Microbiology, 1995 Oct, 141 ( Pt 10), 2417 - 24 Physical and genetic map of the genome of Campylobacter upsaliensis; Bourke B et al.; A physical map of Campylobacter upsaliensis ATCC 43954 was constructed from DNA fragments generated by SalI (5' G/TCGAC), NarI (5' GG/CGCC) and BssHII (5' G/CGCGC) restriction digests separated using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis . The size of the C . upsaliensis genome was approximately 2000 kb, providing evidence of the largest Campylobacter genome sized to date . Twenty-one fragments created from these restriction digests were assembled into a physical map using a combination of complementary methods including cross-Southern hybridization, hybridization fingerprint analysis and hybridization with homologous and heterologous (from Campylobacter jejuni) gene probes . The position of ten genetic loci, including that of the iron-uptake regulatory (fur) gene, were localized to the physical map . A genomic library of C . upsaliensis ATCC 43954 was constructed in lambda Gem-11 vector . Fifty thousand recombinants with an average size of 16 kb represent a library about 200 times the size of the genome . Using C . jejuni DNA probes, clones representing C . upsaliensis flaA, fur and ftsZ genes were isolated and localized to the physical map. J Infect Dis, 1995 Oct, 172(4), 1130 - 4 High-resolution genotyping of Campylobacter coli identifies clones of epidemiologic and evolutionary significance; Stanley J et al.; Campylobacter coli strains from clinical and other sources were examined in terms of O (heat-stabile; HS) serotype and by several molecular typing techniques . Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) around the three 16S rRNA genes revealed 10 variants, none found in Campylobacter jejuni . RFLP analysis of a polymerase chain reaction amplicon generated from the flagellin gene (flaA) yielded 11 polymorphism groups, some of them linked to HS serotypes . Enlarged flaA genes, contributing three further polymorphisms, were detected in strains isolated from fresh water . Restriction of the genome with SmaI and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was the most discriminatory typing method, detecting 33 macrorestriction profiles that subtyped within HS serotypes . The coincidence of HS serotype and the three genotypic markers identified clonal lines of evolutionary and epidemiologic significance. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1995 Oct 1, 207(7), 936 - 8 Myositis, lameness, and paraparesis associated with use of an oil-adjuvant bacterin in beef cows; McAllister MM et al.; Right hind limb lameness, progressing to bilateral paraparesis, was observed in 56 of 610 (9%) beef cows . Lameness began 6 days to 4 weeks after vaccination in the right longissimus lumborum (loin) muscle with an Escherichia coli/Campylobacter bacterin in an oil adjuvant . Postmortem examination of 5 affected cows revealed a large inflammatory mass at the site of vaccination . In each cow, the mass spread through adjacent intervertebral foramina into the vertebral canal and compressed the lumbar portion of the spinal cord . Microbiologic procedures did not reveal a microbial agent in affected tissues or in an unopened bottle of bacterin from the same lot used in the herd . Histologic examination revealed pyogranulomatous inflammation of the vaccination site and adjacent epidural tissue, with inflammatory nodules centered around large clear spaces that probably represented remnant emulsion from the oil adjuvant in the bacterin . As evident in these cows, IM injection of irritating products may cause severe myositis . Vaccination into paravertebral muscles is risky because of possible extension of inflammation through intervertebral foramina. Int J Syst Bacteriol, 1995 Oct, 45(4), 767 - 74 Campylobacter hyointestinalis subsp . lawsonii subsp . nov., isolated from the porcine stomach, and an emended description of Campylobacter hyointestinalis; On SL et al.; The taxonomic relationships of seven isolates obtained from porcine stomachs (the "CHY" group), which resembled (but were distinct from) the type strain and other reference strains of Campylobacter hyointestinalis, were examined by using phenotypic and genomic methods . The phenotypic characteristics and ultrastructure of the new organisms were characteristic of Campylobacter species, although they could be distinguished from all previously described taxa . A numerical analysis of 38 phenotypic characters revealed that the new isolates formed a distinct group at a similarity level of 90.1% and could be clearly distinguished from reference strains representing 20 related taxa, principally species and subspecies belonging to the genera Campylobacter, Arcobacter, and Helicobacter . DNA-DNA hybridization studies revealed that the porcine stomach strains were genomically homogeneous (levels of relatedness, 84 to 90%), although the levels of DNA homology with type and reference strains of C . hyointestinalis were relatively high (56 to 71%) . Differences in the DNA base compositions of the CHY group and C . hyointestinalis strains were also observed . Our data indicate that the new porcine isolates should be considered members of a subspecies of C . hyointestinalis, for which we propose the name Campylobacter hyointestinalis subsp . lawsonii subsp . nov . The type strain is strain CHY 5 (= LMG 14432 = NCTC 12901 = CCUG 34538) . The description of C . hyointestinalis is emended accordingly, and a description of Campylobacter hyointestinalis subsp . hyointestinalis subsp . nov . is given. J Neuroimmunol, 1995 Oct, 62(1), 53 - 7 HLA-class II alleles in Guillain-Barré syndrome and Miller Fisher syndrome and their association with preceding Campylobacter jejuni infection; Rees JH et al.; HLA typing for class II alleles was performed on 97 patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome or Miller Fisher syndrome and compared with 100 controls . There was a significant association between HLA-DQB1*03 and preceding Campylobacter jejuni infection (Pc = 0.05). Mol Gen Genet, 1995 Sep 20, 248(5), 563 - 72 Cloning of the Helicobacter pylori recA gene and functional characterization of its product; Schmitt W et al.; The RecA protein is a key enzyme involved in DNA recombination in bacteria . Using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification we cloned a recA homolog from Helicobacter pylori . The gene revealed an open reading frame (ORF) encoding a putative protein of 37.6 kDa showing closest homology to the Campylobacter jejuni RecA (75.5% identity) . A putative ribosome binding site and a near-consensus sigma 70 promoter sequence was found upstream of recA . A second ORF, encoding a putative protein with N-terminal sequence homology to prokaryotic and eukaryotic enolases, is located directly downstream of recA . Compared to the wild-type strains, isogenic H . pylori recA deletion mutants of strains 69A and NCTC11637 displayed increased sensitivity to ultraviolet light and abolished general homologous recombination . The recombinant H . pylori RecA protein produced in Escherichia coli strain GC6 (recA-) was 38 kDa in size but inactive in DNA repair, whereas the corresponding protein in H . pylori 69A migrated at the greater apparent molecular weight of approx . 40 kDa in SDS-polyacrylamide gels . However, complementation of the H . pylori mutant using the cloned recA gene on a shuttle vector resulted in a RecA protein of the original size and fully restored the general functions of the enzyme . These data can be best explained by a modification of RecA in H . pylori which is crucial for its function . The potential modification seems not to occur when the protein is produced in E . coli, giving rise to a smaller but inactive protein. J Infect, 1995 Sep, 31(2), 137 - 43 An outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni enteritis associated with failed milk pasteurisation; Fahey T et al.; This paper describes an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness affecting at least 110 people, of whom 41 had microbiological confirmation of Campylobacter jejuni infection . The outbreak of infection was found to have been associated with consumption of inadequately pasteurised milk from a local dairy . The problem of enforcement of food and safety regulations when milk from dairies fails the phosphatase test is discussed . The prevalence of seroconversion to campylobacter in the community is estimated from a sample of cases and controls involved in this outbreak. Br Poult Sci, 1995 Sep, 36(4), 563 - 73 In ovo oral vaccination with Campylobacter jejuni establishes early development of intestinal immunity in chickens; Noor SM et al.; 1 . Chick embryos were orally immunised at day 16 of incubation by injection of heat-killed Campylobacter jejuni organisms into the amniotic fluid . The response to vaccination was observed at 5 d after hatching or, in some birds which received a postnatal oral booster vaccination, at 7 d after hatching, and the response was observed at 14 d of age . 2 . The titres of antibody in serum, bile and intestinal scrapings, the distribution of immunoglobulin-containing cells in the spleen, duodenum and ileum and the expression on peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) of the T cell surface markers CD3, CD4 and CD8 were determined . 3 . Whereas low titres of anti-flagellin antibody were detected in serum, bile and intestinal scrapings of unimmunised birds, high titres were observed in immunised birds . 4 . An increase in antibody of all isotypes was detectable in serum but the elevation in IgA antibody in intestinal scrapings and bile was particularly striking . This response was reflected in a dramatic increase in immunoglobulin-containing cells, detected by fluorescent histology, particularly those associated with IgA and IgM isotypes in the spleen and intestine of immunised birds . 5 . Secondary oral boosting after hatching resulted in a depression in serum anti-flagellin antibody in immunised birds compared to pre-boosting titres (although still significantly higher than in non-immunised controls) but an increase in IgA antibody in intestinal scrapings and bile . The number of immunoglobulin-containing cells was also increased after boosting . 6 . Neither immunisation regimen caused a significant change in the numbers of circulating CD3, CD4 or CD8 T cells . 7 . These results indicate that in ovo oral immunisation with C . jejuni antigens stimulates the precocious development of immunity in chicks. Rev Hosp Clin Fac Med Sao Paulo, 1995 Sep-Oct, 50(5), 284 - 8 {Abdominal aortic aneurysm infected with Campylobacter fetus spp fetus . Report of a case and review of the literature}; Kuzniec S et al.; Aortic aneurysm infected with Campylobacter fetus spp fetus is rare, the first case having been reported in 1971 . We present a case of abdominal aortic aneurysm, with a history of abdominal pain, fever and chills, with identification of this gram negative bacillus in the culture of the aortic wall and visualization of the microorganism in histological examination . Surgical correction was performed by interposition of a dracon prosthetic graft . The patient had a good postoperative course, receiving prolonged antibiotic therapy (intravenous cephalothin for 7 days and oral erythromycin for 6 months), remaining without symptoms for 12 months, when the follow-up was ended . In the 11 cases reported in the literature, 9 presented fever, suggesting the infectious etiology . Four were operated on with the aneurysm already ruptured and all of them died . The other patients, with non-ruptured aneurysms at the time of the operation, were all symptomatic, and they survived . Anatomic reconstruction was performed in 4 cases, with dacron graft interposition and antibioticotherapy, without reported signs of infection on the follow-up (6 to 45 months) . Aortic infection with Campylobacter fetus spp fetus is potentially fatal, needing immediate surgical treatment . It is possible to have good long term results with an anatomically placed prosthetic graft and antibiotic therapy. Plasmid, 1995 Sep, 34(2), 132 - 43 Genetic analysis of the minimal replicon of plasmid pIP417 and comparison with the other encoding 5-nitroimidazole resistance plasmids from Bacteroides spp; Haggoud A et al.; The nucleotide sequence of the DNA replication origin region of a Bacteroides vulgatus plasmid, pIP417, encoding 5-nitroimidazole resistance has been determined . This region of 1934 bp presents some characteristics similar to those of other replication protein-dependent origins . It contains a large open reading frame which could encode a basic Rep protein (RepA) of 36.8 kDa . Upstream of this ORF exist an AT-rich region, three direct repeats (iterons) of 21 bp, multiple DnaA binding sites, and sites, and sites for the integration host factor (IHF) . Moreover, the amino acid sequence of the pIP417 RepA protein shows similarities with those of other Rep proteins encoded by plasmids of gram-negative bacteria: pRO1600 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; pPS10 from Pseudomonas syringae; pFA3 from Neisseria gonorrhoeae; and two cryptic plasmids from Campylobacter hyointestinalis and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens . Although RepA can be expressed in an Escherichia coli in vitro transcription-translation assay, vectors containing the pIP417 replication origin did not replicate in E . coli . The homology of the pIP417 replication region with the corresponding regions of other Bacteroides spp, plasmids was also studied by Southern blot hybridization . The results indicated that the repA gene of plasmid pIP417 is homologous to that of plasmid pIP421, but not of plasmid pIP419 . The replication region of plasmid pIP421 was sequenced and showed about 80% identity at the nucleotide level with that of pIP417 . A small (3634-bp) cloning vector (pFK12) of entirely defined nucleotide sequence was constructed for Bacteroides spp. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1995 Sep, 39(9), 2019 - 22 Evidence for an efflux pump in multidrug-resistant Campylobacter jejuni; Charvalos E et al.; Mechanisms of drug resistance in Campylobacter jejuni were investigated . Mutant strains 34PEFr, which was resistant to pefloxacin (128-fold increase in the MIC), and 34CTXr, which was resistant to cefotaxime (32-fold increase in the MIC) and which was derived from the susceptible parent 34s, were obtained by serial passages on pefloxacin and cefotaxime gradient plates, respectively . Both mutants showed cross-resistance to erythromycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, beta-lactams, and quinolones . While the quinolone resistance of strain PEFr could be explained by a mutation at codon 86 of the gyrA gene, the multidrug resistance phenotype of both strains was further investigated . Accumulation of pefloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and minocycline was measured by fluorometry and was found to be lower in the mutant strains than in the parent strain . Preincubation of the cells with carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, however, completely abolished this difference . Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of outer membrane preparations from both mutant strains showed overexpression of two proteins of 55 and 39 kDa which were absent from the outer membranes of the wild-type strain . These results indicate that in C . jejuni 34PEFr and 34CTXr, multidrug resistance is associated with an efflux system with a broad specificity. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1995 Sep, 39(9), 1965 - 9 Bactericidal properties of Campylobacter jejuni-specific immunoglobulin M antibodies in commercial immunoglobulin preparations; Autenrieth IB et al.; Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most common enterocolitis-causing microorganisms worldwide . It is of particular importance in immunodeficient patients, who frequently are prone to develop extraintestinal manifestations . Since these cases respond poorly to antibiotic treatment, a supportive immunomodulating therapy including the administration of C . jejuni-specific immunoglobulins would be desirable . In the present study, nine commercial immunoglobulin preparations for intravenous use were tested for the presence of C . jejuni lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and outer membrane protein (OMP)-specific antibodies by using immunoblot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques . The immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody reactivities against these antigens were comparable in eight of nine tested immunoglobulin preparations . Only in one preparation were C . jejuni OMP- and LPS-specific IgM antibodies found . In this preparation the immunoblot test revealed a strong reactivity against both flagellin and a major OMP . Moreover, all immunoglobulin preparations recognized OMPs of C . jejuni serotypes Lior 4, 9, 11, and 29 equally strongly, while the reactivity to an anti-Lior 36 isolate was less marked . Furthermore, the bactericidal properties of three immunoglobulin preparations were tested by means of chemiluminescence signaling in and bacterial killing by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) . The results show that the IgM preparation enhanced Campylobacter-triggered chemiluminescence signaling in PMNL as well as killing of C . jejuni by PMNL, while the other immunoglobulin preparations did not do so . These results suggest that the administration of immunoglobulin preparations containing C . jejuni-specific IgM antibodies would be beneficial for patients with severe C . jejuni infections. Dan Med Bull, 1995 Sep, 42(4), 374 - 7 The Helicobacter pylori theory and duodenal ulcer disease . A case study of the research process; Christensen AH et al.; OBJECTIVES: To describe the medical research process from the time of the generation of a new theory to its implementation in clinical practice . The Helicobacter pylori (H . pylori) theory, i.e . the theory that H . pylori plays a significant causal role in duodenal ulcer disease was chosen as a case . MATERIAL: Abstracts from 1984 to 1993, identified in the CD-Rom, Medline system, ("Silverplatter"), using the search terms Campylobacter pylori and Helicobacter pylori, and reviews and editorials about H . pylori in some of the most widespread clinical journals . RESULTS: 2204 papers on H . pylori were published, of which 64% (1,403) were original articles . Of these, 30% (415/1,403) were descriptive clinical studies, 5% (64) were epidemiological studies, 33% (459) were laboratory studies of disease mechanisms, 8% (112) were therapeutic intervention studies, and 24% (336) concerned diagnostic and therapeutic techniques . A total of 204 of the clinical studies addressed duodenal ulcer disease . Of these, 72% (147) were cross-sectional studies, 3% (7) were observational cohort studies and 25% (50) were therapeutic intervention studies . Thirty-one editorials and reviews concerning the etiological role of H . pylori in duodenal ulcer disease had been published in some of the most widespread clinical journals . In half of the papers the authors were convinced of the causal role of H . pylori in duodenal ulcer disease, while in the remainder they were sceptical . In seven cases the authors stated which patients should be selected for H . pylori eradication treatment . CONCLUSION: Descriptive clinical studies and laboratory studies of disease mechanisms were the prevailing types of research about H . pylori . Comparatively few therapeutic intervention studies were done; this fact may have hampered the acceptance of the H . pylori theory and the introduction of eradication therapy in clinical practice. Clin Infect Dis, 1995 Sep, 21(3), 634 - 8 Emergence of multidrug resistance in Campylobacter jejuni isolates from three patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus; Tee W et al.; Single-drug resistance to tetracycline, doxycycline, erythromycin, or fluoroquinolones in Campylobacter isolates recovered from humans has been documented worldwide . Multidrug resistance to these antibiotics is rare in Campylobacter jejuni . We report the sequential development of multidrug resistance in C . jejuni isolates from three patients who were infected with human immunodeficiency virus . Multiple isolates recovered from stool specimens from these patients were ribotyped, and antibiotic susceptibility profiles were determined . The results indicated that each patient was infected with a single strain of C . jejuni that had progressively acquired resistance to the antibiotics used during treatment . The emergence of resistant isolates appeared to correlate with clinical relapse . In these patients, campylobacter enteritis was prolonged, severe, and relapsing, and antimicrobial therapy was required . Once these first-line antibiotics become ineffective, few other antibiotics are available for treating patients with campylobacter enteritis . Acquisition of antibiotic resistance in C . jejuni is therefore of concern in these cases. Clin Infect Dis, 1995 Sep, 21(3), 536 - 41 Use of azithromycin for the treatment of Campylobacter enteritis in travelers to Thailand, an area where ciprofloxacin resistance is prevalent; Kuschner RA et al.; We evaluated the use of azithromycin (500 mg) or ciprofloxacin (500 mg) daily for 3 days for the treatment of acute diarrhea among United States military personnel in Thailand . Stool cultures were obtained and symptoms were recorded on study days 0, 1, 2, 3, and 10 . Campylobacter species were the most common pathogen isolated (44 isolates from 42 patients) . All Campylobacter isolates were susceptible to azithromycin; 22 were resistant to ciprofloxacin . Among the 42 patients with campylobacter infection, there were 2 clinical and 6 bacteriologic treatment failures in the ciprofloxacin group and no treatment failures in the azithromycin group (P = .021 for bacteriologic failures) . Overall, azithromycin was as effective as ciprofloxacin in decreasing the duration of illness (36.9 hours vs . 38.2 hours, respectively) and the number of stools (6.4 vs . 7.8, respectively) . Among those not infected with Campylobacter species (n = 30), the duration of illness was 32.9 hours vs . 20.7 hours (P = .03) for the azithromycin and ciprofloxacin groups, respectively . Azithromycin is superior to ciprofloxacin in decreasing the excretion of Campylobacter species and as effective as ciprofloxacin in shortening the duration of illness . Azithromycin therapy may be an effective alternative to ciprofloxacin therapy in areas where ciprofloxacin-resistant Campylobacter species are prevalent. Int J Food Microbiol, 1995 Sep, 27(1), 91 - 8 Efficacy of a lactic acid/sodium benzoate wash solution in reducing bacterial contamination of raw chicken; Hwang CA et al.; Raw chicken wings inoculated with Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, or Escherichia coli O157:H7 were washed in water (control) or a solution of a 0.5% lactic acid/0.05% sodium benzoate (LB) (pH 2.64) for 30 min . Viable cells of pathogenic bacteria and naturally occurring psychrotrophic bacteria on wings were enumerated after 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 days of storage at 4 degrees C . Lower populations of pathogenic and psychrotrophic bacteria were detected on wings immediately after washing with LB compared to populations detected on control wings . LB solution was more effective in killing Salmonella, C . jejuni, and E . coli O157:H7 than L . monocytogenes, and S . aureus . During refrigerated storage, populations of Salmonella, C . jejuni, L . monocytogenes, and E . coli O157:H7 decreased significantly on LB-washed wings, as compared to populations of respective pathogens on control wings . The growth of psychrotrophic bacteria on LB-washed wings was significantly retarded as compared to growth on control wings during refrigerated storage . Washing chicken wings with a solution containing 0.5% lactic acid and 0.05% sodium benzoate can greatly reduce the populations of pathogenic and psychotrophic bacteria, thus enhancing safety and extending shelf life. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1995 Sep-Oct, (5), 60 - 3 {The characteristics of the epidemiology of campylobacteriosis under modern conditions}; Kirik DL et al.; The results of the clinico-epidemiological study of campylobacteriosis in a concrete area (Kiev and the Kiev region) are presented . The proportion of campylobacteriosis cases was found to be 6.4% among patients hospitalized in connection with acute enteric infections . Hens were most frequently the source of human infection . Thus, at the local poultry farm the proportion of hens contaminated with bacteria of the genus Campylobacter was 44.8% . The possible routes of the spread of Campylobacter infection and the factors of its transmission were established . The most important element of the epidemiological marking of Campylobacter bacteria is the determination of their species and serotype. Infect Immun, 1995 Sep, 63(9), 3731 - 5 Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a prototype Campylobacter killed whole-cell vaccine in mice; Baqar S et al.; The immunogenicity and efficacy of an experimental inactivated Campylobacter jejuni whole-cell (CWC) vaccine were evaluated in mice . Mice were orally immunized in a three-dose primary series (48-h intervals) at doses of 10(5), 10(7), or 10(9) CWC vaccine particles alone or in combination with 25 micrograms of a mucosal adjuvant, the heat-labile enterotoxin of Escherichia coli (LT) . The comparative immunogenicities of both formulations were assessed on the basis of the generation of antigen-specific antibodies in serum and intestinal secretions, and efficacy was determined by measuring the degrees of protection afforded against intestinal colonization and systemic dissemination of challenge organisms . Campylobacter-specific intestinal immunoglobulin (Ig) A responses were dependent on the use of LT, whereas IgA and IgG responses in serum were not . Colonization resistance was induced over a broad range of vaccine doses when LT was included . However, only the highest dose of CWC alone gave comparable levels of protection . Both formulations provided equivalent protection against systemic spread of challenge organisms . These results indicate that both whole-cell vaccine formulations deserve further evaluation as candidate vaccines and also highlight the potential value of mucosal adjuvants, like LT, in enteric vaccine development. Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1995 Sep, 69(9), 987 - 90 {In vitro antibacterial activity of balofloxacin (BLFX) against isolates from patients with bacterial enteritis}; Fukuyama M et al.; In vitro antibacterial activity of balofloxacin (BLFX), a newly developed fluoroquinoline, was compared with that of norfloxacin (NFLX), ofloxacin (OFLX) and ciplofloxacin (CPFX) . Bacterial strains used in this experiment were freshly isolated from patients with infectious enteritis just before BLFX therapy . The isolates were 43 strains of Vibrio cholerae O1, 1 strain of Campylobacter sp., 4 strains of Aeromonas spp., 3 strains of Plesiomonas shigelloides, 1 strain of Vibrio mimicus and 1 strain of Vibrio cholerae non-O1 . MIC90 of BLFX against 43 strains of Shigella spp., 13 strains of Salmonella spp . and 9 strains of E . coli were 0.39, 0.39, 0.2 micrograms/ml, respectively . All strains of Aeromonas spp . and P . Shigelloides were inhibited by the concentrations under 0.39 and 0.05 micrograms/ml . MIC90 of BLFX, NFLX, OFLX and CPFX against a total of 79 strains were 0.39, 0.2, 0.2 and 0.05 micrograms/ml, respectively. J Appl Bacteriol, 1995 Sep, 79(3), 286 - 91 Penner serotyping of Campylobacter isolates from poultry, with absorbed pooled antisera; Jacobs-Reitsma WF et al.; The Penner serotyping system, based on detection of heat-stable antigens with a passive haemagglutination technique, was used in studies on Campylobacter epidemiology in poultry . Preparation of specific antisera by absorption allowed the use of pooled antisera . Over 80% of the Campylobacter isolates were typable with this modified Penner serotyping system . Typability of strains was clearly affected by storage of the strains before actual typing . Extracted antigens appeared to be stable for at least 6 months at 4 degrees C . Therefore, it is advisable to store extracted antigens from freshly isolated Campylobacter strains instead of reculturing frozen-stored strains, when actual typing cannot be performed directly after primary isolation . Untypability of isolates may partly be explained by the detection of Campylobacter serovars not yet represented in the serotyping system . Experiments on repeated serotyping of several Campylobacter strains did not suggest any serovar instability within the strains. Br J Rheumatol, 1995 Sep, 34(9), 838 - 42 Reactive arthritis: urogenital swab culture is the only useful diagnostic method for the detection of the arthritogenic infection in extra-articularly asymptomatic patients with undifferentiated oligoarthritis; Erlacher L et al.; Reactive arthritis (ReA) is a seronegative oligoarthritis triggered by a preceding extra-articular infection . While evidence of a microbial infection is mandatory for establishing the diagnosis of ReA, the sensitivity of bacteriological and serological tests has not been determined in patients without symptoms of infection . In a retrospective study, we evaluated the usefulness of urogenital swab cultures, serology and stool culture to identify infections in 234 patients with undifferentiated oligoarthritis . One hundred and forty-four patients complaining about joint pain who had no sign or history of inflammatory arthritis served as controls . Urogenital swab cultures showed a microbial infection in 44% of the patients with oligoarthritis (15% Chlamydia, 14% Mycoplasma, 28% Ureaplasma), whereas in the control group only 26% had a positive result (4% Chlamydia, 7% Mycoplasma, 21% Ureaplasma) (P < 0.001) . A Chlamydia IgG-antibody titre > or = 1:256 was found in 22% of the patients in the oligoarthritis group and in 9% of the controls (P < 0.01) . However, for only half of Chlamydia IgG-positive patients could a Chlamydia infection be confirmed by urogenital swab culture . Twenty-one per cent of patients with oligoarthritis vs 23% of the controls had positive antibody titres for Salmonella (not significant), 15% vs 5% for Yersinia (P < 0.05) and 17% vs 3% for Borrelia IgG (P < 0.01) . In two patients, stool cultures were positive for Campylobacter . Urogenital swab culture is a sensitive diagnostic method to identify the triggering infection in ReA . A single determination of antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis is of limited value because of the high prevalence of positive results in the control group. Lett Appl Microbiol, 1995 Sep, 21(3), 194 - 7 Survival of Campylobacter jejuni in foods and comparison with a predictive model; Curtis LM et al.; Campylobacter jejuni was inoculated into a range of raw and cooked foods and survival determined during storage at 2 degrees, 10 degrees and 20 degrees C for up to 56 d . To facilitate easy enumeration, two antibiotic-resistant strains of Camp . jejuni, which had similar survival characteristics to the parent strain, were used . Campylobacter jejuni survived for longer at lower temperatures in all foods and inactivation was most rapid in pate . There was generally good agreement between the survival data and predictions from a Camp . jejuni survival model (Food MicroModel). Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1995 Aug 19, 125(33), 1540 - 5 {Intestinal spirochetosis and seronegative spondylarthropathy: association or coincidence?}; Pellet L et al.; Reactive spondylarthropathies include mono- or asymmetrical polyarthritis as well as axial skeletal involvement . Usually they occur after urogenital or gastrointestinal infections caused by Yersinia, Salmonella, Shigella or Campylobacter . Reactive arthritis can also result from infections with other agents . We report the case of a patient with clinical features of seronegative spondylarthropathy . The endoscopic examination revealed intestinal spirochetosis . Other possible arthritogenous agents were ruled out serologically . The pathogenicity of intestinal spirochetosis is controversial . It can be associated with diarrhea . In Western countries the prevalence of intestinal spirochetosis is below 2%, male homosexuals being especially prone to these infections . Spirochetosis is often associated with a mild inflammatory reaction only, while a local increase in IgE plasma cell count has been described. Rinsho Shinkeigaku, 1995 Aug, 35(8), 901 - 3 {Axonal Guillain-Barré syndrome associated with anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibody subsequent to Campylobacter jejuni (PEN 43) enteritis}; Ihara Y et al.; We reported a 16-year-old boy who had Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) after suffering diarrhea . Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from his stool, and the serotype belonged to PEN 43 . Neurologic examination revealed distal-dominant muscle weakness atrophy, and mild sensory disturbance . Motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities were normal, but compound muscle action potentials were markedly reduced . Serum from the patient had high titers of anti-FalNAc-GD1a antibodies . He had HLA-A24, B51, DRB1*04 and DRB1*09 . His elder sister showed diarrhea and serum anti-C . jejuni antibody, but did not showed GBS and serum anti-ganglioside antibody . Her HLA types were A24, B51, DRB1*09 and DRB1*14. J Clin Periodontol, 1995 Aug, 22(8), 642 - 7 Oral microbiota in subjects with a weak or strong response in experimental gingivitis; Lie MA et al.; The purpose of the present study was to examine the composition of the oral microbiota in subjects who had previously demonstrated to develop either a weak or strong response to experimental gingivitis . For this study, subjects were selected from a pool of 25 individuals who had participated twice in an experimental gingivitis trial . Out of these 25 panellists, 6 subjects were selected who had developed 2X a weak gingival inflammatory response and 7 subjects who had developed 2X a strong gingival inflammatory response . Approximately 9 months after the 2nd experimental gingivitis trial, we evaluated the clinical condition and the prevalence of a panel of selected oral micro-organisms in these subjects . The subjects were clinically examined for the presence of plaque, bleeding, pocket depth and loss of attachment . For the microbiological evaluation, samples were taken from the mucous membranes, subgingival sites and saliva . Samples were analyzed for the presence of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Peptostreptococcus micros, Actinomyces spp., Fusobacterium nucleatum, Campylobacter rectus, spirochaetes and motile rods . Clinical evaluation showed that most subjects had a relatively healthy periodontal condition . No clinically significant differences could be detected between the weak and strong responding groups . The microbial evaluation showed absence of A . actinomycetemcomitans, P . gingivalis and P . micros in all subjects in either group . Analysis of the microbial data for the weak and strong responding group showed no differences between the groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Clin Infect Dis, 1995 Aug, 21 Suppl 1, S84 - 93 Bacterial enteric infections in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus; Angulo FJ et al.; We review the epidemiology and prevention of and future research priorities for bacterial enteric infections in persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) . HIV-infected persons are more frequently infected with Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria, and (possibly) Shigella species than are individuals not infected with HIV . In addition, Salmonella and (possibly) Campylobacter infections are more likely to be severe, recurrent, or persistent and associated with extraintestinal disease when they occur in HIV-infected persons . Infections caused by Shigella and Vibrio species can also result in more serious disease in HIV-infected persons than in those not infected with HIV . Risk of these infections can be reduced with proper precautions, particularly those pertaining to food hygiene, animal contact, and travel . Individuals infected with HIV should be informed of their increased risk of acquiring these diseases and should be counseled on the recommended precautions. Brain, 1995 Aug, 118 ( Pt 4), 841 - 7 Guillain-Barré syndrome without sensory loss (acute motor neuropathy) . A subgroup with specific clinical, electrodiagnostic and laboratory features . Dutch Guillain-Barré Study Group; Visser LH et al.; We analysed data obtained from 27 out of a group of 147 patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome, who did not have sensory loss during a follow-up period of 6 months (motor Guillain-Barre syndrome) . These patients had a distinctive clinical pattern compared with the other 120 Guillain-Barre syndrome patients . The clinical course was marked by a more rapid onset of weakness (3.9 versus 6.1 days, P = 0.002), an earlier nadir (6.3 versus 9.1 days, P < 0.001), an initially predominant distal weakness (67% versus 27%, P < 0.001), sparing of the cranial nerves (26% versus 68%, P < 0.001) and the disease was more often preceded by a gastro-intestinal illness (41% versus 13%, P = 0.001) often caused by a Campylobacter jejuni infection (67% versus 28% in the other Guillain-Barre syndrome patients, P < 0.001) . High titres of anti-GM1 antibodies were also significantly more common in motor Guillain-Barre syndrome patients (42% versus 5%, P < 0.001) . Electromyographic data of the motor Guillain-Barre syndrome patients at nadir revealed little or no evidence for demyelination . Abundant denervation activity was present in half of the patients . The response to immune globulin treatment was good but with plasma exchange significantly fewer motor Guillain-Barre syndrome patients reached the stage of independent locomotion after a follow-up period of 6 months especially if the acute motor neuropathy occurred after a C.jejuni infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Ann Neurol, 1995 Aug, 38(2), 170 - 5 Anti-GM1 IgG antibodies and Campylobacter bacteria in Guillain-Barré syndrome: evidence of molecular mimicry; Oomes PG et al.; In Guillain-Barre syndrome antibodies to GM1 and the presence of an antecedent Campylobacter jejuni infection are correlated with a more severe course of the disease . From a group of 137 consecutive GBS patients, 11 sera had elevated titers of anti-GM1 IgG antibodies during the acute stage of disease . Each serum sample was preincubated with three different Penner serotypes of whole C . jejuni (PEN O:4/59, PEN O:41) and Campylobacter coli (PEN O:22) bacteria . The PEN O:4/59 serotype, isolated from the stools of a Guillain-Barre syndrome patient, inhibited 63 to 93% of the anti-GM1 activity in 6 of 11 patients . The PEN O:41 inhibited 63 to 100% of the anti-GM1 antibody activity in 9 of 11 patients . The PEN O:22 inhibited anti-GM1 antibody activity in only 2 of 11 patients (80 and 86%) . Two Guillain-Barre syndrome patients did not show antibody absorption by any of the Campylobacter serotypes tested, although this does not exclude the involvement of other serotypes . An Escherichia coli control strain did not significantly absorb anti-GM1 antibodies . The results of this study indicate that anti-GM1 IgG antibodies in Guillain-Barre syndrome sera recognize surface epitopes on whole Campylobacter bacteria and that this recognition is strain-specific . This provides evidence for molecular mimicry in the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barre syndrome. Epidemiol Infect, 1995 Aug, 115(1), 15 - 22 The Public Health Laboratory Service national case-control study of primary indigenous sporadic cases of campylobacter infection; Adak GK et al.; The aetiology of sporadic campylobacter infection was investigated by means of a multicentre case-control study . During the course of the study 598 cases and their controls were interviewed . Conditional logistic regressional analysis of the data collected showed that occupational exposure to raw meat (odds ratio {OR} 9.37; 95% confidence intervals {CI} 2.03, 43.3), having a household with a pet with diarrhoea (OR 2.39; CI 1.09, 5.25), and ingesting untreated water from lakes, rivers and streams (OR 4.16; CI 1.45, 11.9) were significant independent risk factors for becoming ill with campylobacter . Handling any whole chicken in the domestic kitchen that had been bought raw with giblets, or eating any dish cooked from chicken of this type in the home (OR 0.41-0.44; CI 0.24, 0.79) and occupational contact with livestock or their faeces (OR 0.44; CI 0.21, 0.92) were significantly associated with a decrease in the risk of becoming ill with campylobacter. Curr Microbiol, 1995 Aug, 31(2), 92 - 6 Targeted and random mutagenesis of the Campylobacter coli chromosome with integrational plasmid vectors; Dickinson JH et al.; A number of integrational vectors were developed for use as genetic tools in the food-borne pathogen Campylobacter coli . Integration of the plasmids occurred following genetic recombination via a Campbell-like mechanism . For an integrative plasmid containing a DNA fragment internal to the C . coli catalase gene, the insertion was mutagenic and led to a catalase-deficient phenotype . A procedure for generating random mutations in the C . coli chromosome, with these suicide-plasmids, was developed . In addition, the construction and utility of an integrable plasmid for generating transcriptional fusions to a cat reporter gene is described. AIDS, 1995 Aug, 9(8), 881 - 5 Campylobacter infections in HIV-infected patients: clinical and bacteriological features; Molina J et al.; OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical and bacteriological features of Campylobacter infections in HIV-infected patients . DESIGN: A retrospective analysis (1989-1992), followed by a prospective analysis (1992-1994) . SETTING: Hospital HIV inpatient unit . PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients with Campylobacter spp . identified by the laboratory of microbiology at Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris were studied, and their clinical features as well as their response to therapy recorded . RESULTS: During the study period, Campylobacter infection was documented in 38 HIV-infected patients, 76% of whom had AIDS . Campylobacter spp . was isolated from stools in 36 cases and from blood cultures in four cases . Species identification yielded C . jejuni (84%) and C . coli (16%) . High-level resistance to quinolones was frequently observed (21%), but resistance to erythromycin (3%) and tetracycline (5%) was rare . Diarrhoea, fever and abdominal pain were the main clinical features of infection . Other intestinal pathogens were found in 42% of patients . Most patients had an acute illness with rapid resolution under appropriate antimicrobial therapy . However, eight patients (21%), experienced chronic diarrhoea with persistent isolation of Campylobacter and in vivo selection of resistant strains, requiring multiple courses of antibiotics . CONCLUSIONS: Campylobacter usually cause acute diarrhoea in patients with HIV infection . Antimicrobial therapy should be guided on in vitro susceptibility testing because of the prevalence of antibiotic resistance . Despite appropriate therapy, some patients will present with prolonged diarrhoea and in vivo selection of multiresistant isolates. J Clin Microbiol, 1995 Aug, 33(8), 2176 - 8 Comparison of preservation media for storage of stool samples; Wasfy M et al.; Transportation of clinical samples and long-term recoverability of pathogens are critical to epidemiological studies, particularly when conditions do not permit immediate processing . This study confirms that Cary-Blair medium (CB) is suitable for the preservation of Salmonella and Shigella isolates for more than 2 weeks at 25, 4, or -70 degrees C . Campylobacter jejuni was not recovered after 2 days of storage in CB at 25 degrees C when an inoculum of 12 x 10(8) cells per ml was used . Lower temperatures supported the recovery of this organism for 6 days . When individual pathogens were preserved with stools in CB and incubated at 25, 4, or -70 degrees C, the Salmonella and Shigella concentrations dropped from 12 x 10(8) cells to 1 x 10(3) or 1 x 10(4) cells per ml within 2 days and then remained stable for the rest of the observation period (15 days) . C . jejuni survived preservation with stools for 5 to 9 days . The addition of blood and glycerol to CB improved the recoverability of all enteropathogens, particularly C . jejuni, which was consistently detected for 7 to 9 days at the different preservation temperatures used . When trypticase soy broth-glycerol (freezing medium), with or without blood, was used, there was little or no decrease in the Salmonella and Shigella concentrations during 2 weeks of preservation with stools at -70 degrees C . C . jejuni demonstrated a relatively sustained high concentration in Trypticase soy broth-glycerol with 5% blood . The use of defibrinated, laked sheep blood as a long-term freezing medium supported the recovery of low concentrations of Salmonella and Shigella spp . (10(2) to 10(3) cells per ml) for more than 14 weeks . Recovery of C . jejuni was consistent for 7 weeks when an initial concentration of 10(6) cells per ml present in stools . Laked blood provided a simple, sterile, and inexpensive medium for the preservation of individual isolates and clinical samples. Eur J Biochem, 1995 Aug 1, 231(3), 570 - 8 Chemical structures of the core region of Campylobacter jejuni O:3 lipopolysaccharide and an associated polysaccharide; Aspinall GO et al.; The complete structure for the core oligosaccharide region of the water-insoluble low-M(r) lipopolysaccharide of Campylobacter jejuni serotype O:3 from phenol/water extraction of bacterial cells was assigned through studies on derivatives of the liberated oligosaccharide . Structure determinations were performed using 1H-NMR and 31P-NMR spectroscopies, methylation analysis supported by fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry, and Smith degradation experiments . It was concluded that the complete chains in the core oligosaccharide had the following structure in which a proportion of the terminal residues were phosphorylated: {formula: see text} From a similar series of experiments, it was concluded that an associated polysaccharide, which was isolated from the water phase of the phenol/water extracts, had the following repeating unit in which a proportion of the previously unknown L-glycero-D-ido-heptose (L-alpha-D-ido-Hep) residues were present as 3-hydroxypropanoyl esters, and were not covalently linked to the lipopolysaccharide: {formula see: text} J Bacteriol, 1995 Aug, 177(15), 4266 - 71 Conformational analysis of the Campylobacter jejuni porin; Bolla JM et al.; The major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Campylobacter jejuni was purified to homogeneity by selective solubilization and fast protein liquid chromatography . The amino acid composition of the MOMP indicates the presence of cysteine residues . The amino-terminal sequence, determined over 31 residues, shows no significant homology with any other porin from gram-negative bacteria except in a discrete region . Immunocross-reactivity between Escherichia coli OmpC and the MOMP was analyzed, and a common antigenic site between these two porins was identified with an anti-peptide antibody . From circular dichroism and immunological investigations, the existence of a stable folded monomer, containing a high level of beta-sheet secondary structure, is evident . Conformational analyses show the presence of a native trimeric state generated by association of the three folded monomers; the stability of this trimer is reduced compared with that of E . coli porins . This study clearly reveals that the C . jejuni MOMP is related to the family of trimeric bacterial porins. Int J Food Microbiol, 1995 Aug, 26(3), 295 - 303 The isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from contaminated surfaces and its survival in diluents; Humphrey T et al.; The isolation rates of campylobacters from contaminated surfaces were improved if swabs were placed directly into selective media rather than being stored in diluents before culture . Storage in diluents resulted in a loss of viability and the remaining viable campylobacter cells were often sub-lethally injured which sensitised them to selective agents in culture media and reduced isolation rates . Campylobacter jejuni, suspended in small drops of blood, was capable of prolonged survival on work surfaces if the drops remained liquid but the bacterium died rapidly once drops had dried. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1995 Aug, 39(8), 1717 - 20 Partial characterization and effect of omeprazole on ATPase activity in Helicobacter pylori by using permeabilized cells; Belli WA et al.; ATPase activity in permeabilized cells of Helicobacter pylori as well as those of Helicobacter felis and Campylobacter jejuni was analyzed . The ATPase activities in these cells were most susceptible to sodium azide, fluoroaluminate, and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, which are typical inhibitors of F ATPases . Optimal values for maximal activity were found to be at approximately pH 6.4, 6.0, and 6.0 for C . jejuni, H . pylori, and H . felis, respectively . The substituted benzimidazole compounds omeprazole, lansoprazole, and Eisai 3810 were found to have no effect on the F ATPase activity of H . pylori at concentrations which are inhibitory for cell growth (MICs) . In addition, an extracellular, vanadate-susceptible ATPase activity was detected in H . pylori, which was also relatively insusceptible to the benzimidazole compounds . Thus, the mechanism of killing mediated by omeprazole and related compounds in Helicobacter pylori does not appear to be due to diminished ATPase activity. Mol Cell Probes, 1995 Aug, 9(4), 247 - 50 Specific detection of Campylobacter concisus by PCR amplification of 23S rDNA areas; Bastyns K et al.; The phenotypic detection of Campylobacter concisus, a species of considerable genomic and phenotypic heterogeneity, has proven to be rather tedious in the past . Although alternative methods like DNA:DNA hybridization, immunotyping or whole-cell protein electrophoresis are valuable for the specific detection of C . concisus, they are too laborious to be performed in routine settings . Hence a simple Campylobacter concisus-specific PCR assay was developed, based on a target sequence which comprises the most variable areas of 23S rDNA . The PCR assay was successfully evaluated on a broad selection of C . concisus strains and phylogenetically related bacteria. J Periodontol, 1995 Aug, 66(8), 700 - 7 Evaluation of periodontal treatments using controlled-release tetracycline fibers: microbiological response; Lowenguth RA et al.; In a 12-month multi-center study of 116 adult periodontitis subjects, six putative periodontal pathogens were monitored by DNA probe methods in a subset of 31 subjects . Monitored species included Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Prevotella intermedia (Pi), Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), Eikenella corrodens (Ec), Campylobacter rectus (Cr), and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) with an average detection limit of 1.8 x 10(4) bacterial colony forming units/sample . The microbiological response to four periodontal treatments was studied, one treatment in each quadrant; scaling and root planing (S), scaling and root planing with tetracycline (TC) fiber (SF), a single application of TC fiber (F) and two serial applications of TC fiber (FF) . Generally two sites were sampled in each quadrant, however, in some quadrants only one site was selected . These treatments were evaluated at baseline; immediately following therapy; and post-treatment at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months . The study was conducted with a split-mouth design with no maintenance therapy over a 12-month period . At baseline, 70.8% of sites had detectable Fn; 42.9% Pg; 63.5% Pi; 29.7% Ec; 28.3% Cr; and 5.5% Aa . No significant differences were seen in baseline proportions of these species between centers . Numbers and proportions of detectable pathogens (with the exception of Pg) exhibited a triphasic temporal response: a precipitous initial decrease immediately following therapy; a rise in proportions in the 1- to 3-month post-therapy period; and a spontaneous decline in the absence of therapy over the 3- to 12-month period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 1995 Jul 14, 44(27), 501 - 3 Outbreak of acute gastroenteritis attributable to Escherichia coli serotype O104:H21--Helena, Montana, 1994. {The comparative identification of Campylobacter strains by traditional enzymatic tests and the gene amplification reaction} Sicinschi L. Universitatea de Stat de Medicina si Farmacie N . Testemitanu, Chisinau39 strains of Campylobacter isolated from 153 diarrhoeal children (0-3 years) were comparatively identified by the traditional enzymatic tests and by the Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR) . The hippurate hydrolysis test appreciated 27 strains as Campylobacter jejuni (69.2%) and 12 strains as Campylobacter coli (30.8%) . The P.C.R . realised in France has appreciated 29 strains as Campylobacter jejuni (74.4%) and 10 strains as Campylobacter coli (25.6%) . The analysis of the results discrepancy permitted to reveal 4 strains appreciated by two methods as different ones . The supplementary examinations of dubious strains by API-Campy test systems permitted to confirm the PCR results and to explain their divergence in contrast to hippurate hydrolysis test results . Two results were appreciated as false ones for hippurate test (5.1%) . Other two errors were due to two hippurate-negative Campylobacter jejuni strains . The PCR results were exact, without errors and not influenced by modified phenotypical characters of Campylobacter strains . Thus, the efficiency of the identification by the hippurate hydrolysis test was only 89.7% in comparison to 100% efficiency of PCR (p<0.05) . The discrepant cases indicated the necessity of supplementary differentiation of hippurate-negative Campylobacter strains including genetical methods in order to define the species exactly and to prevent the grave consequences especially characteristic of Campylobacter jejuni. Int J Syst Bacteriol, 1995 Jul, 45(3), 592 - 4 Characterization of the type strain of Campylobacter coli, CIP 70.80, by plasmid typing; Stonnet V et al.; A 1.9-kb plasmid DNA fragment from the type strain of Campylobacter coli, CIP 70.80, was used as a probe to characterize this type strain, other C . coli type strains obtained from several culture collections, and other C . coli strains . A specific hybridization pattern was obtained, and this pattern can be used to identify, characterize, and follow up C . coli type strains in culture collections. Mikrobiol Z, 1995 Jul-Aug, 57(4), 49 - 54 {The antibiotic resistance of strains of Campylobacter of different origins}; Kirik DL et al.; Antibioticograms of different campylobacteria strains have been analyzed . It is shown possible to develop a system of epidemiological marking on this basis . With this purpose sensitivity of campylobacteria to gentamycin, canamycin, carbenicyllin, tetracylin and erythromycin has been studied . No statistical difference in the average markers of resistance in the studied groups of strains was observed . This permitted supposing that R-plasmids in "human" strains may be isolated not only from the human intestine microflora, but also from other sources (animals, birds, environmental objects) as well . There are found common R-spectra in different groups of strains (Gm Kb Tc Er; Kb and Kb Tc), which confirms the same infection source . The study of antibioticograms of campylobacteria which circulate among people, animals, birds and environmental objects permits revealing regularities of epidemic process in case of campylobacteriosis. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol, 1995 Jul, 11(4), 329 - 36 Secretory monoclonal IgA class-switch variants against bacterial enteric pathogens in bile and intestinal secretions; Steinmetz I et al.; In a previous study we analyzed the molecular forms of monoclonal IgA class-switch variants (moIgA variants) and their transport into murine respiratory secretions . The aim of the present study is to characterize the transport of moIgA variants into bile and intestinal secretions so that their applicability in a passive immunization model of the gut can be evaluated . Different moIgA variants were directly isolated from IgG1 and IgG2a producing hybridoma clones specific for the same surface determinants of bacterial enteric pathogens (Salmonella typhimurium and Campylobacter jejuni) as their respective parent IgG clones . Hepatobiliary transport experiments clearly revealed the selective transport of biologically active polymeric forms of the IgA variants into the murine and rat bile after intravenous injection . Biotinylation of polymeric IgA variants prior to intravenous injection resulted in the recovery of functional, labeled SIgA . Moreover biotin-labeled polymeric IgA variant was recovered in bile with an increased molecular weight, suggesting that the secretory component had been added during passage through the liver . When IgA variant and IgG parent clones were both used in a murine backpack tumor model for passive immunization, IgA variant was selectively transported into intestinal secretions in comparison to IgG . The experimental model described here is suitable for use in comparative studies on the role of IgA and IgG with identical specificity in invasive infections of the intestinal tract. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1995 Jul, 36(1), 259 - 63 A placebo controlled evaluation of lomefloxacin in the treatment of bacterial diarrhoea in the community; Ellis-Pegler RB et al.; We compared 40 patients taking lomefloxacin 400 mg once daily for 5 days in a double blind trial with 44 placebo takers with proven community acquired bacterial diarrhoea (85% due to Campylobacter spp.) . Lomefloxacin eradicated Campylobacter spp . in 75% but did not alter clinical outcome . Twenty-eight per cent of the campylobacter isolates developed resistance . Thirty-three per cent developed side-effects . Lomefloxacin is not recommended for community-acquired bacterial diarrhoea when Campylobacter spp . predominate. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1995 Jul, 36(1), 23 - 39 Fluoroquinolones and bacterial enteritis, when and for whom? Wistrom J, Norrby SR. During the last decade quinolones such as norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and fleroxacin have emerged as drugs of choice for treatment of various bacterial enteric infections . Controlled studies have shown that quinolones, administered in varying regimens ranging from a single dose to 5 days treatment, significantly reduce the intensity and severity of travellers' diarrhoea as well as shigellosis . They have also been found to be highly effective in the treatment of invasive non-typhoid salmonellosis as well as typhoid fever . Results from trials evaluating quinolone treatment of uncomplicated salmonella and campylobacter enteritis have generally been disappointing . We studied norfloxacin for the empirical treatment of suspected bacterial enteritis of less than 6 days duration in a large placebo controlled trial . Although statistical differences in clinical outcome favouring norfloxacin were found among 259 culture positive patients, the differences were not striking and of doubtful clinical importance . However, a clear beneficial effect of norfloxacin, resembling that observed in early treatment of travellers' diarrhoae was found among the severely ill patients who initiated treatment within 48 h of onset of symptoms to start of treatment seemed to be of major importance in relation to therapeutic efficacy . Quinolone treatment of bacterial enteritis is furthermore limited by the rapid development of resistance seen in Campylobacter spp . and the failure of these compounds to eradicate Salmonella spp . Presently quinolones can be recommended in treatment of travellers' diarrhoea and shigellosis as well as enteric fever . They have limited usefulness for the routine empirical treatment of bacterial enteritis caused by Salmonella spp and Campylobacter spp . Treatment should be restricted to early empirical treatment of the severely ill and vulnerable patients with an underlying health problem. Res Microbiol, 1995 Jul-Aug, 146(6), 467 - 76 Nucleotide sequence and characterization of peb4A encoding an antigenic protein in Campylobacter jejuni; Burucoa C et al.; The 29-kDa protein PEB4, a major antigen of Campylobacter jejuni, is present in all C . jejuni strains tested and elicits an antibody response in infected patients . By screening a lambda gt11 library of chromosomal DNA fragments of C . jejuni strain 81-176 in Escherichia coli Y1090 cells with antibody raised against purified PEB4, a recombinant phage with a 2-kb insert expressing an immunoreactive protein of 29 kDa was isolated . DNA sequence analysis revealed that the insert contains two complete open reading frames ORF-A and ORF-B . ORF-A (peb4A) encodes a 273-residue protein with a calculated molecular mass of 30,460 daltons . The deduced amino acid sequence, composition and pl of the recombinant mature protein are similar to those determined for purified PEB4 . The first 21 residues resemble a signal peptide . Gene bank searches indicated 33.7% identity with protein export protein PrsA of Bacillus subtilis and 23.8% identity with protease maturation protein precursor PrtM of Lactococcus lactis . PCR experiments indicate that peb4A is highly conserved among C . jejuni strains . ORF-B begins 2 bp after the last codon of peb4A and encodes a putative protein of 353 residues with 63.4% identity with E . coli fructose 1,6-biphosphate aldolase . The sequence arrangement suggests that these two genes form an operon. J Hosp Infect, 1995 Jul, 30(3), 225 - 8 An outbreak of campylobacter food poisoning in a health care setting; Murphy O et al.; An outbreak of campylobacter food poisoning in a group of health care workers is reported . The outbreak involved 12 of 31 staff members attending a departmental party . Investigations revealed that a chicken dish was the most likely vehicle of infection . The relative risk of developing symptoms after eating this dish was 6.15 (P < 0.002) . Further investigation established that not only had the cooking instructions been misunderstood but storage of the the food the morning of the party did not comply with Department of Health guidelines . The outbreak was associated with considerable morbidity and cost . It is important that health care workers other than professional catering staff are aware of the guidelines available to ensure the correct preparation and storage of food if such events are to be held in hospital departments . It is also important that manufacturers of chicken products ensure that labelling regarding further cooking is clear and in large print. Can J Vet Res, 1995 Jul, 59(3), 183 - 6 Bactericidal effects of ozone at nonspermicidal concentrations; Gradil C et al.; A study was conducted to assess the use of ozone (O3) to control pathogens or contaminants of concern to animal breeders and regulatory officials . In separate experiments, samples of fresh bovine semen and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, or Campylobacter fetus subsp . venerealis were diluted with antibiotic-free milk (10(6) sperm and 10(6) organisms/mL of diluted semen), exposed in the previous day to a constantly monitored level of 5, 10, 15, or 20 micrograms/mL of O3 for 3-5 min . After 10 min at 30 degrees C, sperm motility was assessed and the samples cooled to 5 degrees C . Two and 18 h after the beginning of cooling, aliquots of each semen sample were evaluated for motility and cultured for organisms . Reductions were observed in P . aeruginosa and E . coli colony counts of 2 logs, and in C . fetus of 5 logs, after exposure for 2 h to O3 at a concentration of 5 micrograms/mL that had a moderate effect on sperm motility (reduction of 20%) . Fewer than 100 colonies, i.e., a 4 logs reduction of all bacteria, were counted after dilution with ozonized-treated milk at 20 micrograms/mL of O3 . However, this concentration of O3 reduced sperm motility by 50% 10 min after dilution . The results of these experiments indicate that a concentration and exposure time to O3 can be selected to reduce P . aeruginosa, E . coli, and C . fetus in contaminated bull semen diluted with milk while having only minimal effects on sperm motility. Mil Med, 1995 Jul, 160(7), 331 - 4 A survey of enteropathogens among United States military personnel during Operation Bright Star '94, in Cairo, Egypt; Oyofo BA et al.; Acute gastroenteritis is a potential cause of substantial morbidity in U.S . military personnel during deployment . This study was conducted to evaluate enteric pathogens associated with diarrhea in a U.S . military population on deployment in Cairo, Egypt, during November 1993 . Enteric pathogens found to be associated with cases of diarrhea included: enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), 27% (22% heat-stable {ST}, 3% heat-labile {LT}, and 2% ST/LT producers); Campylobacter spp., 3%; and Salmonella spp . 3% . Other enteric pathogens, namely Shigella, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas, Vibrio spp., Bacillus cereus, and enteric parasites, were not found in any of the 36 patients . Of the 8 patients who were ETEC-positive, three expressed colonization factor antigens (CFA)/II, and two expressed putative colonization factor antigen (PCF) 0159 . All of the latter isolates produced ST . ETEC with different surface protein antigens were found to have surface hydrophobicity in the range of 0.2 M to greater than 2.0 M . Plasmid profiles of the ETEC strains showed no correlation with toxin production . In vitro susceptibility testing of the ETEC strain showed that 32% of the strains were resistant to three or more antimicrobial agents, whereas 24% showed 100% susceptibility . The enteropathogens tested were susceptible to norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and nalidixic acid, suggesting that the quinolones might be useful for the treatment of diarrheic patients. Arch Microbiol, 1995 Jul, 164(1), 1 - 6 Purification and characterization of ferritin from Campylobacter jejuni; Wai SN et al.; We purified an iron-containing protein from Campylobacter jejuni using ultracentrifugation and ion-exchange chromatography . Electron microscopy of this protein revealed circular particles with a diameter of 11.5 nm and a central core with a diameter of 5.5 nm . The protein was composed of a single peptide of 21 kDa and did not serologically cross-react with horse spleen ferritin . The UV-visible spectrum of the protein showed no absorption peaks in the visible region, indicating that little or no heme is bound . The ratio of Fe:phosphate of C . jejuni ferritin was 1.5:1 . From these morphological and chemical examinations, we concluded that the C . jejuni purified protein is a ferritin of the same class as that of Helicobacter pylori and Bacteroides fragilis and differs from the heme-containing bacterioferritin of Escherichia coli . The 30 N-terminal amino acids were sequenced and were found to resemble the sequences of other ferritins strongly (H . pylori ferritin, 73% identity; B . fragilis ferritin, 50% identity; E . coli gene-165 product, 50% identity), and to a lesser degree, bacterioferritins (E . coli bacterioferritin, 26% identity; Azotobacter vinelandii, 26% identity; horse spleen ferritin 30% identity) . Proteins that cross-reacted with antiserum against the ferritin of C . jejuni were found in other Campylobacter species and in H . pylori, but not in Vibrio, E . coli, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1995 Jul, 61(7), 2713 - 9 Temperature-dependent membrane fatty acid and cell physiology changes in coccoid forms of Campylobacter jejuni; Hazeleger WC et al.; The effect of temperature and the availability of nutrients on the transition of spiral Campylobacter jejuni cells to coccoid forms was investigated . Ageing of spiral C . jejuni cells in either nutrient-poor or nutrient-rich environments resulted in the formation of nonculturable coccoid cells at 4, 12, and 25 degrees C after different periods, with the cells incubated at 4 degrees C in nutrient-deficient media remaining culturable the longest . To study the phenomenon, ATP levels, protein profiles, and fatty acid compositions were monitored under conditions where the transition from spiral to coccoid cells occurred . During storage, the levels of intracellular ATP were highest in cells incubated at low temperatures (4 and 12 degrees C) and remained constant after a small initial decrease . During the transformation from spiral to coccoid forms, no alteration in protein profiles could be detected; indeed, inhibition of protein synthesis by chloramphenicol did not influence the transition . Furthermore, DNA damage by gamma irradiation had no effect on the process . Membrane fatty acid composition of cocci formed at low temperatures was found to be almost identical to that of spiral cells, whereas that of cocci formed at 25 degrees C was clearly different . Combining these results, it is concluded that the formation of cocci is not an active process . However, distinctions between cocci formed at different temperatures were observed . Cocci formed at 4 degrees C show characteristics comparable to those of spirals, and these cocci may well play a role in the contamination cycle of C . jejuni.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Med Microbiol, 1995 Jul, 43(1), 75 - 7 Campylobacter jejuni in the stomach; Sahay P et al.; Campylobacter jejuni is the commonest cause of acute bacterial enteritis in the UK . However, in this case a 74-year-old lady underwent gastroscopy for an upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage and was noted to have a gastric ulcer . Gastric biopsy revealed spiral gram-negative bacteria and culture yielded a moderate growth of C . jejuni . Identification was confirmed by growth characteristics, biochemical tests and PCR amplification of the species-specific flagellin gene--fla A . To prevent misidentification, it is important that laboratories routinely culturing gastric biopsies for Helicobacter pylori should perform a rapid urease test and not rely solely on microscopic morphology. J Neurol, 1995 Jul, 242(7), 460 - 5 Electrophysiological studies in Guillain-Barré syndrome: correlation with antibodies to GM1, GD1B and Campylobacter jejuni; Vriesendorp FJ et al.; A retrospective study of 50 patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) correlated analysis of serial motor nerve conduction studies with the presence of antibodies to Campylobacter jejuni, GM1 and GD1b, determined by ELISA . GBS patients with antibodies to C . jejuni (n = 8), GM1 (n = 4), or GD1b (n = 4) showed electrophysiological features suggestive of demyelination with prolonged distal motor latencies and temporal dispersion/conduction block similar to GBS patients without these specific antibodies . Three of 50 GBS patients had poor recovery with inability to walk at 1 year after onset of symptoms . All three patients had antibodies to C . jejuni, but not to GM1 or GD1b . Although later on in the clinical course distal motor responses were absent in two of these patients, reflecting extensive axonal degeneration, early nerve conduction studies showed findings suggestive of demyelination . We suggest that demyelination of peripheral nerve may be the initial disease mechanism in GBS independent of the presence of antibodies to C . jejuni, GM1 or GD1b. Vet Microbiol, 1995 Jul, 45(2-3), 269 - 74 DNA diversity among isolates of Campylobacter jejuni detected by PCR-based RAPD fingerprinting; Lam KM et al.; A PCR-based randomly amplified polymorphic DNA method was used to amplify Campylobacter jejuni DNA using a single oligonucleotide primer derived from either a homologous source or from Mycoplasma gallisepticum . The method was able to detect the heterogeneity of amplified DNA from human, chicken and turkey sources and can be used as a tool to study the epidemiology of Campylobacter jejuni infection. J Periodontol, 1995 Jul, 66(7), 559 - 67 Occurrence of certain bacterial species and morphotypes in juvenile periodontitis in Chile; Lopez NJ et al.; The occurrence of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Eikenella corrodens, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Campylobacter rectus, Capnocytophaga species, and certain bacterial morphotypes was determined in 18 affected and 18 unaffected sites in 10 localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP) patients, and in 10 affected and 10 unaffected sites in 5 generalized juvenile periodontitis (GJP) patients . The subgingival proportion of the 7 bacterial species was determined by selective and nonselective culturing . The results showed that when considering the pure prevalence of bacteria ( > 0%) there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the subgingival plaque microflora of the affected sites versus those of the unaffected sites for P . gingivalis, A . actinomycetemcomitans, P . intermedia, E . corrodens, C . rectus, and F . nucleatum in LJP, and for P . gingivalis, P . intermedia, and F . nucleatum in GJP . The mean proportions of cocci, motile rods and spirochetes were also significantly different (P < 0.05) in affected sites compared to unaffected sites . Capnocytophaga sp, F . nucleatum, P . intermedia, and E . corrodens were found in more than 75% of affected sites in LJP . When taking the approach that an organism, to be associated with periodontal disease, has to be detected above a certain minimum threshold, the results indicated that bacteria most frequently associated with LJP and GJP in Chile are P . gingivalis (66% of LJP and 80% of GJP affected sites), and A . actinomycetemcomitans (44% of LJP and 50% in GJP affected sites) . Different bacterial species may be judged to be important in the disease process depending upon whether a pure bacterial prevalence, or a prevalence above a certain detection level, is considered. J Clin Pathol, 1995 Jul, 48(7), 683 - 5 Evaluation of the API-campy system in the biochemical identification of hippurate negative campylobacter strains isolated from faeces; Reina J et al.; The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of the API-Campy system in the biochemical identification of 62 hippurate negative campylobacter strains isolated from the faeces . The strains were identified manually as 34 nalidixic acid susceptible C coli (NAS), 20 nalidixic acid resistant C coli (NAR), and eight C lari . The 34 strains of NAS C coli were identified as such by the API-Campy system . Of the 20 strains of NAR C coli, 15 (75%) were correctly identified by the commercial system . None of the five NAR C coli strains which were also erythromycin resistant was identified as such by the system . The eight C lari strains could not be identified by the API-Campy system because the bionumber obtained does not exist in the database of the computer system . The API-Campy system could be very useful for the identification of NAS C coli . However, failure to allow for a higher percentage of resistance to nalidixic acid in this species does not permit good identification of NAR strains . More important discrepancies are observed in C lari strains . In order to improve the identification of NAR C coli and C lari stains, it is advisable to include, or recommend as complementary, the indoxyl acetate hydrolysis test. J Clin Microbiol, 1995 Jul, 33(7), 1691 - 8 Arcobacter-specific and Arcobacter butzleri-specific 16S rRNA-based DNA probes; Wesley IV et al.; The genus Arcobacter encompasses gram-negative, aerotolerant, spiral-shaped bacteria formerly designated Campylobacter cryaerophila . Two genus-specific 16S rRNA-based oligonucleotide DNA probes (23-mer and 27-mer) were developed . The probes hybridized with strains of Arcobacter butzleri (n = 58), Arcobacter cryaerophilus (n = 19), and Arcobacter skirrowii (n = 17) . The probes did not cross-react with any of the reference strains of Campylobacter, Helicobacter, including "Flexispira rappini," or Wolinella . The 27-mer hybridized with 61 Arcobacter spp . field isolates originating from late-term aborted porcine (n = 54) and equine (n = 2) fetuses and humans with enteritis (n = 5) . The species of Arcobacter isolates (n = 56) recovered from aborted livestock fetuses were determined by ribotyping and were as follows: A . cryaerophilus group 1A (11 of 56; 20%), A . cryaerophilus group 1B (37 of 56; 66%), A . butzleri (5 of 56; 9%), and unknown (3 of 56; 5%) . The five human field strains were identified as A . butzleri . A species-specific DNA probe (24-mer) for A . butzleri was also developed since there is evidence that this organism may be a human pathogen . This probe hybridized with previously characterized strains of A . butzleri (n = 58), with 10 field strains identified as A . butzleri by ribotyping and with 2 strains having an indeterminate ribotype . The A . butzleri-specific probe did not cross-react with strains of A . skirrowii (n = 17) and A . cryaerophilus (n = 19). J Neuroimmunol, 1995 Jul, 60(1-2), 161 - 4 Subclass of IgG antibody to GM1 epitope-bearing lipopolysaccharide of Campylobacter jejuni in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome; Yuki N et al.; Sera of patients who develop Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) subsequent to Campylobacter jejuni enteritis frequently have IgG anti-GM1 antibody . Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of C . jejuni isolated from a GBS patient has a GM1 ganglioside-like structure . IgG subclass distribution of the anti-GM1 antibody in GBS patients is mainly restricted to IgG1 and IgG3 . Since IgG antibodies to bacterial polysaccharide generally are restricted to IgG2 subclass, some investigators have assumed that either the general rules for immune response to LPS are broken in the patients or an alternative antigen has yet to be identified . To clarify whether the LPS participates in the production of the anti-GM1 antibody, we investigated the subclass of IgG antibody to the LPS that bears GM1-like structure . The subclasses of IgG antibody to the LPS were restricted predominantly to IgG1 and IgG3 . The GM1 epitope-bearing LPS may function in the production of the anti-GM1 antibody in patients with GBS subsequent to C . jejuni infection. Infect Immun, 1995 Jul, 63(7), 2473 - 7 Expression of adhesion molecules on human granulocytes after stimulation with Helicobacter pylori membrane proteins: comparison with membrane proteins from other bacteria; Enders G et al.; Type B gastritis in its active form is characterized by a dense infiltration of the lamina propria with granulocytes . Since the bacterium Helicobacter pylori does not invade the epithelial barrier, a signaling pathway chemoattractive for granulocytes must exist across this mucosal boarder . One possible mechanism tested was whether granulocytes are directly activated by water-soluble membrane proteins (WSP) from H . pylori . These findings were compared with the effects of WSP from other bacteria (Helicobacter felis, Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus) . A unique activation pattern by H . pylori WSP was found . Like all other WSP tested, they induced an upregulation of CD11b but had no influence on CD11c and, most strikingly, CD62L expression . In contrast, E . coli WSP, e.g., not only induce a strong CD11b and CD11c expression but also lead to a loss in surface CD62L . The lack of CD62L shedding conserves rolling of granulocytes along the endothelium, creating a favorable precondition for granulocytes to stick more readily to activated endothelium after H . pylori stimulation via CD11b-CD54 receptor-counterreceptor interaction . This may explain why H . pylori infection is a very strong stimulus for granulocyte infiltration . The active fraction for the induction of CD11b on granulocytes is a heat- and protease-sensitive protein with a molecular mass between 30 and 100 kDa . One activation step involved may be the binding of WSP to CD15 determinants on granulocytes with subsequent induction of CD11b. Nippon Saikingaku Zasshi, 1995 Jul, 50(3), 881 - 8 {Characterization by RFLP of DNAs from Campylobacter jejuni Lior serotype reference strains and clinical isolates and detection of C . jejuni by DNA-probe}; Shibata Y et al.; The Lior serotype reference strains and clinical isolates of Campylobacter jejuni were compared in the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) pattern to distinguish C . jejuni strains . These reference strains showed RFLP patterns different from one to another, while the patterns of some isolates were not coincident with those of the same serotype reference strains . Furthermore, we tried to hybridize HindIII-digested fragments from these strains with the DNA probe encoding the 46-kDa protein of C . jejuni by Southern and slot blottings . The 1.8-kbp fragments from all strains of C . jejuni hybridized with this probe, but those from other species of Campylobacter or enterobacteria did not . These results indicate that the Lior serotype is unrelated with the RFLP pattern of DNA of C . jejuni strains, but the DNA probe is useful to detect C . jejuni. J Biol Chem, 1995 Jun 23, 270(25), 15093 - 101 Segmental conservation of sapA sequences in type B Campylobacter fetus cells; Dworkin J et al.; Campylobacter fetus cells may exist as either of two defined serogroups (type A or B) based on their lipopolysaccharide (LPS) composition . Wild-type strains contain surface array proteins (S-layer proteins) that have partial antigenic cross-reactivity but bind exclusively to LPS from homologous (type A or B) cells . Type A cells possess 8 homologs of sapA, which encodes a 97-kDa S-layer protein; the gene products of these homologs have a conserved N terminus of 184 amino acids . To further explore the structural relationships between the C . fetus S-layer proteins and their encoding genes, we sought to clone and express an S-layer protein from type B strain 84-91 . The cloned type B gene (sapB) was similar in structure to the previously cloned type A gene (sapA) and encoded a full-length 936-amino acid (97-kDa) S-layer protein . Sequence analysis of sapB indicated that the conserved N-terminal encoding region in sapA was absent but that the remainder of the ORF (encoding 751 amino acids) was identical to that of sapA in spite of the nonconserved nature of this region among sapA homologs . Noncoding sequences both 300 base pairs 5' and 1000 base pairs 3' to the sapB and sapA ORFs, including the sapA promoter and transcriptional terminator sequences, were essentially identical . Southern analyses revealed that the sapB N-terminal encoding region was conserved in multiple copies in type B strains but was absent in type A strains . Recombinant sapA and sapB products bound to a substantially greater degree to cells of the homologous LPS type compared with the heterologous LPS type, indicating that the conserved sapA- and sapB-encoded N termini are critical for LPS binding specificity . The parallel genetic organization and identity at the nucleotide level in both coding and noncoding regions for sap homologs in types A and B cells indicates the necessity of both homolog conservation and high fidelity DNA replication in the biology of sap diversity. Tijdschr Diergeneeskd, 1995 Jun 15, 120(12), 366 - 9 {Zoonoses as a public health problem}; Schaapveld K et al.; Zoonoses can be defined as infectious diseases that are transmitted from vertebrate animals to man under natural conditions . Applying this definition, a review is presented of zoonoses, occurring in the Netherlands . Data about this group of infectious diseases were collected from public health and veterinary data sources . From the results of the inventory it can be concluded that the major part of the zoonoses is caused by foodborne infections . It has been estimated that yearly a total number of 420,000 persons suffer from Salmonella and Campylobacter infections . The remaining zoonoses under study were found to be of limited importance for the general population; because of their concentration in some professional groups and because of the availability of preventive measures, these infections are important in certain subgroups of the population. Singapore Med J, 1995 Jun, 36(3), 282 - 4 Characterisation of Campylobacters from Malaysia; Tay ST et al.; Eight-five clinical and 15 poultry isolates of Campylobacter species were characterised by biotyping, serotyping and by using a radiolabelled DNA probe . A total of 80% of the isolates from both sources were identified as C . jejuni . Also amongst the clinical strains were 5 c . jejuni subsp . doylei, 7 C . coli, 3 C . lari and 8 were untypable . The similarity in the distribution of C . jejuni in the clinical and poultry isolates adds credibility to published reports of chickens being the most common source of Campylobacter infections . Although the gold standard for identification of C . jejuni is the DNA probe, serotyping is more discriminating while biotyping is the most feasible method in most laboratories. Lett Appl Microbiol, 1995 Jun, 20(6), 371 - 4 Discrepancy between Penner serotyping and polymerase chain reaction fingerprinting of Campylobacter isolated from poultry and other animal sources; Aarts HJ et al.; Thirty-four Campylobacter jejuni or coli strains, isolated from various livestock and darkling beetles from two Dutch poultry farms during different broiler production cycles, were subjected to Penner serotyping and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fingerprint analysis . Ten different Penner serotypes were determined in the isolates . Visual scoring of the PCR fingerprints resulted in 14 clearly different profiles . Some strains with identical Penner serotypes exhibited different PCR fingerprints and conversely strains with different serotypes produced identical PCR fingerprints . Discrepancies between Penner serotyping and PCR fingerprinting were most obvious between isolates from different animal sources . Indications for the occurrence of genomic rearrangements were found . The inconsistency between serotyping and fingerprinting of Campylobacter strains suggests that conventional typing methods should be used in combination with fingerprinting if the epidemiological factors that contribute to Campylobacter colonization of live chickens are to be assessed reliably. Lett Appl Microbiol, 1995 Jun, 20(6), 338 - 40 Sensitivity of Campylobacter spp . to irradiation in poultry meat; Patterson MF; The sensitivity of Campylobacter jejuni (three strains), Camp . coli (three strains), Camp . fetus (one strain) and Camp . lari (one strain) to irradiation in poultry meat was investigated . There was no significant difference in the counts obtained on Blood or Skirrows agar . Preston agar gave a significantly lower recovery of the pathogens after irradiation so these results were not included in calculations of D10 values . The D10 values ranged from 0.12 to 0.25 kGy and there was a significant difference in the radiation sensitivity between different Campylobacter spp . and within strains of the same species . These values indicate that Campylobacter spp . are more radiation-sensitive than Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes irradiated under similar conditions . Therefore irradiation treatments suggested to eliminate the latter from poultry carcasses would also be sufficient to remove Campylobacter. Epidemiol Infect, 1995 Jun, 114(3), 423 - 31 Restriction fragment length polymorphisms among the flagellar genes of the Lior heat-labile serogroup reference strains and field strains of Campylobacter jejuni and C . coli; Burnens AP et al.; Several typing systems have been described for Campylobacter jejuni and C . coli, to assess the complex epidemiology of these important enteric pathogens . In the present study two typing methods, slide agglutination according to the Lior scheme, and the demonstration of restriction-fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of flagellar genes, have been used in parallel on a set of 194 strains . This set comprised 118 sero-reference strains of C . jejuni and C . coli of the Lior scheme, as well as 76 clinical isolates . All isolates were serotyped and subjected to PCR for amplification of flagellar genes, and the PCR product was restricted with Alu I . Flagellar genes could be amplified in 152 strains . Among 85 seroreference strains, 74 different RFLP patterns were observed, and among 67 clinical isolates, there were 36 patterns . There was only limited correlation between flagellar RFLP and the Lior serogroup, and the variability of patterns in serogroups HL2 and HL4 were as marked as the variability between serogroups . Flagellar gene RFLP patterns are shown to be stable, highly discriminatory epidemiologic markers. Epidemiol Infect, 1995 Jun, 114(3), 413 - 21 Epidemiology of Campylobacter spp . at two Dutch broiler farms; Jacobs-Reitsma WF et al.; Broiler flocks on two Dutch poultry farms were screened weekly for the presence of campylobacter in fresh caecal droppings during eight consecutive production cycles . Hatchery and fresh litter samples were taken at the start of each new cycle . Water, feed, insects, and faeces of domestic animals, present on the farms were also included in the sampling . Penner serotyping of isolates was used to identify epidemiological factors that contribute to campylobacter colonization in the broiler flocks . Generally, broiler flocks became colonized with campylobacter at about 3-4 weeks of age with isolation percentages of 100%, and stayed colonized up to slaughter . A similar pattern of serotypes was found within the various broiler houses on one farm during one production cycle . New flocks generally showed also a new pattern of serotypes . Most serotypes isolated from the laying hens, pigs, sheep and cattle were different from those isolated from the broilers at the same time . Campylobacter serotypes from darkling beetles inside the broiler houses were identical to the ones isolated from the broilers . No campylobacter was isolated from any of the hatchery, water, feed or fresh litter samples . Conclusive evidence of transmission routes was not found, but results certainly point towards horizontal transmission from the environment . Horizontal transmission from one broiler flock to the next one via a persistent contamination within the broiler house, as well as vertical transmission from breeder flocks via the hatchery to progeny, did not seem to be very likely. Infect Immun, 1995 Jun, 63(6), 2185 - 93 Isolation of the Helicobacter pylori recA gene and involvement of the recA region in resistance to low pH; Thompson SA et al.; To understand the potential roles of the important DNA repair protein RecA in Helicobacter pylori pathogenesis, we cloned the recA gene from H . pylori 84-183 . Degenerate PCR primers based on conserved RecA protein regions were used to amplify a portion of H . pylori recA, which was used as a probe to isolate the full-length recA gene from H . pylori genomic libraries . The H . pylori recA gene encoded a protein of 347 amino acids with a molecular mass of 37.6 kDa . As expected, H . pylori RecA was highly similar to other RecA proteins and most closely resembled that of Campylobacter jejuni (75% identity) . Immediately downstream of recA was an open reading frame whose predicted product showed 58% identity to the Bacillus subtilis enolase protein . recA and eno were disrupted in H . pylori 84-183 by insertion of antibiotic resistance genes . Reverse transcription-PCR demonstrated that recA and eno were cotranscribed and that insertion of the kanamycin resistance gene into recA had polar effects on expression of the downstream eno . The H . pylori recA mutants were severely impaired in their ability to survive treatment with UV light and methyl methanesulfonate and with the antimicrobial agents ciprofloxacin and metronidazole . The eno mutant had sensitivities to UV light and metronidazole intermediate to those of wild-type and recA strains, suggesting that truncation of the recA-eno transcript resulted in lowered recA expression . For survival at low pH, a recA mutant was approximately 10-fold more sensitive than strain 84-183, while the eno mutant demonstrated intermediate susceptibility . This difference occurred in the presence or absence of urea, implying the involvement of a gene in the recA region in an acid resistance mechanism distinct from that mediated by urease. Microbiology, 1995 Jun, 141 ( Pt 6), 1369 - 76 Molecular characterization of katA from Campylobacter jejuni and generation of a catalase-deficient mutant of Campylobacter coli by interspecific allelic exchange; Grant KA et al.; A gene encoding catalase (hydrogen-peroxide:hydrogen-peroxide oxidoreductase; EC 1.11.1.6) from Campylobacter jejuni was cloned by functional complementation of a catalase-deficient mutant of Escherichia coli . The catalase structural gene, designated katA, was assigned by subcloning and its nucleotide sequence determined . The deduced protein product of 508 amino acids, which had a calculated molecular mass of 58,346 Da, was found to be structurally and enzymically similar to hydrogen-peroxidases from other bacterial species . The region of DNA containing the structural catalase gene was disrupted by insertion of a tetracycline-resistance marker and the modified sequence then introduced into a strain of Campylobacter coli via natural transformation . Genetic and enzymic analyses of a tetracycline-resistant C . coli transformant confirmed that catalase-deficient mutants had arisen via interspecific allelic exchange . Compared to the isogenic parental strain the mutant was more sensitive to killing by H2O2. Microbiology, 1995 Jun, 141 ( Pt 6), 1359 - 67 The gene for Campylobacter trigger factor: evidence for multiple transcription start sites and protein products; Griffiths PL et al.; A gene encoding a protein of apparent molecular mass 56 kDa that shares 31% identity with the amino acid sequence of trigger factor from Escherichia coli (a protein thought to be involved in cell division), was cloned from Campylobacter jejuni NCTC 11168 . The clone was selected from a lambda ZAP II genomic DNA library following an immuno-screen using antiserum raised against glycine-extractable proteins from C . jejuni . The gene has two potential initiation codons, giving rise to two possible nested protein products . Complex differential growth-phase-dependent transcripts give rise to these products. J Clin Gastroenterol, 1995 Jun, 20(4), 307 - 9 Multiple abscesses of the liver caused by Campylobacter jejuni; Brmbolic B; A 37-year-old woman developed multiple liver abscesses caused by Campylobacter jejuni, as a consequence of unrecognized and inadequately treated Campylobacter enteritis . The diagnosis was established by isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from blood and pus obtained from one of the liver abscesses during laparoscopy . The abscesses were successfully treated with intravenously and orally administrated antibiotic drugs, without further percutaneous drainage. Int J Food Microbiol, 1995 Jun, 26(1), 43 - 76 Culture media for the isolation of campylobacters; Corry JE et al.; The history of the development of selective media for isolation of campylobacters, including the rationale for choice of selective agents is described . Developments have included modifications to allow incubation at 37 degrees C instead of 42 or 43 degrees C and changes in the types and concentrations of antibiotics in order not to inhibit organisms such as Campylobacter upsaliensis, C . jejuni subsp . doylei and some strains of C . coli and C . lari . When examining foods, plating media originally developed for isolation from faeces are normally used, sometimes after liquid enrichment . Most of the media include ingredients intended to protect campylobacters from the toxic effect of oxygen derivatives . Most commonly used are lysed or defibrinated blood; charcoal; a combination of ferrous sulphate, sodium metabisulphite and sodium pyruvate (FBP); and haemin or haematin . To date no medium includes an indicator system--for instance a pH indicator to show whether colonies produce acid or alkali from particular substrates . The manner in which liquid enrichment media are used has been modified for food samples to avoid inhibitory effects on sublethally damaged cells by toxic components in the formula . This is done by a preliminary period of incubation at reduced temperature and sometimes by delayed addition of antibiotics . Expensive and time-consuming methods have been proposed to achieve a microaerobic atmosphere while using liquid enrichment media . To date there is no generally accepted 'standard' method of isolating campylobacters from food. J Clin Microbiol, 1995 Jun, 33(6), 1676 - 8 Analysis of strains of Campylobacter fetus by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis; Fujita M et al.; Campylobacter fetus chromosomal DNA from 21 strains was analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis . The fingerprint patterns generated with SmaI and SalI were distinctive . Using the profiles obtained by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, we established the phylogenetic dendrogram of C . fetus to identify the genetic relationship of the strains. Can Vet J, 1995 Jun, 36(6), 379 - 82 The relationship between the presence of Helicobacter pylori, Clostridium perfringens type A, Campylobacter spp, or fungi and fatal abomasal ulcers in unweaned beef calves; Jelinski MD et al.; A case-control study involving 30 unweaned beef calves was conducted to determine whether specific species of bacteria or fungi were associated with fatal abomasal ulcer formation . Special microbiological and histological techniques were used to detect Clostridium perfringens type A, Helicobacter pylori, or Campylobacter spp . It has been speculated that these bacteria are potential ulcerogenic agents of unweaned beef calves . Calves were recruited for the study at necropsy, with those dying of either a perforating or a hemorrhagic ulcer representing the cases, and calves of a similar age dying of a disease unrelated to the abomasum representing the controls . Helicobacter pylori was not visualized in or cultured from any of the abomasal tissue samples . Clostridium perfringens type A was isolated from 78.6% of the cases and 75% of the controls . These isolates were further dichotomized into "heavy" and "light" growth; no significant association was found between ulcers and the amount of growth . A light growth of Campylobacter spp . was recovered from 3 cases and 3 controls . There was no compelling evidence to suggest that Clostridium perfringens type A, Helicobacter pylori, or Campylobacter spp . were involved in ulcer formation. Poult Sci, 1995 Jun, 74(6), 937 - 41 Campylobacter spp . in broilers on the farm and after transport; Stern NJ et al.; Colonization of the ceca and contamination on carcasses of chickens by Campylobacter spp . was investigated . Samples were taken on the farm and after transport and holding . In the first set of experiments, 20 chickens, obtained from each of 10 broiler farms, were collected from houses containing 6- to 7-wk-old birds . Half of the birds were slaughtered at the farm; the other half were transported (10 birds per chicken coop) to a holding facility and killed within 16 to 18 h . The levels of Campylobacter spp . on the carcass and in the ceca were assessed . Ceca from birds in 9 of the 10 farms sampled were positive for Campylobacter spp . Colonization levels ranged from 10(4.11) to 10(7.28) cfu Campylobacter spp./g cecal matter, except on one farm, where the organism was not isolated . The mean count on the farm was 10(5.44) cfu Campylobacter spp./g cecal material, and after transport the mean was 10(6.15) cfu/g . Significant increases (P = .0085) in levels of Campylobacter spp . on the chicken carcasses occurred after transport . Levels of Campylobacter spp . enumerated from unprocessed chicken carcasses after transport averaged 10(7.11) per carcass, up from an average of 10(3.66) cfu per carcass of the farm . To further verify this observation, field trials were conducted to assess levels on carcasses before and after commercial transport . Employing five farms and 200 6-wk-old chickens, the above observations were confirmed: prior to transport 12.1% of the chickens harbored an average of 10(2.71) cfu per carcass, but after transport 56.0% of the chicken exteriors harbored an average of 10(5.15) cfu per carcass . The results of this study indicate that transport and holding prior to processing contributes to the Campylobacter spp . of > 10(4) cfu normally found on processed poultry carcasses. Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1995 Jun, 69(6), 673 - 7 {Isolation of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli from pediatric patients suffering from enteritis with bloody stool and intussusception}; Morooka T et al.; We tried to isolate verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) on sorbitol-MacConkey (SMAC) agar and in part by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method from sporadic enteritis patients with bloody stools and intussusception patients who came to three pediatric clinics in the Fukuoka area from October 1990 to September 1994 . VTEC O157:H7 strains were isolated from 6 (10.5%) of 57 patients with bloody stools, Campylobacter spp . 15 (26.3%), Salmonella spp . 14 (24.6%) and Yersinia enterocolitica 2 . We were not able to detect VT genes by PCR from 11 of 20 patients from whose stools no causative bacteria were isolated . Massive fresh bloody stools following frequent watery diarrhea were typical of the VTEC enteritis patients . Only 1 patient had fever and 2 had leukocytosis, but the C-reactive protein in all of them was below 1+ . The VTEC strains were isolated during the summer season, 1 in June, 2 in July, and 3 in September . Since in the area O157:H7 appeared to be the most prevalent VTEC serotype, SMAC is very useful for screening VTEC in bloody stools . VTEC seems to be a rare pathogen of intussusception because the organisms were detected from none of the 30 patients. Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1995 Jun, 69(6), 666 - 72 Fumarate hydration test for differentiation of Campylobacter and Helicobacter species; Shingaki M et al.; A total of 65 Campylobacter and Helicobacter strains comprising 15 species were tested for fumarate hydration by using a rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method . All strains of C . jejuni, C . coli, C . jejuni subsp . doylei, C . fetus, C . hyointestinalis, C . lari, "C . lari variant", C . upsaliensis, H . fennelliae and H . pylori hydrated fumarate, whereas no strains of C . sputorum (all three biovars), H . cinaedi or H . mustelae did . L-malic acid was detected in the supernatant of the cultures of all strains that hydrated fumarate, but not in the culture supernatant of any of the strains that failed to hydrate fumarate . These findings show that all Campylobacter and Helicobacter strains that hydrated fumarate were able to form L-malic acid from fumarate . HPLC determination of organic acid is a rapid method that requires no chemical treatment before analysis . Because it is reproducible, the HPLC fumarate hydration test should be useful as conventional method for identification of Campylobacter and Helicobacter spp. Brain, 1995 Jun, 118 ( Pt 3), 597 - 605 Guillain-Barré syndrome in northern China . Relationship to Campylobacter jejuni infection and anti-glycolipid antibodies; Ho TW et al.; Guillain-Barre syndrome has been considered to be primarily an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) . Our experience with Guillain-Barre syndrome in northern China differs from the traditional concept . Electrophysiologically and pathologically, most of our patients have motor axonal degeneration with minimal cellular inflammation, which we have termed 'acute motor axonal neuropathy' (AMAN) . The current studies were undertaken to characterize prospectively the clinical, electrophysiological, and serological features of Guillain-Barre syndrome, defined clinically, in northern China . In 1991 and 1992, we characterized by electrodiagnostic criteria 129 Chinese patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome . The AMAN form was present in 65% of patients, the AIDP form in 24% and 11% were unclassifiable . For the 38 patients who presented from January to October, 1992, we performed serological assays for antibodies to Campylobacter jejuni and to glycolipids . Of these 38 patients, 55% had AMAN, 32% had AIDP and 13% were unclassifiable . Sixty-six percent of the 38 had serological evidence of recent C . jejuni infection as compared with 16% of village controls (P = 0.001) . Seventy-six percent of AMAN patients and 42% of AIDP patients were seropositive . IgG anti-GM1 antibodies were more frequent in Guillain-Barre syndrome patients compared with village controls (42% versus 6%; P < 0.01) . However, no statistically significant correlations were found between the pattern of disease, AMAN or AIDP, anti-glycolipid antibodies, or C . jejuni antibodies . Based on electrophysiological criteria, Guillain-Barre syndrome in northern China can be divided into two predominant forms: AIDP and AMAN . The AMAN form is more common and predominates in the yearly summer outbreaks of Guillain-Barre syndrome.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1995 Jun, 14(6), 539 - 42 Comparison of two selective media and a membrane filter technique for isolation of Campylobacter species from diarrhoeal stools; Piersimoni C et al.; Diarrhoeal stool specimens from 415 patients were examined for Campylobacter spp . by culture on charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar (CCDA), Skirrow medium and Columbia blood agar overlaid with a 0.65 micron pore size membrane filter . Forty-eight Campylobacter strains were isolated from 45 (10.8%) specimens by all media; 44 were Campylobacter jejuni (91.7%), three were Campylobacter coli (6.3%) and one was Campylobacter hyointestinalis (2.0%) . The percentages of Campylobacter-positive specimens isolated on Skirrow medium, CCDA and the membrane filter were 62, 82 and 95%, respectively . The recovery of more Campylobacter spp . from the same stool sample was achieved by the membrane filter method only . The highest isolation rate (100%) was observed when culture on CCDA and the membrane filter method were combined. J Clin Periodontol, 1995 Jun, 22(6), 449 - 58 Some suspected periodontopathogens and serum antibody response in adult long-duration insulin-dependent diabetics; Thorstensson H et al.; The subgingival microflora and serum antibody response were examined in long-duration insulin-dependent diabetics and age- and sex-matched non-diabetics . The material consisted of 9 diabetics aged 40-49 years and 19 aged 50-59 years, 13 non-diabetics aged 40-49 years and 21 aged 50-59 years . The bacterial species studied (Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Campylobacter rectus, Capnocytophaga spp, Eikenella corrodens, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia) were recovered in diabetics as well as in non-diabetics . Significantly more diabetics in both age groups harboured P . gingivalis compared to non-diabetics . Prevalence of P . gingivalis was associated with deepened periodontal pockets among non-diabetics but not among diabetics . In diabetics and non-diabetics, the serum antibody titres for most antigens were similar. Mol Biotechnol, 1995 Jun, 3(3), 266 - 8 Detection and identification of Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni by two-step polymerase chain reaction; Comi G et al.; Flagellin gene was used as target sequence to detect and distinguish C . coli and C . jejuni by a "nested PCR" technique . The method shows a high level of sensitivity and specificity . Application of this rapid diagnostic tool could provide further information about epidemiological and pathogenetic implications of each of these two microorganisms. Clin Infect Dis, 1995 Jun, 20 Suppl 2, S304 - 7 Detection of putative periodontal pathogens in subgingival specimens by 16S ribosomal DNA amplification with the polymerase chain reaction; Slots J et al.; The utility of the 16S ribosomal RNA-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Bacteroides forsythus, Campylobacter rectus, Eikenella corrodens, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Treponema denticola was examined and compared with that of anaerobic culture . Primer pairs consisting of 20-27 nucleotides amplified 404- to 688-bp regions of 16S ribosomal RNA genes of these organisms . This method had a lower detection limit of 50 target cells in a background of 10(7) cells . Its specificity for B . forsythus, P . gingivalis, and T . denticola seemed high . The primers for A . actinomycetemcomitans, C . rectus, and P . intermedia cross-reacted with some closely related species but did not reveal amplification products in tests w