Campylobacter infection in 4 patients treated with ibrutinib.

Ibrutinib is a Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor used in B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Patients with genetic BTK deficiency are susceptible to recurrent and severe Campylobacter infections. We report 4 patients treated with ibrutinib who developed chronic or extra-digestive campylobacteriosis resembling ibrutinib-related adverse events including diarrhea (n = 4), panniculitis (n = 2), and arthritis (n = 1). Microbiological explorations identified Campylobacter jejuni (n = 3) or Campylobacter coli (n = 1). All the patients completely recovered after a short course of oral antibiotic therapy. In patients treated with ibrutinib presenting with chronic diarrhea, dermatological, or rheumatological manifestations, campylobacteriosis should be ruled out before attributing the symptoms to ibrutinib and discuss its discontinuation.

Evaluation of effect of chilling steps during slaughtering on the Campylobacter sp. counts on broiler carcasses.

Campylobacter spp. play an increasing role as foodborne pathogens, with poultry representing the main vehicle of infection, and control measures at the slaughterhouse have been implemented in the last years. In this study, 2 trials were performed, evaluating the effect of the chilling phases currently applied in an industrial slaughterhouse on the Campylobacter sp. contamination of broiler carcasses. In the first trial, neck skin samples were taken from 13 flocks before and after the on-chain air chilling and submitted to analysis of Campylobacter sp. count; in the second trial, 63 carcasses or cuts stored in the chilling room for variable times, with or without skin, were submitted to analysis of Campylobacter sp. count. A selection of 75 isolates was identified by PCR. All carcass skin samples taken from the first trial showed Campylobacter sp. counts higher than 0.7 log cfu/g. A wide variability in the counts (about 3 logs) was detected, showing a high correlation between the counts obtained before and after chilling. A slight decrease (P = 0.011) was observed after chilling (mean difference of about 0.3 log cfu/g), also if variability was observed among the flocks; the number of samples with high Campylobacter sp. counts (≥3 log cfu/g) was reduced (P = 0.010). In the second trial, low counts were generally detected (almost all lower than 3 log cfu/g). An evident decreasing trend was observed during storage, but the survival rate of Campylobacter on the cuts with skin was higher. All the isolates were identified as Campylobacter jejuni (72%) or Campylobacter coli. The data obtained were compared with the threshold limit set by EC Regulation 2073/2005, evidencing the impact of the sampling point on the counts. Our results highlighted the importance of applying a hurdle strategy including on-chain chilling and strict respect of the cold chain, allowing the food business operator to fulfill the process hygiene criteria and avoiding the delivery of highly contaminated meats.

Recovery of thermophilic Campylobacter by three sampling methods from river sites in Northeast Georgia, USA, and their antimicrobial resistance genes.

Sixteen sites in the watershed of the South Fork of the Broad River (SFBR) in Northeastern Georgia, USA, were sampled in two seasons to detect Campylobacter. Sites were classified as mostly influenced by forest, pasture, wastewater pollution control plants (WPC) or mixed use. Sampling was repeated in the late spring and late fall for 2 years for a total of 126 samples. Free-catch water and sediment grab samples were taken at each site; Moore's swabs were placed for up to 3 days at most sites. A total of 56 isolates of thermophilic Campylobacter were recovered. Thirteen samplings were positive by two or three methods, and 26 samplings were positive by only one method; once by Moore's swab only and 25 times by free-catch water only. Campylobacter was detected at 58% of cattle pasture sites, 30% of forested sites and 81% of WPC sites. Twenty-one of the isolates carried antimicrobial resistance genes, mostly blaOXA-61. Free-catch water samples were more efficient than Moore's swabs or sediment samples for recovery of Campylobacter, which was more likely to be detected in streams near cattle pastures and human communities than in forested land. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The role of environmental water in transmitting Campylobacter was investigated, and methods for recovery of the organism were compared. The sequence types of recovered Campylobacter correlated with adjacent land use without regard to the method used to isolate the organisms. Sequence types and antimicrobial resistance genes associated with cattle were most prevalent near pastures. Even though types were recurrent at a given site, types appeared to be lost or replaced as the water flowed downstream.

Crecimiento in vitro y morfología inusual de Campylobacter aislada de un paciente con bacteriemia / In Vitro growth and unusual Campylobacter morphology isolated from a patient with bacteremia

Resumen Campylobacter sp. es una bacteria que se adapta a diferentes condiciones y permite un cambio en su forma y requerimientos metabólicos, dificultando su diagnóstico microbiológico. Presentamos el caso de un paciente oncológico de 65 años con bacteriemia por Campylobacter sp. Se desarrolló el cultivo de microbiología clásico en microaerofilia a 42 o C, cultivo aeróbico en agar sangre a 37 o C y hemocultivo aeróbico a 37 o C. Además, se realizó la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa para identificar el agente. La bacteria creció en todos los medios mostrando su termotolerancia y tolerancia a diferentes concentraciones de oxígeno, además de presentar una forma en espiral en el hemocultivo aeróbico. Finalmente, enfatizamos la flexibilidad fisiológica de la bacteria para adaptarse a diferentes condiciones y la importancia de la prueba molecular para identificar al agente, en especial en el crecimiento aeróbico en forma de espiral que pudiera confundirse con otras espiroquetas que causan episodios febriles.

Abstract Campylobacter sp. It is a bacterium that adapts to different conditions and allows a change in its form and metabolic requirements, making microbiological diagnosis difficult in such conditions. We present the case of a 65-year-old cancer patient with bacteremia caused by Campylobacter sp. The culture of classical microbiology was developed in microaerophilic at 42 o C, aerobic culture on blood agar at 37 o C and aerobic blood culture at 37 o C. In addition, the polymerase chain reaction was performed to identify the agent. The bacteria grew in all media showing its thermotolerance and tolerance to different concentrations of oxygen, in addition to presenting a spiral shape in the aerobic blood culture. Finally, we emphasize the physiological flexibility of the bacterium to adapt to different conditions and the importance of the molecular test to identify the agent especially in aerobic growth in spiral form, which could be confused with other spirochetes that cause febrile episodes.

Presence of Helicobacter and Campylobacter species in faecal samples from zoo mammals.

Helicobacter and Campylobacter species (spp.) colonize the gastrointestinal tract of various domesticated animals. Apart from their pathogenic significance in animals, several species are of zoonotic importance as well. For most non-domesticated animal spp., however, little is known on the presence and importance of these agents. Therefore, we investigated the presence of Helicobacter and Campylobacter spp. in marine and terrestrial zoo mammals. Faecal samples of various marine and terrestrial zoo mammals were collected from 6 different zoos in Belgium. These samples were tested for the presence of Helicobacter and Campylobacter spp. by isolation and direct demonstration of DNA using genus-specific PCRs, followed by sequencing of the obtained amplicons. Helicobacter spp. were detected in 12 and Campylobacter spp. in 5 of the 22 faecal samples from marine mammals. In 4 of 5 dolphins, H. cetorum was demonstrated, a well-known pathogen associated with gastritis and gastric ulceration in marine mammals. C. insulaenigrae was isolated from 4 of 6 sea lions and from 1 of 11 seals. To our knowledge, this is the first description of the presence of C. insulaenigrae on the European mainland. Helicobacter spp. were detected in 5 and Campylobacter spp. (mainly C. jejuni subsp. jejuni and C. coli) in 9 of the 26 faecal samples from terrestrial mammals. Potential novel enterohepatic Helicobacter spp. were detected in both marine and terrestrial zoo mammals. For the first time, the presence of several known and unknown Campylobacter and Helicobacter spp. was demonstrated in the gastrointestinal tract of various marine and terrestrial zoo mammals. Further investigation is needed on the pathogenic and zoonotic importance of these species.

DECLINE OF GAME BIRDS (PHASIANUS COLCHICUS AND PERDIX PERDIX) IN BAVARIA: A SURVEY ON PATHOGENIC BACTERIA, PARASITES, PESTICIDE RESIDUES, AND INFLUENCE OF SET-ASIDE LAND AND MAIZE CULTIVATION.

Due to a Europe-wide decline of grey partridge ( Perdix perdix ) and pheasant ( Phasianus colchicus ) populations, this study was conducted focusing on the county of Bavaria, south Germany. The aim was to assess the health status of game birds and identify possible causes of decline. For this purpose 203 pheasants and 11 partridges were examined during the 2011 hunting season. Pathologic examinations were conducted including examinations for parasites and bacteria. Due to public health significance, a screening for Salmonella sp., as well as real-time polymerase chain reaction examinations for Campylobacter sp. and Mycobacterium avium ssp. avium, were done. Because pesticides and land-usage can possibly influence bird numbers, the birds were screened for environmental toxin residues, including neonicotinoid insecticides, and land-usage data were correlated with the hunting bags. The result was a very-strong positive correlation of set-aside areas and a less-strong negative correlation of maize cultivation acreage. More than 90% of the birds had a good health status; only individuals showed pathologic alterations. For example, avian tuberculosis was found in two pheasants and a severe capillariosis in two partridges. A possible role of female reproductive disorders has to be confirmed in further investigations. In conclusion, results suggest the decrease of set-aside areas could be a possible reason for decline.

Detection of thermophilic Campylobacter sp. in raw chicken sausages by methods ISO 10272: 2006 in Curitiba - Parana State - Brazil

The aim of this study was the detection of Campylobacter sp. in raw chicken sausages using the methods ISO 10272-1 and ISO 10272-2. The overall prevalence of Campylobacter sp. in the samples tested was 16.67%, representing a serious risk to the health of consumers, particularly if measures guaranteeing proper cooking of foods and prevention of cross-contamination are not adopted. Furthermore, the majority of campylobacteriosis cases in humans are caused by consumption or improper handling of contaminated raw or undercooked poultry meat, which constitute the main vehicle of this infection.

Detection of thermophilic Campylobacter sp. in raw chicken sausages by methods ISO 10272: 2006 in Curitiba - Parana State - Brazil.

The aim of this study was the detection of Campylobacter sp. in raw chicken sausages using the methods ISO 10272-1 and ISO 10272-2. The overall prevalence of Campylobacter sp. in the samples tested was 16.67%, representing a serious risk to the health of consumers, particularly if measures guaranteeing proper cooking of foods and prevention of cross-contamination are not adopted. Furthermore, the majority of campylobacteriosis cases in humans are caused by consumption or improper handling of contaminated raw or undercooked poultry meat, which constitute the main vehicle of this infection.

Climate Change Impact Assessment of Food- and Waterborne Diseases.

The PubMed and ScienceDirect bibliographic databases were searched for the period of 1998-2009 to evaluate the impact of climatic and environmental determinants on food- and waterborne diseases. The authors assessed 1,642 short and concise sentences (key facts), which were extracted from 722 relevant articles and stored in a climate change knowledge base. Key facts pertaining to temperature, precipitation, water, and food for 6 selected pathogens were scrutinized, evaluated, and compiled according to exposure pathways. These key facts (corresponding to approximately 50,000 words) were mapped to 275 terminology terms identified in the literature, which generated 6,341 connections. These relationships were plotted on semantic network maps to examine the interconnections between variables. The risk of campylobacteriosis is associated with mean weekly temperatures, although this link is shown more strongly in the literature relating to salmonellosis. Irregular and severe rain events are associated with Cryptosporidium sp. outbreaks, while noncholera Vibrio sp. displays increased growth rates in coastal waters during hot summers. In contrast, for Norovirus and Listeria sp. the association with climatic variables was relatively weak, but much stronger for food determinants. Electronic data mining to assess the impact of climate change on food- and waterborne diseases assured a methodical appraisal of the field. This climate change knowledge base can support national climate change vulnerability, impact, and adaptation assessments and facilitate the management of future threats from infectious diseases. In the light of diminishing resources for public health this approach can help balance different climate change adaptation options.

Knowledge Mapping for Climate Change and Food- and Waterborne Diseases.

The authors extracted from the PubMed and ScienceDirect bibliographic databases all articles published between 1998 and 2009 that were relevant to climate change and food- and waterborne diseases. Any material within each article that provided information about a relevant pathogen and its relationship with climate and climate change was summarized as a key fact, entered into a relational knowledge base, and tagged with the terminology (predefined terms) used in the field. These terms were organized, quantified, and mapped according to predefined hierarchical categories. For noncholera Vibrio sp. and Cryptosporidium sp., data on climatic and environmental influences (52% and 49% of the total number of key facts, respectively) pertained to specific weather phenomena (as opposed to climate change phenomena) and environmental determinants, whereas information on the potential effects of food-related determinants that might be related to climate or climate change were virtually absent. This proportion was lower for the other pathogens studied (Campylobacter sp. 40%, Salmonella sp. 27%, Norovirus 25%, Listeria sp. 8%), but they all displayed a distinct concentration of information on general food-and water-related determinants or effects, albeit with little detail. Almost no information was available concerning the potential effects of changes in climatic variables on the pathogens evaluated, such as changes in air or water temperature, precipitation, humidity, UV radiation, wind, cloud coverage, sunshine hours, or seasonality. Frequency profiles revealed an abundance of data on weather and food-specific determinants, but also exposed extensive data deficiencies, particularly with regard to the potential effects of climate change on the pathogens evaluated. A reprioritization of public health research is warranted to ensure that funding is dedicated to explicitly studying the effects of changes in climate variables on food- and waterborne diseases.

Métodos diagnósticos para os patógenos alimentares: Campylobacter sp., Salmonella sp. e Listeria monocytogenes / Diagnostic methods for the food pathogens Campylobacter sp., Salmonella sp. and Listeria monocytogenes

Os métodos moleculares de detecção rápida e eficaz de lotes de aves infectados por bactérias como Salmonella sp. Campylobacter sp. e Listeria monocytogenes são importantes para reduzir a frequência da transmissão destes patógenos entre os lotes de aves e aos consumidores de produtos de origem animal. Recentemente, as técnicas de biologia molecular, em especial a reação em cadeia polimerase, que permite a amplificação específica de segmentos de DNA, têm possibilitado novos rumos na identificação de bactérias supracitadas, reduzindo o tempo de cultivo e ampliando a confiabilidade das provas diagnósticas. A utilização da biologia molecular por laboratórios de diagnóstico humano e animal, assim como em programas de controle de qualidade de alimentos e produtos de origem animal, já é realidade e tende a se expandir rapidamente. O objetivo deste artigo é fazer uma breve revisão dos testes diagnósticos convencionais e moleculares para identificar Campylobacter sp., Salmonella sp. e Listeria monocytogenes. Concluindo, o diagnóstico molecular é um campo em avanço científico e tecnológico, no qual novas técnicas moleculares estão em desenvolvimento para o diagnóstico de bactérias em alimentos.

The molecular methods for quick and efficient detection of chicken lots infected by bacteria such as Salmonella sp. Campylobacter sp. and Listeria monoytogenes is basic for the effort to reduce the frequency of the transmission between chicken lots and to the consumers of poultry products. Recently, the development of techniques involving molecular biology, especially polymerase chain reaction, which allows the specific enlargement of segments of DNA, has been making new procedures possible for the identification of the abovementioned bacteria, reducing the time necessary for the tests and enhancing the reliability of the resulting diagnoses. The use of molecular biology in laboratories for human and animal diagnosis, as well as in quality control programs for foods and products of animal origin is already a reality and has tended to expand quickly. The objective of this article is to present a brief review of the conventional diagnostic and molecular tests for the identification of Campylobacter sp., Salmonella sp. and Listeria monocytogenes. In conclusion, molecular diagnosis is a field undergoing scientific and technological advancement, in which new molecular techniques are under development for the diagnosis of bacteria in foods.

Campylobacter sp em mecônio de pintainhos e em cloaca de reprodutoras de corte / Campylobacter sp in meconium of one day old chicks and swabcloacal from breeder hens

Campylobacter sp é um importante patógeno veiculado pelos alimentos e os produtos de origem aviária são os mais implicados na transmissão desses microrganismos aos humanos. O conhecimento das formas de transmissão de bactérias do gênero Campylobacter entre as aves irá permitir o estabelecimento de formas de controle eficientes nas granjas para impedir a disseminação desse agente. A principal via de transmissão nos aviários é a horizontal, porém a transmissão vertical deve ser objeto de estudo por ser uma via ainda não comprovada. O objetivo desse estudo foi verificar em um mesmo lote de aves a presença da Campylobacter sp em galinhas matrizes e em mecônio de pintainhos de corte de um dia. O diagnóstico, foi realizado por PCR automatizado, o BAX Systen da DuPont. Foram coletados e analisados suabes cloacais de 33 aves (pool de três aves), totalizando 11 amostras e mecônio de pintainhos recémeclodidos (pool de três), totalizando 10 amostras. A positividade foi de 80% (8/10) para as amostras de mecônio e 54,55% (6/11) das amostras obtidas de galinhas. Esses resultados representam indícios da transmissão vertical, mas outras pesquisas devem ser conduzidas utilizando técnicas moleculares para detecção de Campylobacter sp em amostras de fezes, assim como técnicas de genotipificação dos espécimes isolados para comprovação da transmissão vertical.

Campylobacter sp is an important agent that causes food infection and the consume of avian products was the principal way of transmission of this organism to human been. The knowledge of the forms of transmission of the Campylobacter between the birds will allow the establishment of efficient forms of control in the farms to hinder the dissemination of this agent. The main transmission routes on chicken farms is horizontal however, the vertical transmission must be object of study still, it’s not proven the objective of this research, that was to verify the presence of Campylobacter sp in breeder hens and meconium. The used diagnostic method, was the automatized system PCR, the BAX Systen of the DuPont. The microbiological analyses were performed, using cloacal swabs from 33 breeder hens (pool of 3 hens each sample) and meconium samples from 30 one day old chicks (pool of 3 broilers each sample). Analysis of the meconium showed 80% (8/10) positive and breeder hens by the cloacal swab method 54,55% (6/11). These results represent indications of the vertical transmission, but other research must be lead using molecular techniques for detention of Campylobacter sp in excrement samples, as well as genetics techniques of isolated specimens to evidence the vertical transmission.