determining the ability to adhere and invade in Campylobacter spp. from cattle and swine in Poland.

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of virulence genes responsible for the adhesion (flaA, cadF and racR) and invasion (virB11, iam and pldA) in Campylobacter isolates from cattle and swine and determine their adherence and invasion abilities. The studies conducted revealed high prevalence rate of adherence and invasion associated genes irrespective of the isolates origin. All Campylobacter strains of swine and cattle origin adhered to HeLa cells at mean level 0.1099% ±â€¯SD 0.1341% and 0.0845% ±â€¯SD 0.1304% of starting viable inoculum, respectively. However swine isolates exhibited higher invasion abilities (0.0012% ±â€¯SD 0.0011%) compared to bovine isolates (0.00038% ±â€¯SD 0.00055%). The results obtained revealed significantly positive correlation between invasion and adherence abilities of swine origin isolates (R = 0.4867 in regard to C. jejuni and R = 0.4507 in regard to C. coli) and bovine origin isolates (R = 0.726 in regard to C. jejuni). Bacterial virulence is multifactorial and it is affected by the expression of virulence genes. Moreover the presence of virulence genes determines the ability of Campylobacter isolates to adhere and invade the cells.

Characterization of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli Broiler Isolates by Whole-Genome Sequencing.

Campylobacter has been the most commonly reported cause of bacterial diarrheal disease in humans in the European Union since 2005. Most broiler batches at slaughter are colonized with Campylobacter, and the major source of infection is contaminated poultry meat. The aim of this study was to characterize a selection of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolates from broilers through whole-genome sequencing (WGS). A total of 16 isolates (C. jejuni = 12 and C. coli = 4) from five broiler farms from Catalonia (northeastern Spain) were analyzed. A phylogenetic analysis based on 8420 single-nucleotide polymorphisms showed two main cluster grouping strains by species. Phenotypic resistances to quinolones (100%), tetracycline (81%), streptomycin (75%), erythromycin (56%), and gentamicin (13%) were found. All the isolates carried the C257T point mutation in the subunit A of the DNA gyrase gene (Thr86Ile) conferring resistance to quinolones, while all the isolates showing resistance to tetracycline carried the tet(O) gene. The genes aph(3')-III and aadE conferring resistance to aminoglycosides were identified in the two isolates (one C. jejuni and one C. coli) resistant to streptomycin and gentamicin. The point mutation A2075G on the 23S rDNA conferring high resistance to macrolides was detected in three C. coli isolates. The CmeABC multidrug efflux pump was also detected, both in C. jejuni and C. coli isolates. All C. jejuni and C. coli isolates were positive for most of the 34 virulence-associated genes studied related to motility, chemotaxis, adhesion, and invasion. Interestingly, the wlaN gene involved in the Guillain-Barré syndrome was found in two isolates. The results underline the power of WGS for investigation of virulence, clonality, and antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter.

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated from children and environmental sources in urban and suburban areas.

BACKGROUND: Campylobacteriosis is a dominant bacterial cause of foodborne infection and is considered the main public health problem in Europe and many other countries worldwide. In the study lasting from 2011 to 2013 we compared the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated from children, domestic animals, poultry meat and surface water in Northern Poland. RESULTS: During a 3-years study 1973 samples were analysed. The results proved the presence of Campylobacter spp. in 306 (15.5%) samples. The percentage of Campylobacter-positive samples differed among the sample types, from 0% (freshwater beaches) to 38.6% (poultry meat in 2011). Prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in children isolates was 9.6%. It decreased from 13.2% in 2011 to 8.0% in 2013. It should be highlighted with a particular concern that Campylobacter jejuni was detected in 20.0% of fountains. All children and poultry meat isolates were susceptible to azithromycin. Two C. coli (3.7%) and four C. jejuni (3.3%) isolated from poultry meat were resistant to erythromycin. The highest percentage of C. jejuni isolates with resistance to ciprofloxacin were found in samples from 80% dogs and 85% ponds. Among isolates resistant to two antimicrobials 74.7% C. jejuni and 59.2% C. coli isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin as well as to tetracycline. Only one cat C. coli isolate was resistant to both azithromycin and erythromycin. One C. jejuni isolate from a fountain was resistant to four antimicrobial agents (erythromycin, azithromycin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin). CONCLUSIONS: The study proved that surface water, poultry meat and pets constituted potential sources of Campylobacter to children. Fountains can be a direct source of children campylobacteriosis but can also pollute other environments with multidrug-resistant Campylobacter. The high resistance to some antimicrobials among the isolates may lead to increasing numbers of difficult-to-treat campylobacteriosis cases among children.

Infection with multidrug-resistant Campylobacter coli mimicking recurrence of carcinoid syndrome: a case report of a neuroendocrine tumor patient with repeated diarrhea.

BACKGROUND: Campylobacteriosis caused by Gram-negative bacteria of the genus Campylobacter (mainly C. jejuni and C. coli) is one of the most common gastrointestinal zoonotic infections with increased incidence in humans worldwide. The typical symptoms are severe abdominal cramps, diarrhea and sometimes fever. The clinical course of Campylobacter infection is mainly mild and after one week self-limiting, but can take several weeks in some rare cases. However, patients with neuroendocrine tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, a neoplasm of enterochromaffin/neuroendocrine cell origin, can develop severe diarrhea during progression of tumor growth caused by hormonal excess due to the tumor. Both diseases have very similar clinical symptoms and this case report elaborates the differences. So far it is known in the literature that the clinical symptoms of campylobacteriosis can mimic appendicitis or acute colitis of inflammatory bowel disease but a mimicking of recurrence of carcinoid syndrome in a patient with neuroendocrine tumor is not reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 72-year-old man with already diagnosed and treated metastatic neuroendocrine tumor of the terminal ileum (G1 rated, Ki-67 index 1 %) was again suffering from increasing diarrhea, abdominal cramps and weight lost. These symptoms were similar to the initial symptoms due to the tumor which improved at the time after total resection of the primary in the terminal ileum and regular therapy with long-acting release depot octreotide intramuscularly. As progression/tachyphylaxis in symptomatic patients with carcinoid syndrome undergoing therapy, reassessment of disease and analysis of tumor markers was initiated, and the interval of intramuscular injections was shortened. Radiological findings and tumor marker levels disclosed no evidence of neuroendocrine tumor progression and the symptoms continued. After 4 weeks with symptoms the patient developed additionally fever. Due to impaired renal function and elevated signs of systemic inflammation fluid replacement and empiric antimicrobial therapy were started. At this time-point the first stool cultures were taken which disclosed an infection with C. coli. The empiric antimicrobial therapy was stopped after five days because of multidrug-resistant isolated strain. During the ongoing symptomatic therapy the patient becomes gradually symptom-free 6 weeks later, resulting a total duration of symptoms caused by campylobacteriosis of 13 weeks. CONCLUSION: This case of infection with C. coli mimicking recurrence of carcinoid syndrome suggests that assessment for bacterial gastrointestinal infections should be taken into account also in patients with neuroendocrine tumors who present worsening of their symptoms in spite of initially successful management. The duration of symptoms caused by campylobacteriosis were significantly extended which might be due to gastroenteric dysfunctions/mucosal changes caused by the carcinoid syndrome in this patient.

Prevalence, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in white stork Ciconia ciconia in Poland.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of white stork Ciconia ciconia as a potential reservoir of Campylobacter spp. Antimicrobial resistance and the presence of putative virulence genes of the isolates were also examined. A total of 398 white stork chicks sampled in Western Poland in habitats with high density of breeding were examined. Rectal swabs were collected during breeding season 2009-2012 from storks developing in a relatively pure environment (Odra meadows), in polluted areas (a copper mining-smelting complex), and in suburbs. Of the anal swabs collected, 7.6% were positive for Campylobacter among chicks (5.3% samples positive for C. jejuni and 2.3% samples positive for C. coli). Samples from polluted areas had the highest prevalence of Campylobacter (12.2%). The prevalence of resistance among C. jejuni and C. coli isolates from young storks was as follows: to ciprofloxacin (52.4%, 44.4%), and to tetracycline (19%, 77.8%). All of the analyzed isolates were susceptible to macrolides. The resistance to both classes of antibiotics was found in the 23.3% of Campylobacter spp. All Campylobacter spp. isolates had cadF gene and flaA gene responsible for adherence and motility. CdtB gene associated with toxin production was present in 88.9% of C. coli isolates and 57.1% of C. jejuni isolates. The iam marker was found more often in C. coli strains (55.6%) compared to C. jejuni isolates (42.9%). Our results confirm the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in the white stork in natural conditions and, because it lives in open farmlands with access to marshy wetlands, the environmental sources such as water reservoirs and soil-water can be contaminated from white stork feces and the pathogens can be widely disseminated. We can thus conclude that Campylobacter spp. may easily be transmitted to waterfowl, other birds, and humans via its environmental sources and/or by immediate contact.

Update on the burden of Campylobacter in developing countries.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Recent work has added to the understanding of the burden of Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, and non-jejuni/coli Campylobacter strains in children living in the developing world. RECENT FINDINGS: New diagnostic modalities and carefully designed field studies are demonstrating that the burden of Campylobacter diarrhea in children in the developing world has been greatly underestimated. Furthermore, there is emerging recognition of an association between Campylobacter infection and malnutrition. Important progress has been made toward a Campylobacter jejuni vaccine. Finally, evidence of antibiotic resistance continues to be an important issue that is accentuated by the realization that the burden of disease is greater than previously recognized. SUMMARY: Additional research is needed to refine our understanding of the epidemiology of Campylobacter infections in developing countries, in particular to improve estimates of the burden of Campylobacter diarrhea in endemic settings, to determine the impact of recurrent Campylobacter infections on child development, and to describe the prevalence and clinical significance of non-jejuni/coli Campylobacter infections. Progressive antibiotic resistance of isolates argues for augmented and expanded control measures of antibiotics in livestock. Continued work in vaccine development is warranted as is the extension of data available on the serotypes related to burden in different areas of the world and the relationship of serotypes to disease severity.

The effect of growth temperature on the pathogenicity of Campylobacter.

Control of Campylobacter in the food chain requires a better understanding of the behaviour of the bacteria in relevant environments. Campylobacter species are largely non-pathogenic in poultry, the body temperature of which is 42 °C. However, the bacteria are highly pathogenic in humans whose body temperature is 37 °C. The aim of this study was to examine if switching from commensal to pathogenic behaviour was related to temperature. We examined the growth, motility and invasion of T84 cells by three species of Campylobacter: C. jejuni 81116, C. jejuni M1, C. coli 1669, C. coli RM2228 and C. fetus fetus NC10842 grown at 37 and 42 °C. Our results suggest that C. jejuni isolates grow similarly at both temperatures but some are more motile at 42 °C and some are more invasive at 37 °C, which may account for its rapid spread in poultry flocks and for infection in humans, respectively. C. coli, which are infrequent causes of Campylobacter infections in humans, is less able to grow and move at 37 °C compared to 42 °C but was significantly more invasive at the lower temperature. C. fetus fetus, which is infrequently found in poultry, is less able to grow and invade at 42 °C.

Distribution of nine virulence-associated genes in Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli isolated from broiler feces in Shiraz, Southern Iran.

To investigate the prevalence of nine virulence and toxin genes of Campylobacter, a total of 90 Campylobacter strains including 48 C. jejuni and 42 C. coli were recovered from chicken feces by cultivation methods. The isolates were identified on the basis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of 16SrRNA and multiplex PCR for determining two species. For confirmed strains, PCR was carried out for the presence of virulence genes using specific primers. Data were analyzed by SPSS software, version 12.0.1. The cadF gene and three genes associated with cytolethal distending toxin were present in 100% of isolates. Plasmid virB11 gene was not found in any of the Campylobacter isolates, and the prevalence of pldA, wlaN, iamA, and cgtB genes were 92.22%, 82.22%, 81.11%, and 22.22%, respectively. The findings revealed that the distribution of the majority of these genes were not dissimilar among Campylobacter species. The results emphasized that many of the pathogenic C. jejuni and C. coli may have these genes, and the Campylobacter strains with poultry origin have pathogenic potential properties for humans.

[Basic research for the control of Campylobacter food poisoning].

Appropriate handling and controlled temperature prevent cross-contamination and proliferation of contaminants in foods, thereby reducing the incidences of food-borne gastroenteritis in Japan. However, the incidence of Campylobacter jejuni/coli infection did not markedly decrease and has become one of the major causes of food-borne diseases. C. jejuni and C. coli are widespread in warm-blooded domestic animals; therefore, food products may easily become contaminated during processing. C. jejuni and C. coli do not proliferate in foods, nor resistant to freezing, drying and oxidative stresses, and the number is greatly reduced under such conditions. These properties should be considered for risk management of Campylobacter in food processing and manufacturing.

[Simple and rapid detection methods for campylobacters].

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli have been leading cause of food poisoning in terms of both number of patients and cases in Japan. Therefore these bacteria are recognized as one of the most important food-borne pathogens. Since campylobacters are microaerobic, slow growing, biochemically unreactive, not only it takes some time but also there are several problems regarding isolation and identification of Campylobacter spp. We found that cytolethal distending toxin (cdt) genes are ubiquitously present in C. jejuni, C. coli and C. fetus in species-specific manner and species-specific multiplex PCRs have been developed on the basis of species-specificity of the cdt genes. In this review, applicability of the cdt gene-based multiplex PCRs as a simple and rapid diagnostic method for clinical and food samples in comparison to the conventional culture methods is described.

Identification of lactobacilli residing in chicken ceca with antagonism against Campylobacter.

Bacteriocins produced by Lactobacillus salivarius have been recently recognized as a natural means to control Campylobacter and Salmonella in live poultry. This finding is of relevance since Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the predominant species isolated from poultry that are associated with human campylobacteriosis. In the present work, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from the cecum of twenty Tunisian chickens were identified and those isolates with antagonism against Campylobacter were further characterized. Following their preliminary confirmation as LAB, 150 strains were identified by combining morphological criteria, biochemical tests, and molecular methods, the latter inluding intergenic 16S- 23S PCR, specific lactobacilli PCR, and a biphasic approach. Most of the LAB isolated belonged to the genus Lactobacillus, among them Lb. sakei (33.3%), Lb. salivarius (19.4%), Lb. reuteri (8.6%), and Lb. curvatus (8.6%). The other LAB strains included those of the genus Weissella (16.7%), Enterococcus faecalis (5.3%), Leuconostoc mesenteroides (2.7%), Lactococcus graviae (2.7%), and Streptococcus sp. (2.7%). The Lactobacilli strains were tested for their antagonism against C. jejuni and C. coli. The activity of three of them, Lb. salivarius SMXD51, Lb. salivarius MMS122, and Lb. salivarius MMS151, against the aforementioned target strains could be ascribed to the production of bacteriocins.

Occurrence of virulence genes among Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolates from domestic animals and children.

The presence of the flaA, cadF, cdtB and iam genes of Campylobacter spp. was determined with the PCR method. The materials to investigate were 56 C. jejuni and 23 C. coli strains isolated from clinical samples (children and domestic animals). It was found that all of the Campylobacter spp. isolates from children with diarrhoea and domestic animals had cadF gene, responsible for adherence. The flaA gene was present in all Campylobacter spp. isolates derived from children and cats. Occurrence of flaA gene was confirmed in 100% of C. jejuni strains obtained from dogs. The high prevalence of the cdtB gene associated with toxin production was observed in this study (100%-Campylobacter spp. isolates obtained from dogs and cats, 97.9%-Campylobacter spp. isolates from children). The isolates showed a wide variation for the presence of iam gene. The lowest prevalence (23.5%) was detected in Campylobacter spp. obtained from dogs. The highest rates of iam detection (91.6%) were revealed in C. coli isolates from children.

Genomic analysis of extra-intestinal Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated from commercial chickens.

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli have commonly been considered harmless commensal inhabitants of the chicken gut; however, these Campylobacter spp. are known to be able to multiply in the gut and invade other tissues, negatively affecting host health and performance. In this study, fourteen Campylobacter spp. were isolated from chickens showing foci of necrosis on the liver surface resembling lesions observed in cases of avian vibrionic hepatitis/spotty liver disease. The whole genome sequences of the fourteen isolates were analysed and their virulomes compared to those of Campylobacter reference sequences, aiming to investigate the possible association between virulence genes and the observed pathological lesions. Nine C. jejuni and five C. coli were studied. These Campylobacter shared twelve virulence factors with other isolates originated from chicken livers and hosted a higher number of virulence-associated genes in comparison to the reference genomes, including genes encoding for factors involved in adherence to and invasion of the intestinal epithelial cells. Our findings seem to point out that these twelve common virulence-associated genes, together with the presence of a high number of virulence factors involved in adherence, invasion and motility, might be responsible for the extra-intestinal spread of our isolates and the colonization of parenchymatous tissues, possibly causing the pathological lesions observed.

Staphylococcus aureus enhances biofilm formation, aerotolerance, and survival of Campylobacter strains isolated from retail meats.

In retail meat products, Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus have been reported in high prevalence. The polymicrobial interaction between Campylobacter and other bacteria could enhance Campylobacter survival during the adverse conditions encountered during retail meat processing and storage. This study was designed to investigate the potential role of S. aureus from retail meats in enhancing the survival of Campylobacter exposed to low temperature, aerobic conditions, and biofilm formation. Results indicated that viable S. aureus cells and filter-sterilized cell-free media obtained from S. aureus prolonged the survival of Campylobacter at low temperature and during aerobic conditions. Biofilm formation of Campylobacter strains was significantly enhanced in the presence of viable S. aureus cells, but the results were inconclusive when extracts from cell-free media were used. In conclusion, the presence of S. aureus cells enhances survivability of Campylobacter strains in adverse conditions such as low temperature and aerobic conditions. Further investigations are warranted to understand the interaction between Campylobacter and S. aureus, and effective intervention strategies are needed to reduce the incidence of both foodborne pathogens in retail meat products.

An 11-Year-old Male With X-linked Agammaglobulinemia and Persistent Abdominal Pain.

Metagenomic next-generation sequencing is a promising tool for detecting pathogens that are difficult to isolate by traditional modalities, particularly in the diagnosis of complex infections in immunocompromised children. We describe a child with X-linked agammaglobulinemia and chronic abdominal pain diagnosed with a multiorganism infection (Helicobacter cinaedi, Campylobacter coli and Parainfluenza) identified by various diagnostic tools, including plasma metagenomic next-generation sequencing.

Adherence, invasion, toxigenic, and chemotactic properties of Mexican campylobacter strains.

To determine the virulence factors of Mexican wild-type strains of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli, 31 wild-type strains were isolated from food and from humans. The production of cytolethal distending toxin and the adherence and invasion capabilities of these strains were assayed in Vero cells. Hard agar plugs with repellents and attractants were used to examine chemotaxis. Mueller-Hinton agar with supplements was used for motility analysis and to measure hemolytic activity. Nine strains of C. jejuni and eight strains of C. coli exhibited motility, most within a diameter of 2 to 13 mm. Most of the strains reacted to the repellent compounds analyzed, and α- and ß-like hemolysis and cytotoxicity in Vero cells were observed for all strains. Isolates adhered to and invaded Vero cells to various degrees. Although strains of C. jejuni exhibited stronger adherence but less invasion compared with strains of C. coli, the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). The strains of C. jejuni and C. coli isolated from food and from patients in Mexico could have major impacts on public health.