J Clin Pharmacol, 2002 Aug, 42(8), 846 - 66 Risk assessment in regulatory policy making for human and veterinary public health; Lathers CM; Risk assessment is the method of systematically identifying and assessing factors that influence the probability and consequences of a negative event occurring . One responsibility of veterinary medicine is to protect animal and human health . Food animal production uses antibiotics to enhance production . Regulators evaluate new production technology to ensure animal safety and safe, edible products and to make public policy decisions by assessing risks/benefits . The U.S . Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine's (CVM's) first risk assessment addressed the potential human health impact of campylobacter effects associated with the use of fluoroquinolines in food-producing animals . CVM used the Monte Carlo method to estimate risk byprobability distributions that reflect the uncertainty and variability in the data used for the assessment . Enterococci faecium is a species more likely to be resistant to antibiotics of last resort . Effective control of multidrug-resistant enterococci will requirea better understanding of the transfer of E . faeciumfrom animals to humans and the interaction between E . faecium, the hospital environment, and humans; prudent antibiotic use; better contact isolation in hospitals; and better surveillance . CVM will model these factors in a second, more complex risk assessment designed to examine the indirect transfer of resistance from animals to humans . Use of risk assessments allows researchers, the industry, regulatory authorities, and educators to make better policy decisions regarding antimicrobial use in food animals and humans and the development of resistance . Today the question of whether the use of antimicrobials for growth enhancement infood animals should or should not be terminated for the benefit of human health remains unresolved. Trends Microbiol, 2002 Aug, 10(8), 370 - 5 Is the molecular basis of metronidazole resistance in microaerophilic organisms understood? Mendz GL, Megraud F. Metronidazole is an antibiotic that has been effective against many microaerophilic microorganisms with importance in medicine and animal husbandry . The development of increasing resistance against current treatments by many of these organisms has created an urgent need to establish the molecular bases of resistance, knowledge which will help to develop novel diagnostic methods and identify new therapeutic targets . Significant progress has been made in understanding resistance to this antibiotic in the human pathogens Helicobacter pylori and, to a lesser extent, Campylobacter spp . However, insufficient knowledge of the physiology and genetics of these and other related bacteria has led to investigations based on hypotheses that themselves must be established more thoroughly . This review presents the status of our current knowledge of metronidazole resistance and outlines reasons to explain some of the conflicting evidence and controversy in the interpretation of results in this area. J Appl Microbiol, 2002, 93(2), 241 - 9 Genetic basis of quinolone resistance and epidemiology of resistant and susceptible isolates of porcine Campylobacter coli strains; Cooper R et al.; AIMS: The aims of this study were to investigate the epidemiology of quinolone-resistant and -susceptible porcine isolates of Campylobacter coli and to characterize the genetic basis of quinolone resistance . METHODS AND RESULTS: Penner serotyping and flagellin gene sequence polymorphisms were used to investigate the epidemiology of the C . coli isolates . A total of 55 isolates were included, of which 30 were paired resistant and susceptible isolates from 15 pigs . Amplification of gyrA, gyrB and parC, followed by direct sequencing of amplicons was used to identify mutations in the targets of quinolones . Overall, 31 of the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin (minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), 2- >or = 32 microg x ml(-1)) . Thirteen DdeI-flaA profiles were observed and resistant and susceptible strains were identified for nine profiles . The majority of resistant strains exhibited either profile 1 or 6 . While profile 1 comprised susceptible and resistant strains, all of the strains with profile 6 were resistant to ciprofloxacin . The serogroup (O:24) of the profile 6 strains was identical . The only other serogroup to be uniformly associated with quinolone resistance was O:5 . Strains with this phenotype comprised a number of genotypes, including profile 1 . Only four of the paired isolates from individual pigs had the same profile . The genetic basis of quinolone resistance was investigated in two strains with ciprofloxacin MICs of 2 and > or = 32 miccrog x ml(-1), respectively . The amino acid substitution of isoleucine for threonine at position 86 was identified in the GyrA proteins from both strains . No mutations were identified in the GyrB proteins . CONCLUSIONS: There was an association between two of the genotypes, serotypes 5 and 24, and quinolone resistance . The association between genotype, serotype and resistance in C . coli isolates has not been reported previously . Only the mutation in GyrA associated with quinolone resistance was identified . No mutations in GyrB were identified . Amplification products of parC were not obtained and it may be that this gene is not present in some Campylobacter spp . SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study provides data on the distribution of ciprofloxacin resistance between subtypes of C . coli. Gastroenterology, 2002 Aug, 123(2), 542 - 53 Helicobacter pylori impairs DNA mismatch repair in gastric epithelial cells; Kim JJ et al.; BACKGROUND & AIMS: Helicobacter pylori infection is a major gastric cancer risk factor . H . pylori gastritis occurs more frequently in individuals with microsatellite instability-positive than those with microsatellite instability-negative gastric cancers, raising the possibility that H . pylori infection affects DNA mismatch repair (MMR) . The aim of this study was to determine the effect of H . pylori on the expression of DNA MMR proteins and RNA in gastric epithelial cells . METHODS: Gastric cancer cell lines were cocultured with H . pylori, bacterial extracts, and Campylobacter jejuni or Escherichia coli . MutS (hMSH2 and hMSH6) and MutL (hMLH1, hPMS2, and hPMS1) DNA MMR protein and RNA levels were determined . RESULTS: All cell lines examined showed decreased levels of MutS and MutL DNA MMR proteins in a dose-dependent manner after coculture with H . pylori strains . The reduction in DNA MMR protein levels was caused by heat-sensitive H . pylori products . The levels of DNA MMR proteins were affected by C . jejuni but not by E . coli . RNA levels of hMSH2 and hMSH6 were also reduced after exposure to H . pylori . CONCLUSIONS: H . pylori infection of gastric epithelial cells leads to a decrease in DNA MMR proteins that is at least in part related to an H . pylori-induced decrease in messenger RNA levels of repair genes . These data suggest that H . pylori infection might lead to a deficiency of DNA MMR in gastric epithelial cells that may increase the risk of mutation accumulation in gastric mucosa cells and the risk of gastric cancer during chronic H . pylori infection. Neurology, 2002 Jul 23, 59(2), 282 - 4 Multifocal motor neuropathy and Campylobacter jejuni reactivity; Terenghi F et al.; In some patients, Campylobacter jejuni infection has been associated with the development of multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) and high titers of antiganglioside antibodies . The authors measured anti-C . jejuni antibodies by ELISA and immunoblot in 20 patients with MMN, and correlated their presence with antiganglioside reactivity and a history of recent diarrhea . Only one patient had high titers of anti-C . jejuni antibodies, indicating that C . jejuni is unlikely to be involved in the pathogenesis of MMN in most patients. J R Soc Health, 2002 Jun, 122(2), 95 - 8 Dogs, zoonoses and immunosuppression; Robinson RA et al.; Dogs are the source of a wide range of zoonotic infections that pose a significant threat to human health . This is particularly the case for immunocompromised people, although there are few robust studies that determine immunosuppression as a risk factor for transmission of zoonoses from dogs to humans . An increasing proportion of human society is immunodeficient, principally through the advent of HIV infection and through more people, particularly the expanding elderly group, being subjected to immunosuppressive agents . This is happening at a time when more such people are capitalizing on the acknowledged benefits of dog ownership, making for a potentially dangerous mix . Enteric pathogens (for example, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Cryptosporidium species, that may be canine derived) are a frequent risk to the health of immunocompromised persons . Veterinarians and physicians can be criticised for not communicating with each other, and for not providing adequate risk assessment to pet owners . There is scope for voluntary groups to provide information and support for the immunosuppressed who wish to keep their dogs . Key recommendations are to maintain a clean personal environment and intact mucocutaneous barriers . Public health professionals could help rectify the current communications gap between veterinary and medical staff and so facilitate in the appropriate management of dog-owning immunocompromised people. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2002 Aug, 46(8), 2644 - 7 gyrA polymorphism in Campylobacter jejuni: detection of gyrA mutations in 162 C . jejuni isolates by single-strand conformation polymorphism and DNA sequencing; Hakanen A et al.; Mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining region of the gyrA gene from 138 ciprofloxacin-resistant (MIC, > or =4 microg/ml) and 24 ciprofloxacin-susceptible (MIC, < or =1 microg/ml) clinical Campylobacter jejuni isolates were subjected to single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and sequencing . All of the isolates could be assigned to three genotypic clusters based on silent mutations . All resistant isolates had a point mutation at codon 86. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, 2002 Aug, 283(2), G309 - 18 Helicobacter pylori induces apoptosis of rat gastric parietal cells; Neu B et al.; Gastric Helicobacter pylori infection may lead to multifocal atrophic corpus gastritis associated with loss of epithelial cells as well as glandular structures . The current work investigated H . pylori effects on cell death of isolated, nontransformed rat parietal cells (PC) . Highly enriched rat PC (>97%) were isolated from gastric mucosa and cultured in serum-free medium over 24 h . The cells were cocultured over 8 h with cytotoxin-associated immunodominant protein (cagA)(+)/vacuolating toxin (vacA)(+) or with cagA(-)/vacA(-) H . pylori laboratory strains and also with H . pylori mutants deleted in several genes of the cag pathogenicity island . Staphylococcus aureus or Campylobacter jejuni were used as controls . Apoptosis was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling staining and electron microscopy . Interleukin (IL)-8 and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-1 secretion was measured by ELISA . Activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) was studied in nuclear extracts of PC by electrophoretic mobility shift assay . Apoptosis of PC was induced in a concentration- and time-dependent manner by cagA(+)/vacA(+) H . pylori strains but not by cagA(-)/vacA(-) negative strains or by the cagE knockout mutant . S . aureus and C . jejuni had no effect . PC showed no IL-8 or CINC-1 secretion on exposure to cagA(+)/vacA(+) H . pylori . cagA(+)/vacA(+) strains induced activation of NF-kappaB complexes in nuclear extracts of PC, which were composed of p65 and p50 subunits . No significant stimulation of NF-kappaB activation was detected by incubation of PC with the cagE knockout mutant . Preincubation of PC with antisense but not missense oligodeoxynucleotides against the p65 subunit significantly reduced DNA binding to the kappaB recognition sequence . The p65 oligonucleotides as well as the proteasome inhibitor N-CBZ-isoleucin-glutamin-(o-t-butyl-)-alanin-leucin and the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine completely prevented PC apoptosis induced by cagA(+)/vacA(+) strains . In summary, cagE presence appears to be essential for H . pylori-induced apoptosis of gastric parietal cells, and this effect is dependent on the activation of NF-kappaB and production of nitric oxide. Infection, 2002 Jun, 30(3), 171 - 4 Recurrent septicemia due to Campylobacter fetus and Campylobacter lari in an immunocompetent patient; Krause R et al.; We describe a severe and recurrent septicemia due to Campylobacter in a 75-year-old immunocompetent patient . Two Campylobacter strains were detected in several blood cultures . Campylobacter fetus and Campylobacter lari were identified with PCR tests based on species-specific nucleotide sequences for the 16S rRNA gene. Infection, 2002 Jun, 30(3), 132 - 5 Clinical dysentery in hospitalized children; Finkelstein Y et al.; BACKGROUND: Clinical dysentery is a severe presentation of an enteric infection . The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of a serious bacterial etiology in clinical dysentery in hospitalized children and determine if children at high risk can be identified on the basis of clinical or laboratory parameters . PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study design was used . The study population included 60 children admitted to our department with clinical dysentery over a 16-month period . Fresh stool specimens were collected on days 1, 2 and 3 . The clinical and laboratory data of the children were analyzed . RESULTS: Clinical dysentery accounted for 1.7% of all pediatric hospitalizations during this period . Stool cultures were positive for Shigella spp . in 18 children (30%), and Salmonella spp . in 15 children (25%), Campylobacter jejuni was identified in one patient (2%) . There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics or laboratory parameters between children with positive and negative stool cultures . CONCLUSION: 40% of the children hospitalized for clinical dysentery were eligible for antibiotic treatment . Early administration of empiric antibiotic treatment is justified in children hospitalized for clinical dysentery in Israel . Clinical or laboratory parameters were unable to differentiate those with clinical dysentery at risk of serous bacterial pathogens in stool. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 2002 Jun 28, 51(25), 548 - 9 Outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni infections associated with drinking unpasteurized milk procured through a cow-leasing program--Wisconsin, 2001. Could laboratory-based notification improve the control of foodborne illness in New Zealand? Auckland Regional Public Health . gregs@adhb.govt.nz AIMS: To estimate the completeness and timeliness of notifications of seven potentially foodborne diseases in Auckland . METHODS: The diseases audited were shigellosis, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, yersiniosis, listeriosis, hepatitis A and verocytotoxigenic (VTEC) E . coli infections . Hospital and community laboratory-confirmed cases for the calendar year 2000 were audited against those notified to the Auckland Regional Public Health Service . Cases were matched on disease, name, date of birth, gender and National Health Index number . RESULTS: There were 3182 laboratory-confirmed cases of the seven diseases identified of which 77% had been notified to the Auckland Regional Public Health Service . The proportion of laboratory-confirmed cases notified ranged from a 65% for hepatitis A to 100% for VTEC infection . The median delay between laboratory confirmation and practitioner notification was two days . Notification of all laboratory-confirmed cases would have resulted in an estimated 145 additional investigations in the year 2000 . CONCLUSION: A change to laboratory-based notification could improve public health investigation and control of foodborne disease in New Zealand. Epidemiol Infect, 2002 Jun, 128(3), 529 - 31 The impact of sporadic campylobacter and salmonella infection on health and health related behaviour: a case control study; Smith GE et al.; The aim of the work was to explore the impact on general and psychological health of those with a proven bacterial gastrointestinal infection and to compare this with controls from whom no bacterial pathogen was identified . A case control study was conducted using an interviewer-administered questionnaire . Thirty-nine cases from whose faeces salmonella or campylobacter had been cultured were compared with matched controls . Reported gastrointestinal symptoms, general health and self-reported hygiene practices were compared . At the time of acute illness the General Household Questionnaire suggested similar levels of morbidity, though by follow up the controls were substantially more likely to be distressed . Cases were more likely to have changed their food preparation practices, to avoid certain eating places and to have been given advice about food preparation . In this small study a positive diagnosis of salmonella or campylobacter seems to have had a reassuring effect when compared with those for whom no diagnosis was made. Epidemiol Infect, 2002 Jun, 128(3), 383 - 90 The seasonal distribution of campylobacter infection in nine European countries and New Zealand; Nylen G et al.; In all temperate countries campylobacter infection in humans follows a striking seasonal pattern, but little attention has been given to exploring the epidemiological explanations . In order to better characterize the seasonal patterns, data from nine European countries and New Zealand have been examined . Several European countries with weekly data available showed remarkably consistent seasonal patterns from year to year, with peaks in week 22 in Wales, week 26 in Scotland, week 32 in Denmark, week 30 in Finland and week 33 in Sweden . In Europe, the seasonal peak was most prominent in Finland and least prominent in Scotland and Austria . In New Zealand the seasonality was less consistent since the peak was more prolonged . Possible explanations for the seasonal peaks are discussed . Research into the causes of campylobacter seasonality should help considerably in elucidating the sources of human infection. Acta Vet Hung, 2002, 50(2), 189 - 97 Development of an antibiotic resistance monitoring system in Hungary; Kaszanyitzky EJ et al.; Because of the rapid development and spread of antimicrobial resistance it is important that a system be established to monitor antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic zoonotic and commensal bacteria of animal origin . Susceptibility testing of bacteria from carcasses and different samples of animal origin has been carried out in veterinary institutes for a long time but by an inconsistent methodology . The disc diffusion method proposed by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) was introduced in all institutes in 1997 . In order to obtain a coherent view of the antimicrobial resistance of bacteria a computer system was consulted, consisting of a central computer to store all data and some local computers attached to it through the network . At these local measuring stations computers are connected to a video camera, which displays the picture of Petri dishes on the monitor, and inhibition zone diameters of bacteria can be drawn with the mouse by the inspector . The software measures the diameters, evaluates whether or not the bacteria are sensitive, and stores the data . The evaluation is based upon the data of the NCCLS . The central computer can be connected to as many local computers with measuring stations as we wish, so it is suitable for an integrated system for monitoring trends in antimicrobial resistance of bacteria from animals, food and humans, facilitating comparison of the occurrence of resistance for each circumstance in the chain . It depends on the examiners which antibiotics they want to examine . Thirty-two different antibiotic panels were compiled, taking into consideration the active ingredients of medicinal products permitted for veterinary use in Hungary, natural resistance and cross-resistance, the mechanism of resistance and the animal species, i.e . which drugs were recommended for treatment in the given animal species, and the recommendations of the OIE Expert Group on Antimicrobial Resistance . The members of the panels can be changed any time, even during the measuring process . In addition to the inhibition zone diameters of bacteria the database also includes information about bacterial and animal species, the age of animals and the sample or organ where the bacteria are from . Since January 2001 the antibiotic susceptibility of E . coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Enterococcus strains isolated from the colons of slaughter cows, pigs and broiler chickens has also been examined . Each of the 19 counties of Hungary submits to the laboratory three tied colon samples from a herd of the above-mentioned animals every month. Commun Dis Public Health, 2001 Dec, 4(4), 293 - 9 Microbiological examination of ready-to-eat burgers sampled anonymously at the point of sale in the United Kingdom; Little CL et al.; During May and June 1999 a microbiological study of ready-to-eat burgers purchased anonymously from burger outlets (combined take-away and burger restaurants, take-away-only fixed premises, mobile vendors, temporary stalls and other burger outlets) was undertaken . The intention was to determine the microbiological quality of ready-to-eat burgers as purchased by customers of take-away premises and to ascertain, where information was available, whether the Chief Medical Officer's advice on cooking burgers was being followed . Examination of 3,128 ready-to-eat burgers found that 2,868 (92%) were of acceptable quality and 260 (8%) were of unsatisfactory quality . Unsatisfactory results were mostly due to high aerobic colony counts (ACCs) . Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp . and Escherichia coli O157 were not detected in any of the samples examined . Acceptable microbiological quality of ready-to-eat burgers was associated with outlets, such as combined take-away and burger restaurants and in particular national franchise outlets, which had management food hygiene training and hazard analysis in place . Poor microbiological quality was associated with undercooking and local outlets as indicated by Local Authority Inspectors' Consumers at Risk scores. J Bacteriol, 2002 Aug, 184(15), 4187 - 96 Growth of Campylobacter jejuni supported by respiration of fumarate, nitrate, nitrite, trimethylamine-N-oxide, or dimethyl sulfoxide requires oxygen; Sellars MJ et al.; The human gastrointestinal pathogen Campylobacter jejuni is a microaerophilic bacterium with a respiratory metabolism . The genome sequence of C . jejuni strain 11168 reveals the presence of genes that encode terminal reductases that are predicted to allow the use of a wide range of alternative electron acceptors to oxygen, including fumarate, nitrate, nitrite, and N- or S-oxides . All of these reductase activities were present in cells of strain 11168, and the molybdoenzyme encoded by Cj0264c was shown by mutagenesis to be responsible for both trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) reduction . Nevertheless, growth of C . jejuni under strictly anaerobic conditions (with hydrogen or formate as electron donor) in the presence of any of the electron acceptors tested was insignificant . However, when fumarate, nitrate, nitrite, TMAO, or DMSO was added to microaerobic cultures in which the rate of oxygen transfer was severely restricted, clear increases in both the growth rate and final cell density compared to what was seen with the control were obtained, indicative of electron acceptor-dependent energy conservation . The C . jejuni genome encodes a single class I-type ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) which requires oxygen to generate a tyrosyl radical for catalysis . Electron microscopy of cells that had been incubated under strictly anaerobic conditions with an electron acceptor showed filamentation due to an inhibition of cell division similar to that induced by the RNR inhibitor hydroxyurea . An oxygen requirement for DNA synthesis can thus explain the lack of anaerobic growth of C . jejuni . The results indicate that strict anaerobiosis is a stress condition for C . jejuni but that alternative respiratory pathways can contribute significantly to energy conservation under oxygen-limited conditions, as might be found in vivo. Acta Pharmacol Sin, 2002 Jul, 23(7), 638 - 44 Effect of esculentoside A on autoimmunity in mice and its possible mechanisms; Xiao ZY et al.; AIM: To investigate the influence of esculentoside A (EsA) on autoimmunity in mice and its possible mechanisms . METHODS: The level of anti-ds DNA antibody, proliferation of lymphoid cells, and inflammation by pathologic section of joint in mice were examined . The autoimmunity model is made through immunizing mice with formaldehyde treated Campylobacter jejuni strain CJ-S131 and Freund's complete adjuvant . The apoptosis of T cell was analyzed through morphology and flow cytometry (FACS) . The expression of ICAM-1 mRNA in human umbilical vein endothelial cell line (ECV304) was determined by coupled reverse transcription and PCR amplification (RT-PCR) . RESULTS: EsA could potently lower the level of anti-ds DNA antibody, inhibit the proliferation of lymphoid cells, and ameliorate inflammation in the joint of model mouse . The apoptosis of thymocyte activated by ConA was markedly accelerated while the expression of ICAM-1 mRNA in ECV304 was decreased by EsA . CONCLUSION: EsA has the positive curative effect on autoimmunity in a mouse model, which may function through inhibition of expression of ICAM-1 mRNA in ECV304 and acceleration of thymocyte apoptosis. Mol Microbiol, 2002 Jul, 45(1), 255 - 62 Molecular microbiology and pathogenesis of Helicobacter and Campylobacter updated: a meeting report of the 11th conference on Campylobacter, Helicobacter and related organisms; Bereswill S et al.; The genome analysis of the gastrointestinal pathogens Helicobacter and Campylobacter has stimulated a wealth of new research activities, which are presented every 2 years at the international conferences on Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Related Organisms (CHRO) . Both organisms represent excellent models for the identification of new molecular mechanisms involved in pathogenesis, host response and physiological adaptation in course of acute and chronic infectious diseases . The investigation of their global distribution, pronounced genetic and antigenic diversity as well as the molecular mechanisms allowing long-term persistence in hostile and unusual microbial habitats, is a challenge for scientists of many different disciplines world-wide . With a focus on the molecular microbiology aspects, this review summarizes recent trends in Helicobacter and Campylobacter research by highlighting selected presentations at the 11th CHRO conference . The topics include the discovery of new virulence factors, functional analysis of protein secretion systems, host signalling pathways, adaptation to stress conditions, global gene regulation, and genetic variability. J Food Prot, 2002 Jun, 65(6), 957 - 62 Diversity of Campylobacter isolates from retail poultry carcasses and from humans as demonstrated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis; Dickins MA et al.; Campylobacter spp . are a major contaminant of poultry . Eating undercooked chicken and handling raw poultry have been identified as risk factors for campylobacteriosis in humans . Previous studies have found Campylobacter spp . on 90% of poultry carcasses . In the present study, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to assess the genetic diversity of strains on retail poultry carcasses . PFGE patterns of isolates from campylobacteriosis cases were compared to those from the poultry isolates . Over a 1-year study period (March 2000 through February 2001), whole fresh young chickens (n = 72) were obtained from three retail outlets in an urban community in the south-central United States . Campylobacter spp . were isolated from 82% of these carcasses . Strains (n = 70) were defined on the basis of their PFGE pattern . Sixty-seven percent of the carcasses from which Campylobacter spp . were isolated were contaminated with more than one PFGE-distinguishable strain . During the 1-year study period, most of the PFGE patterns (59%) were limited to isolates obtained from a single carcass . Forty-one percent of the PFGE-distinguishable strains were recovered from more than one carcass . Ninety-seven percent of the carcasses contaminated with the same strain were purchased at the same time from the same store . To examine the degree of genetic stability, four strains were followed in vitro over an estimated 1,000 doublings . The PFGE pattern of one of these isolates underwent minor changes during in vitro growth . The data indicate extensive variability in the PFGE patterns of Campylobacter spp . isolated from humans and from poultry carcasses . In spite of difficulties caused by such diversity and the fact that some carcasses are contaminated with more than one strain, the pattern variation provides a useful method for linking a particular strain to its source. J Food Prot, 2002 Jun, 65(6), 948 - 56 Microbial profile and antibiotic susceptibility of Campylobacter spp . and Salmonella spp . in broilers processed in air-chilled and immersion-chilled environments; Sanchez MX et al.; Carcass chilling is considered a critical step for inhibiting bacterial growth during poultry processing . The objective of this study was to compare microbiological loads and the incidence of Salmonella spp . and Campylobacter spp . on broiler carcasses subjected to immersion chilling and air chilling . Additionally, the antibiotic resistance patterns of pathogen isolates were determined . The results of this study indicated that the incidence of Salmonella spp . and Campylobacter spp . tends to be significantly lower in air-chilled broilers, suggesting that cross-contamination may be more prevalent for immersion-chilled broilers . No significant differences were detected between chilling treatments for total aerobic populations or for generic E . coli or coliform counts . Psychrotrophic populations were significantly larger (P < 0.05) in immersion-chilled broilers than in their air-chilled counterparts . Campylobacter isolates from immersion-chilled broilers had a higher incidence of resistance to nalidixic acid (NAL) and related fluoroquinolones than isolates from air-chilled broilers did . Additionally, Campylobacter isolates from air-chilled broilers had a higher frequency of resistance to tetracycline than isolates from immersion-chilled broilers did . With regard to Salmonella, isolates from immersion-chilled broilers had a higher incidence of resistance to NAL than isolates from air-chilled samples did . No Salmonella isolates from immersion- or air-chilled broilers were resistant to the fluoroquinolones tested . The chilling method used during processing may influence the microbial profile of postchilled broilers. J Food Prot, 2002 Jun, 65(6), 931 - 6 Potential for the spread of Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella, and Campylobacter in the lairage environment at abattoirs; Small A et al.; Prevalences of Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella spp., and Campylobacter spp . were examined in 270 swabs taken from selected sites along the unloading-to-slaughter routes of animal movement in lairages of six commercial abattoirs, three for cattle and three for sheep . The overall prevalences of the pathogens in the respective lairage environments were compared with those for 270 swabs from the pelts of 90 lambs examined in the present study and 270 swabs from the hides of 90 cattle examined in a previous study that were slaughtered at the same abattoirs on the same days . Also, the results obtained were analyzed with the aim of identifying critical points at which animal-environment-animal transfer of the pathogens in lairages occurs . The results showed that (i) the overall prevalences of E . coli O157, Salmonella spp., and Campylobacter spp . were 27.2, 6.1, and 1.1%, respectively, in cattle lairages and 2.2, 1.1, and 5.6%, respectively, in sheep lairages; (ii) the overall prevalences of the three pathogens on cow hides (28.8, 17.7, and 0%, respectively) and sheep pelts (5.5, 7.8, and 0%, respectively) were higher than the overall prevalences in the respective lairage environments; (iii) the most frequently contaminated sites in cattle lairages were holding pen floors (50% of swabs positive for one or more pathogens), entrance gates of stun boxes (27.8% of swabs positive for one or more pathogens), and stun box floors (22.2% of swabs positive for one or more pathogens); (iv) the most frequently contaminated sites in sheep lairages were unloading ramp floors, holding pen floors, and water troughs (33.3, 22.2, and 22.2%, respectively); and (v) overall, cattle lairages and cow hides were more frequently contaminated with the pathogens than were lamb lairages and lamb pelts . Further research is needed to develop strategies for the incorporation of pathogen control in lairages into integrated microbial meat safety systems. J Clin Microbiol, 2002 Jul, 40(7), 2601 - 5 Transmission of Campylobacter hyointestinalis from a pig to a human; Gorkiewicz G et al.; We report on a case of human gastroenteritis caused by the pathogen Campylobacter hyointestinalis . Recurrent watery diarrhea and intermittent vomiting were the most significant symptoms of the previously healthy patient . Whole-cell protein electrophoresis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were used to identify this Campylobacter species . Investigation of the patient's surroundings led to the recovery of a second C . hyointestinalis strain originating from porcine feces . Subsequent typing of the human and the porcine isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed similar macrorestriction profiles, indicating transmission of this pathogen. J Neurol Sci, 2002 Jul 15, 199(1-2), 89 - 92 Hyperreflexia in axonal Guillain-Barré syndrome subsequent to Campylobacter jejuni enteritis; Kuwabara S et al.; We describe a patient with the acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) form of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), who showed generalized hyperreflexia . A 24-year-old man developed acute paralysis following Campylobacter jejuni enteritis . He showed exaggerated tendon reflexes with abnormal reflex spread to other segments, and was initially diagnosed as having post-infectious myelitis . Nerve conduction studies showed motor axonal degeneration (the AMAN pattern), and increased soleus H-reflex amplitudes . His serum was positive for IgG antibodies to gangliosides GM1b and GalNAc-GD1a . He was treated with plasmapheresis, resulting in rapid recovery . Hyperreflexia was still present 12 months after onset when muscle strength was completely normal . This case provides further evidence that patients with AMAN can develop increased motor neuron excitability, and possible mechanisms for the hyperreflexia are discussed. Rinsho Shinkeigaku, 2001 Nov, 41(11), 801 - 4 {Anti-GQ1b IgG-negative case of overlapping Fisher's and Gullain-Barré syndromes after Campylobacter jejuni (PEN 19) enteritis}; Hayashi Y et al.; We described a 70-year-old woman with overlapping Fisher's syndrome (FS) and Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), from whom Campylobacter jejuni had been isolated . In typical FS as well as GBS with ophthalmoplegia and acute ophthalmoparesis without ataxia, serum anti-GQ1b IgG antibody often is detected and ophthalmoplegia is characterized by the predominant abducens palsy . This patient, however, showed marked oculomotor nerve disturbance . Serum anti-GQ1b IgG antibody was negative and IgG antibodies against GM1, GM1b, and GD1a were strongly positive . Although FS and overlap of FS/GBS have been reported to be associated with PEN2 of C . jejuni, the isolate from our case belonged to PEN 19 . C . jejuni serotype may be associated with clinical manifestations and anti-ganglioside antibody species. Vet Microbiol, 2002 Jun 5, 87(1), 37 - 49 Monoclonal antibodies specific for Campylobacter fetus lipopolysaccharides; Brooks BW et al.; Four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) (M1357, M1360, M1823 and M1825) which reacted with Campylobacter fetus lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core region epitopes were produced and characterized . Reactivity of these mAbs with C . fetus core LPS epitopes was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with whole cell proteinase K digests and phenol-water extracted LPS, and by immunoblotting with proteinase K digests . The specificities of the four mAbs were evaluated using an indirect ELISA . One of the mAbs reacted with 42 and three of the mAbs reacted with 41 of the 42 C . fetus strains examined . No reaction was observed between the four mAbs and 32 non-C . fetus bacteria tested, with the exception of one mAb with one organism . The four mAbs reacted with serotype A and B strains indicating the presence of shared epitopes in C . fetus LPS core oligosaccharides . The specificities of three mAbs previously produced to C . fetus LPS O-antigens (M1177, M1183 and M1194) were also evaluated and no reaction was observed with these mAbs and the 32 non-C . fetus bacteria tested . Strong immunofluorescence reactions were observed with the anti-O chain mAbs and selected C . fetus strains of the homologous serotype . These anti-LPS core oligosaccharide and anti-LPS O chain mAbs are highly specific for C . fetus and are potentially useful as immunodiagnostic reagents for detection, identification and characterization of C . fetus. Poult Sci, 2002 Jun, 81(6), 896 - 903 Effect of electron beam irradiation on poultry meat safety and quality; Lewis SJ et al.; The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of electron beam irradiation at doses of 1.0 and 1.8 kGy on the elimination of bacteria from boneless, skinless chicken breasts without significantly altering product quality . Microbial testing was conducted in triplicate using a whole carcass rinse method with each nonirradiated control group and an irradiation treatment group consisting of 10 samples . Results indicated that mean counts for coliforms, generic Escherichia coli, and psychrotrophs were 3.13, 3.26, and 1.92 log10 cfu/200 mL rinsate, respectively, in the control samples . However, these populations were not detected after the samples were irradiated with 1.0 or 1.8 kGy . Mean count of 4.60 log10 cfu/200 mL rinsate was detected for aerobic bacteria in the control samples . Irradiation doses of 1.0 and 1.8 kGy reduced the levels to 2.23 and 1.62 log10 cfu/200 mL rinsate, respectively . Irradiation also rendered the fillets free of Salmonella and Campylobacter . Consumer taste panels (product stored for 0, 14, and 28 d at 0 C) indicated that, at Day 0, there were no differences among controls and treatment groups for any of the quality attributes tested . At Day 14, texture and flavor attributes were lower for the irradiated groups . At Day 28, samples irradiated with 1.0 and 1.8 kGy were less desirable with decreased texture, flavor, and overall acceptability . Degree of lipid oxidation also increased as storage time and level of irradiation increased . Irradiated samples also had higher a* values, indicating they were pinker in color. Poult Sci, 2002 Jun, 81(6), 780 - 4 Carbohydrate-based cocktails that decrease the population of Salmonella and Campylobacter in the crop of broiler chickens subjected to feed withdrawal; Hinton A Jr et al.; The efficacy of various carbohydrate-based cocktails in reducing the number of enteropathogens in the crops of broilers subjected to feed withdrawal was examined . Market-aged broilers that had been orally challenged with Salmonella typhimurium were provided the cocktails during a 12-h feed withdrawal . After feed withdrawal, the broilers were processed, and their crops were aseptically removed and weighed . Crops were then blended in distilled water, and the pH of the suspensions was measured electronically . Populations of S . typhimurium, Campylobacter, and lactic acid bacteria in the crop suspensions were enumerated . Findings indicated that significantly fewer S . typhimurium and Campylobacter were recovered from the crops of broilers that had been provided cocktails supplemented with sucrose than from the (Key words: crop, carbohydrate, feed crops of broilers provided cocktails supplemented with equal concentrations (wt/vol) of glucose . Furthermore, significantly fewer S . typhimurium were recovered from the crops of broilers provided cocktails supplemented with 2 to 10% sucrose than from the crops of broilers provided water or cocktails that were not supplemented with carbohydrates . The pH of the crop contents of broilers provided carbohydrate cocktails were lower than the pH of the crops of broilers provided water or cocktails that were not supplemented with carbohydrates . Consumption of the cocktails did not produce significant changes in the crop weights . Findings indicate that altering the composition of carbohydrate-based cocktails provided to broilers during feed withdrawal may affect the efficacy of cocktails in reducing the number of enteropathogens recovered from the crops of broilers. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2002 Jun 18, 212(1), 77 - 85 Homonucleotide stretches in chromosomal DNA of Campylobacter jejuni display high frequency polymorphism as detected by direct PCR analysis; Wassenaar TM et al.; Homopolymeric nucleotide tracts have been previously identified in the genome sequence of Campylobacter jejuni 11168 {Parkhill et al., Nature 403 (2000) 665-668} . These tracts are believed to regulate contingency genes but as yet no phenotypic variation has been identified associated with many of these genes . To investigate homopolymeric tracts for genes for which there is no observable phenotype, a method was designed to visualise profiles of the various tract lengths directly at the genomic level by means of PCR and denatured polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Six of the seven contingency genes investigated displayed variation in the length of the respective homonucleotide tracts . Surprisingly, each contingency gene gave a typical peak profile that represented a conserved size distribution of polymorphic forms . For each gene studied, peak profiles were conserved between strains of C . jejuni . Duplicated genes, containing homonucleotide stretches, displayed locus-specific peak distributions for each gene copy . Contingency genes were polymorphic within single colonies, and the observed complex peak profiles suggested a frequency of slippage several orders of magnitude higher than reported for other organisms . No G7 (or C7) stretch was ever observed, and their absence from the complete genome suggests strong selection against their presence . In view of the predictable outcome of the process leading to these polymorphisms, it is hypothesised that the formation and/or selection of these tracts is not a random process, but is driven by as yet unknown mechanism(s) . High-frequency polymorphism of these genes may be a mechanism by which C . jejuni survives selection bottlenecks between opportunities for growth within a host. Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 2002 May, 76(5), 355 - 68 {The current status of infectious enteritis in Japan--reports of the "Research Group for Infectious Enteric Diseases, Japan" in the last 5 years (1996-2000)}; Obana M et al.; The patients or carriers with infectious enteritis admitted to the Hospitals for infectious diseases in the last 5 years (1996-2000) were studied . The total number of cases admitted in each year were 969, 1,113, 981, 637 and 573 respectively . A total of 1,527 Shigella spp . strains including 1,078 strains from overseas travelers' cases were isolated . The isolates of Salmonella spp . excluding S . Typhi and S . Paratyphi A were 562 in number . A total of 61 Vibrio cholerae O1 strains including 44 strains from overseas travelers was isolated . These V . cholerae O1 strains were all of El Tor type . Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium parvum and Isospora belli were detected in 225, 46, 3 and 3 cases respectively . Abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting were frequently observed in the cases caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus . The highest body temperature and the highest frequency of bowel movements were revealed in the cases caused by Salmonella spp . Bloody stool was observed in 55.3% of the cases due to Escherichia coli, in 40.5% of the cases due to Campylobacter spp . and in 24.1% of cases due to Shigella spp . As for shigellosis and salmonellosis, the clinical symptoms were more serious in the domestic cases than those in travelers . OFLX-resistant strains accounted for 1.7% of Shigella spp . isolates . No strains of Salmonella spp . were resistant to OFLX . The incidence of drug-resistant isolates of Campylobacter jejuni were 26.0% for OFLX and 2.5% for EM. Curr Microbiol, 2002 Aug, 45(2), 128 - 32 Campylobacter coli pulsed field gel electrophoresis genotypic diversity among sows and piglets in a farrowing barn; Hume ME et al.; Genotypes of Campylobacter coli isolates from feces of three sows and rectal swabs of 17 piglets were examined by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) . All of the animals originated from a single farrowing barn of a farrow-to-finish swine operation . Five Campylobacter colonies were picked from a single agar plate for each sample after broth enrichment and growth on Campy-Cefex agar . Genotypes were examined by PFGE after genomic DNA digestion with SmaI and SacII restriction endonucleases . Twenty SmaI genotypes and 12 SacII genotypes were detected among 99 Campylobacter coli isolates . There was no pattern of shared genotypes between sows and their respective piglets, nor between littermates . Results indicate that a high number of Campylobacter genotypes may coexist in related pigs from a single housing facility. Curr Microbiol, 2002 Aug, 45(2), 111 - 4 Campylobacter fetus subspecies venerealis surface array protein from bovine isolates in Brazil; de Vargas AC et al.; The electrophoretic patterns of 31 Campylobacter fetus subspecies venerealis capsular Surface Array Protein (SAP) isolated from bovines in reproduction from different regions of Brazil were analyzed . The persistence of the bacteria in the reproductive tract of naturally infected bovines and the dynamic of SAP expression were also evaluated . Cervical mucous and prepucial aspirates from five animals naturally infected were cultured for isolation of Campylobacter fetus and the SAPs extracted from the bacteria isolated were analyzed by SDS-PAGE . Ten different patterns of SAP expression were demonstrated by the identification of proteins with molecular mass of 97, 100, 127, and 149 kDa, respectively . The most prevalent identified protein had a molecular mass of 100 kDa (41.9%) . Taking into consideration the time during which the five animals were evaluated, it was possible to conclude that one of these animals persisted with the etiological agent up to 171 days . The five naturally infected bovines analyzed presented variation on their surface protein pattern during the period of this study . C . fetus subspecies venerealis persisted in the reproductive tract of naturally infected animals . In natural condition of infection C . fetus subspecies venerealis persisted in an intermittent condition and an alteration of the protein surface was shown. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2002 Jul, 46(7), 2124 - 31 CmeABC functions as a multidrug efflux system in Campylobacter jejuni; Lin J et al.; Campylobacter jejuni, a gram-negative organism causing gastroenteritis in humans, is increasingly resistant to antibiotics . However, little is known about the drug efflux mechanisms in this pathogen . Here we characterized an efflux pump encoded by a three-gene operon (designated cmeABC) that contributes to multidrug resistance in C . jejuni 81-176 . CmeABC shares significant sequence and structural homology with known tripartite multidrug efflux pumps in other gram-negative bacteria, and it consists of a periplasmic fusion protein (CmeA), an inner membrane efflux transporter belonging to the resistance-nodulation-cell division superfamily (CmeB), and an outer membrane protein (CmeC) . Immunoblotting using CmeABC-specific antibodies demonstrated that cmeABC was expressed in wild-type 81-176; however, an isogenic mutant (9B6) with a transposon insertion in the cmeB gene showed impaired production of CmeB and CmeC . Compared to wild-type 81-176, 9B6 showed a 2- to 4,000-fold decrease in resistance to a range of antibiotics, heavy metals, bile salts, and other antimicrobial agents . Accumulation assays demonstrated that significantly more ethidium bromide and ciprofloxacin accumulated in mutant 9B6 than in wild-type 81-176 . Addition of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, an efflux pump inhibitor, increased the accumulation of ciprofloxacin in wild-type 81-176 to the level of mutant 9B6 . PCR and immunoblotting analysis also showed that cmeABC was broadly distributed in various C . jejuni isolates and constitutively expressed in wild-type strains . Together, these findings formally establish that CmeABC functions as a tripartite multidrug efflux pump that contributes to the intrinsic resistance of C . jejuni to a broad range of structurally unrelated antimicrobial agents. FEMS Microbiol Rev, 2002 Jun, 26(2), 173 - 86 The role of iron in Campylobacter gene regulation, metabolism and oxidative stress defense; van Vliet AH et al.; Enteric Campylobacter species cause gastrointestinal diseases in humans . Like almost all organisms, campylobacters have an absolute requirement for iron, but are faced with variable availability of iron in the environment and host tissues . Campylobacters have developed mechanisms to scavenge sufficient iron for metabolism and growth . However, iron also participates in the formation of reactive oxygen species, and this forces pathogens to maintain intracellular iron homeostasis and to cope with oxidative stresses . The presence of two separate, but possibly overlapping iron-responsive regulatory systems, which regulate iron acquisition and oxidative stress defense, and the presence of genes encoding multiple iron acquisition and detoxification systems in Campylobacter indicate the central role that iron plays in Campylobacter gene regulation and virulence. Vet Microbiol, 2002 Jul 22, 87(4), 353 - 64 Isolation and characterization of Campylobacter, Helicobacter, and Anaerobiospirillum strains from a puppy with bloody diarrhea; Misawa N et al.; We carried out a microscopic examination of stools from a 2-month-old female puppy with bloody diarrhea, and this revealed large numbers of different spiral-shaped bacteria . To isolate these organisms, a rectal swab specimen was inoculated onto plates of Skirrow's agar and incubated at 37 degrees C for 6 days in a microaerobic atmosphere . Finally, a total of six different spiral-shaped bacteria (strains G1104, 94105, FR106, B0101, 3J102, and J2103) were isolated . Based on their morphology, biochemical traits, whole-cell protein profiles, and analysis of their 16S rDNA sequences, they were identified as Campylobacter upsaliensis, Helicobacter cinaedi, 'Flexispira rappini', two Anaerobiospirillum spp . with different morphologies, and Helicobacter sp., respectively . Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence data for strains 94150 (H . cinaedi) and FR106 (F . rappini) revealed that this approach has limitations when identifying isolates to the species level because of a high degree of sequence homology between these species (>99%) and considerable sequence variation among different isolates within these species . The dog was treated orally with amoxicillin for 3 days, which resolved the diarrhea . However, 1 day after the last dose the bloody diarrhea recurred but regarded to six more days amoxicillin treatment . This suggests a bacterial cause for the diarrhea . The approach to identification to microaerobic spiral-shaped bacteria in diarrheic dogs can be applied further to characterize their role in diarrhea illness. Quintessence Int, 2001 Feb, 32(2), 131 - 4 Detection of Helicobacter pylori colonization in dental plaques and tongue scrapings of patients with chronic gastritis; Ozdemir A et al.; OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that the oral cavity and dental plaque might be a reservoir for Helicobacter pylori (Hp) . In this study, our aims were to detect the prevalence of Hp colonization in dental plaque and tongue scrapings of patients with chronic gastritis and to investigate the effect of systemic treatment upon this colonization and eradication of Hp from gastric mucosa . METHOD AND MATERIALS: Eighty-one patients (49 men, 32 women) were included in the study . Dental plaque and tongue scraping specimens were obtained and assessed with Campylobacter-like organism (CLO) test, prior to endoscopic examination . By endoscopy, 2 antral and 1 corpus biopsy samples were taken for histologic examination, and 1 antral biopsy sample was taken for CLO test examination . RESULTS: Chronic gastritis was diagnosed in 63 (77.7%) of 81 patients . Dental plaque samples of 64 (79%) patients and tongue scraping samples of 48 (59.2%) patients were urease positive . Of the 63 patients with chronic gastritis, dental plaque and tongue scrapings were urease positive in 52 (83%) and 37 (59%) patients, respectively . After 14 days of triple drug therapy (omeprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin), Hp was eradicated from the gastric mucosa of almost all of the patients, whereas no changes were detected in dental plaque and tongue scrapings by CLO test examination . CONCLUSION: Helicobacter pylori colonization, which seemed to be high in dental plaque and on the tongue, might play an important role in the pathogenesis of the reinfection process . In order to eradicate Hp from both the oral cavity and the gastric mucosa, studies should be performed to assess the effects of plaque control procedures in addition to present treatment modalities. Scand J Infect Dis, 2002, 34(4), 248 - 52 Prevalence of Campylobacter concisus in diarrhoea of immunocompromised patients; Aabenhus R et al.; The importance of Campylobacter species other than C . jejuni/coli in diarrhoeal disease is largely unknown . We wished to determine the prevalence and clinical presentation of C . concisus infection in patients with enteric disease in a tertiary hospital . Stool specimens were routinely tested for the presence of Campylobacter species, by use of the filter isolation method . The medical records of the C . concisus-positive patients were reviewed . Of 224 Campylobacter isolates obtained, 110 were identified as C . concisus . Concomitant infection occurred in only 27% of cases . By means of protein profiling we assigned C . concisus into 2 groups . The predominant C . concisus group 2 was the only strain to infect immunocompetent patients and children: 71% of the infected patients were immunocompromised, the majority being adults (84%) . C . concisus may be a frequent cause of diarrhoea in immunocompromised patients . Two groups of C . concisus were found and these groups possibly vary in their pathogenic potential. Avian Dis, 2002 Apr-Jun, 46(2), 473 - 7 Cecal colonization of chicks by porcine strains of Campylobacter coli; Ziprin RL et al.; Ten genotypically distinct strains of Campylobacter coli were isolated from a swine production facility . These porcine isolates were then orally inoculated into day-of-hatch leghorn chicks and were excellent colonizers of the chick cecum . Campylobacter coli recovered from inoculated chickens were genotypically identical to the challenge strain . The absence of host specificity suggests a possible movement of strains among swine, field animals and birds, and poultry houses. Avian Dis, 2002 Apr-Jun, 46(2), 378 - 85 The carry-over of Campylobacter isolates between sequential poultry flocks; Shreeve JE et al.; The carry-over of Campylobacter strains from one flock to a subsequent flock in the same broiler house has been studied using molecular epidemiological techniques . In all, 524 Campylobacter strains, isolated from two sequential broiler flocks from 60 broiler houses, were typed by restriction fragment polymorphism of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product of the flaA and flaB genes (fla typing) . Selected strains were also typed using pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) . By fla typing, 15 (21%) of the 60 houses with Campylobacter-positive sequential flocks had identical genotypes . In 10 (16% overall) of these houses the strains were also identical by PFGE . The difference in PFGE patterns in the strains from the three remaining houses may be indicative of genetic instability . Overall, these results suggest that carry-over from one flock to a subsequent flock in the same house is a relatively infrequent event and, therefore, that routine broiler house cleansing and/or disinfection is largely adequate to eliminate Campylobacter contamination . An alternative explanation of the low level carry-over is a persistent source or reservoir, external to the environment of the broiler houses. Microbiology, 2002 Jun, 148(Pt 6), 1679 - 85 Mutational and transcriptional analysis of the Campylobacter jejuni flagellar biosynthesis gene flhB; Matz C et al.; A Campylobacter jejuni gene encoding a homologue of the flagellar biosynthesis gene flhB was identified downstream of the peroxide stress defence gene ahpC . Insertional mutagenesis of the flhB gene rendered C . jejuni non-motile, with most cells aflagellate, although a small number expressed truncated flagella . The absence of FlhB also appeared to affect cell shape, as the majority of cells were straight rather than curved rods . Transcription of the flagellin gene flaA was significantly reduced in the C . jejuni flhB mutants, which also did not express significant amounts of flagellin proteins, indicating that FlhB is an essential protein for subsequent expression of flagellar genes . The transcription start site of the flhB gene, as determined by primer extension, was located 91 bp upstream of the flhB start codon, but no recognizable promoter sequence could be identified immediately upstream of this transcription start site . Transcriptional flhB::lacZ reporter gene fusions confirmed that the flhB gene has its own promoter region, is expressed at very low levels and is transcribed independently of ahpC, and that its transcription is not regulated by iron or growth phase. Nippon Saikingaku Zasshi, 2002 May, 57(2), 465 - 72 {Typings of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from patients of 2 outbreak cases by genotypic and phenotypic methods}; Saito S et al.; We compared Campylobacter jejuni strains isolated from the patient stools associated with two food-borne diarrheal outbreak cases by the serotypic methods (Lior and Penner systems) and the genotypic methods (restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of flaA gene and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE)) . Fla-RFLP was based on the digestion of 410 bp DNA fragment by MboI restriction enzyme amplified from a 5' portion of C . jejuni flaA gene . Six distinctive fla-RFLP patterns were identified by examining 29 serotype reference strains and 58 strains isolated from the patients infected with C . jejuni independently . In the first outbreak case, 4 isolates were shown to be the same patterns each other by the fla-RFLP and PFGE, and by the Lior serotyping, except the Penner system that serotyped into 2 distinct types . On the other hand, in the second case, out of 10 isolates, 5 isolates were identical by the both genotypic and the both serotypic methods, and 4 isolates were not differentiated by the fla-RFLP and Penner system, but were separated into 4 types by PFGE in a little difference . The rest isolate was completely different from the other isolates by the all of methods used now . The findings suggest that the second case occurred by the infection of at least 3 different strains of C . jejuni. Aust J Rural Health, 2002 Apr, 10(2), 87 - 93 Disease surveillance in rural communities is compromised by address geocoding uncertainty: a case study of campylobacteriosis; Skelly C et al.; This study illustrates the impact of address geocoding uncertainty on rural estimates of reportable disease incidence using campylobacteriosis as an example . After all cases of campylobacteriosis notified from 1993 to 1997 had been geocoded, the minimum and maximum disease notification rates were calculated for rural and urban areas of New Zealand . The estimated maximum rural rates were four times higher than estimated minimum rural rates, whereas estimated minimum and maximum urban rates varied minimally . The impact of address geocoding on the estimation of disease notification rates across Public Health Service Regions showed considerable variation . The relative proportions of ungeocoded notifications to rural notifications ranged from 1.3:1 to 10.2:1, reflecting the range of uncertainty in estimated rural rates of campylobacteriosis . Unless the reliability of captured rural address data is improved significantly, disease surveillance systems will underestimate rural rates of disease and limit small area analyses. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 2001, 32 Suppl 2, 151 - 5 Protozoan enteric infection in AIDS related diarrhea in Thailand; Waywa D et al.; The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of enteric protozoa and other pathogens in AIDS patients with diarrhea in Bangkok, Thailand . Of 288 consecutive patients screened in the 10 month period between November 1999-August 2000 inclusive, 55 (19.2%) had Cryptosporidium spp, 13 (4.5%) had Isospora oocyst, 11 (3.8%) had Giardia lamblia, 3 (0.9%) had Entamoeba histolytica, and 1 (0.3%) had Iodamoeba butschlii infection . The prevalence of microsporidia was 11% in this study . Of 251 patients for whom stool culture for bacteria was performed, enteric bacterial pathogens isolated were Campylobacter spp in 18 (7.1%), Salmonella spp in 11 (4.3%), and Shigella spp in 1 (0.5%) . Other pathogens found in these patients were Clostridium difficile in 16/102 (15.6%) . Mycobacterium spp in 18/287 (6.2%), and Strongyloides stercoralis in 23/288 (8.0%) . Overall, parasitic and bacterial pathogens were identified in 140 (48.6%) patients . These pathogens were identified by the routine simple wet smear technique in 32, formalin-ether concentration method in 46, culture for S . stercoralis in 5, and culture for bacteria in 30 . Additional test, using modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining, identified cryptosporidial oocyst, isospora oocyst, and Mycobacterium spp in 72 . The microsporidia, initially identified by modified trichrome blue staining, all were then determined to be Enterocytozoon bieneusi by thin sectioning electron microscopy . Protozoan and bacterial pathogens were confirmed to be important etiologic agents in diarrhea in AIDS in Thailand . They were all associated with increased mortality . Routine stool examination by simple wet smear detected only one-fourth of these pathogens . Therefore all diagnostic techniques for these organisms should be made more widely available in Thailand. Int J Food Microbiol, 2002 Jun 5, 76(1-2), 151 - 64 Prevalence and numbers of Salmonella and Campylobacter spp . on raw, whole chickens in relation to sampling methods; Jorgensen F et al.; Salmonella and Campylobacter continue to be major foodborne pathogens and raw poultry is considered to be an important source of these bacteria . In this study, the prevalence and numbers of Salmonella and Campylobacter spp . in relation to isolation/sampling methods were determined in 241 whole raw chickens purchased from retail outlets in England during the winters of 1998/1999 (101 chickens) and 1999/2000 (140 chickens) . The packaging of the 140 chickens was also examined for the presence of the above pathogens . The prevalence and numbers of enterococci were examined in 21 of the 101 chickens . In total, Salmonella and Campylobacter spp . were present in 25% and 83% of the chickens, respectively . Salmonella were isolated from a sample representing both the inside and outside of the packaging in 19% of the chickens, while the corresponding figure for Campylobacter spp . was 56% . Both of these pathogens were isolated from the outside of the packaging in 6% of the chickens . Salmonella was more frequently isolated from samples containing chicken skin in comparison with those containing carcass-rinse fluid only . Two chickens (0.8%) were positive for Salmonella by direct enumeration methods with contamination levels of log10 3.8 and 4.5 colony forming units (cfu) per carcass, respectively . The most prevalent serotypes were S . Hadar, S . Enteritidis and S . Indiana and two different serotypes were identified in 5/20 salmonella-positive chickens . Resistance to at least one antibiotic was found in 70% of the strains, 46% were multiresistant (resistant to > or = four drugs) and 52% showed a lowered susceptibility to ciprofloxacin . The likelihood of isolating Campylobacter spp . from neck-skin, carcass-rinse or carcass-rinse plus whole skin samples was similar, Campylobacter spp . were found in higher levels in carcass-rinse or carcass-rinse plus whole skin samples than in neck-skin . The log10 cfu of Campylobacter spp . were 2.70-4.99 in 18% of the chickens and 5.00-6.99 in 20% . Campylobacter isolates (425) comprised Campylobacter jejuni (98%) and C . coli (2%) and 98 different sero/phagetypes of these two species were identified . Resistance to at least one antibiotic was found in 73% of the strains and 13% were multiresistant . Thirteen percent of the strains showed lowered susceptibility to ciprofloxacin, while 4.9% were resistant to erythromycin . Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), able to grow on agar containing 15 mg l(-1) vancomycin (VRE15), were present in 19 chickens . The log10 cfu of VRE15 was 2.90-3.99 in 10 chickens and between 4.00 and 4.99 in two chickens . The data presented here contribute to risk assessment and highlight the need to continue to emphasise the safe handling of raw retail poultry. Int J Food Microbiol, 2002 Jun 5, 76(1-2), 143 - 50 A study of cross-contamination of food-borne pathogens in the domestic kitchen in the Republic of Ireland; Gorman R et al.; To date, there have been no published information and empirical data available on the role played by the food preparer in the domestic kitchen in the Republic of Ireland . In this study, we have looked at the incidence of potential food pathogens and their cross-infection in the domestic kitchen during the preparation of a Sunday roast chicken lunch . Key contact sites in the domestic kitchen were sampled, including the chicken carcass before and after the preparation of a roast chicken meal . Twelve contact sites in twenty-five domestic kitchens were analysed and tested for aerobic plate count, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus . Our findings identified the ability of food-borne disease microorganisms to become disseminated from infected foods, such as fresh chickens, to hand and food contact surfaces in the domestic kitchen, reiterating the need for consumer awareness and knowledge of effective hygiene procedures in the domestic kitchen. J Clin Microbiol, 2002 Jun, 40(6), 2263 - 5 Comparison of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and amplified fragment length polymorphism techniques for investigating outbreaks of enteritis due to campylobacters; Champion OL et al.; Campylobacters are the most commonly reported cause of acute bacterial enteritis in the United Kingdom and United States, with poultry, milk, and water implicated as sources or vehicles of infection . The majority of campylobacter infections are sporadic, although outbreaks may occur, and these provide an opportunity to evaluate genotypic fingerprinting techniques . In this study, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was compared with single-enzyme-amplified fragment length polymorphism (SAFLP) . The results for the three separate episodes indicated that SAFLP and PFGE both clustered the strains from the first incident as 100% homologous . The strains from the second and third incidents clustered as distinct from both the first incident and from each other . PFGE is well recognized as a discriminatory fingerprinting technique for campylobacters; however, SAFLP has proven to be equally discriminatory, but far less labor intensive and with the added advantages of less "hands-on" time and inexpensive equipment, it is an excellent alternative to PFGE for investigation of outbreaks. Public Health Rep, 2001 May-Jun, 116(3), 257 - 65 Disease reporting from an automated laboratory-based reporting system to a state health department via local county health departments; Backer HD et al.; OBJECTIVE: The authors assessed the completeness of disease reporting from a managed care organization's automated laboratory-based reporting system to the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) via local public health departments . METHODS: The authors identified all positive laboratory tests for 1997 from the computerized database of Kaiser Permanente Northern California for seven infections for which there are statutory reporting requirements: Campylobacter jejuni, Chlamydia trachomatis, Cryptosporidium parvum, hepatitis A, Neisseria meningitidis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Salmonella (N = 7,331 reports) . Cases were then matched by computer query to records of cases reported to CDHS . To determine why cases were not found in CDHS records, a sample of un-matched cases was searched at two county health departments . RESULTS: Overall, 84.5% (95% CI 83.4, 85.6) of the laboratory reports submitted with accompanying demographic information were successfully matched with cases in the CDHS disease surveillance database . Frequency of matching for specific diseases ranged from 79.4% (95% CI 75.6, 83.3) for N . gonorrhoeae to 88.4% (95% CI 85.3, 91.6) for C . jejuni . Reports were more likely to be matched when the county of residence was the same as the county of the health care facility . At the county level, reasons for failure of cases to be forwarded to CDHS included: errors due to manual data entry, failure to forward information from the county of diagnosis to the county of residence, and incorrect disease coding . CONCLUSION: Automated laboratory-based reporting is highly effective, but some data are lost with off-line transfer of information . To optimize surveillance accuracy and completeness, reporting at all levels should be done via direct electronic data transfer. Poult Sci, 2002 May, 81(5), 629 - 31 Campylobacter isolation trends of cage versus floor broiler chickens: a one-year study; Willis WL et al.; An experiment was carried out over a 1-yr period with broiler chickens to assess the influence of cage and floor rearing environments on the isolation trends of Campylobacter jejuni . The study used 36 7-wk-old broiler chickens that were raised in floor pens and naturally infected with or exposed to C . jejuni during the growout period . These broilers were then leg-banded and split into two groups with 18 per group . The groups were placed in wire cages or in a floor pen with unused litter in separate houses on the same farm . Each broiler was swabbed cloacally monthly to determine the presence of C . jejuni . The yearly average percentage isolation rates were significantly (P < 0.05) higher for the broilers held in the litter floor pen (130/185;66%) when compared to the broilers kept in wire cages (67/193;35%) . There was a trend for higher isolation rates in the fall for caged and floor broilers and a decrease in rates near the end of the experimental year (summer) in the caged broilers . Isolation rates for both treatments reached their lowest level for the month of March . No caged broilers tested positive during the last 4 mo of the trial . The long-term cage isolation was linked to a reduced prevalence of C . jejuni . The results from this study suggest that housing environment and time spent in that environment play a major role in the continuing shedding and isolation of C . jejuni in broiler chickens. Poult Sci, 2002 May, 81(5), 621 - 8 In vitro study on the effect of organic acids on Campylobacter jejuni/coli populations in mixtures of water and feed; Chaveerach P et al.; Gastroenteritis caused by Campylobacter spp . infection has been recognized as one of the important public health problems in the developed countries . Outbreaks mostly originate from the consumption of contaminated poultry or infected water . The aim of this study was to determine the bactericidal activity on Campylobacter spp . of organic acids individually and in combinations at different pH levels and times and to compare bactericidal activities with activities of commercially available products . Ten strains of Campylobacter spp . were added in a mixture of water with commercial broiler feed, separately adjusted by four acids: formic, acetic, propionic, and hydrochloric acids, into pH 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, and 5.5 . A combination of three organic acids was used in two different formulation ratios: formic:acetic:propionic at 1:2:3 and 1:2:5, at pH 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, and 5.5 . All organic acids showed the strongest bactericidal effect on Campylobacter at pH 4.0 . In contrast, at pH 5.0 and 5.5, the bactericidal activity of the four acids was low . The combination of organic acids showed a synergistic bactericidal activity at pH 4.5 . Interestingly, the effect of the combined organic acids was stronger than the commercial products . Morphological cell changes were studied by transmission electron microscopy to determine the effect of the organic acids on the cell structure of Campylobacter . Some loss of outer membranes of the bacteria could be found in treated groups . Therefore, it can be concluded that organic acids, individually or in combination, have a strong bactericidal effect on Campylobacter spp . Routine application of organic acids to the water supply on poultry farms could prevent or diminish Campylobacter transmission. J Food Prot, 2002 May, 65(5), 760 - 7 Detection of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in foods by enrichment culture and polymerase chain reaction enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Bolton FJ et al.; A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay based on a solution hybridization format with colorimetric end-point detection (PCR ELISA) was investigated for the specific detection of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in food samples following enrichment culture . One hundred fifteen samples of raw meat and offal (poultry, porcine, ovine, and bovine), raw shellfish, and artificially contaminated milk were enriched in blood-free Campylobacter Enrichment Broth for 48 h . Enrichment cultures were subcultured to Campylobacter blood-free selective agar plates, and presumptive isolates were identified by phenotypic methods . DNA was extracted from 1-ml aliquots of the enrichment cultures using a rapid extraction method, and the DNA was used as the template in a PCR ELISA . A comparison of the PCR ELISA with the enrichment culture and subculture to selective agar method showed that the results of 112 of the 115 samples tested were in agreement by both methods . Seventy-one of the various food samples were positive in the PCR ELISA, and 70 samples were positive by culture . The PCR ELISA had a sensitivity of 99% and a specificity of 96%, with a positive predictive value of 97% and a negative predictive value of 98% . The PCR ELISA is a rapid, sensitive, and specific method for the detection of C . jejuni and C . coli in foods following enrichment culture and significantly reduces the time required for their detection. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 2002 Jun, 72(6), 767 - 71 Anti-GT1a IgG in Guillain-Barré syndrome; Koga M et al.; OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of serum anti-GT1a IgG in Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and its relation to clinical manifestations . BACKGROUND: Several patients with GBS and bulbar palsy have been reported to have serum anti-GT1a IgG . Most, however, also have anti-GQ1b IgG . A previous study failed to detect GT1a in human cranial nerves, but GQ1b was abundant in human ocular motor nerves . Whether anti-GT1a IgG itself determines the clinical manifestations is not yet clear . METHODS: The association of clinical manifestations with the presence of anti-GT1a IgG and with its cross reactivity was investigated . An immunochemical study was performed to determine whether GT1a is present in human cranial nerves . RESULTS: Anti-GT1a and anti-GQ1b IgG were positive in 10% and 9% respectively of 220 consecutive patients with GBS . Patients with anti-GT1a IgG often had cranial nerve palsy (ophthalmoparesis, 57%; facial palsy, 57%; bulbar palsy, 70%), and 39% needed artificial ventilation . These features were also seen in patients with anti-GQ1b IgG . There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to the frequency of clinical findings . An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that anti-GT1a IgG cross reacted with GQ1b in 75% of the patients, GD1a in 30%, GM1 in 20%, and GD1b in 20% . All five patients who carried anti-GT1a IgG that did not cross react with GQ1b had bulbar palsy, neck weakness, absence of sensory disturbance, and positive Campylobacter jejuni serology . Thin-layer chromatography with immunostaining showed that GT1a is present in human oculomotor and lower cranial nerves . CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide further evidence that anti-GT1a IgG itself can determine clinical manifestations . The distinctive clinical features of patients with anti-GT1a IgG without anti-GQ1b activity distinguish a specific subgroup within GBS. J Vet Med B Infect Dis Vet Public Health, 2002 Apr, 49(3), 146 - 51 Detection of Campylobacter antibodies in sheep sera by a Dot-ELISA using acid extracts from c . fetus ssp . fetus and c . jejuni strains and comparison with a complement fixation test; Gurturk K et al.; In this study, a dot-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Dot-ELISA) was evaluated in comparison with a complement fixation test (CFT) for the detection of Campylobacter antibodies in sheep sera . Acid glycine extracts (AGE) of both Campylobacter fetus ssp . fetus and Campylobacter jejuni strains that had been isolated from the gall-bladder of slaughtered sheep was used as antigen in both tests . A total of 153 sheep sera from aborted (74) and slaughtered (79) sheep were examined by both Dot-ELISA and CFT . Twenty-two sera showed anti-complementary activity were not suitable for CFT . Of the 22 sera showing anti-complementary activity, two sera were found to be positive in Dot-ELISA . Eighty-eight (67.2%) of the remaining 131 sera were negative by both Dot-ELISA and CFT using AGE of both Campylobacter strains whereas 43 sera (32.8%) gave different reaction patterns in Dot-ELISA and CFT with the extracts of both Campylobacter strains . Twelve sera were positive by both tests using AGE of C . fetus ssp . fetus but CFT failed to detect antibodies in nine of these sera when AGE of C . jejuni was used . Twelve sera were positive by both tests only when AGE of C . fetus ssp . fetus was used . Eleven sera were positive only by CFT . Seven of these reacted only with the AGE of C . fetus ssp . fetus and four sera were positive by using AGE of both Campylobacter strains . The remaining eight sera were found to be positive only by dot-immunobinding assay either with the AGE of both Campylobacter strains or with the AGE of one of the Campylobacter strains . It is concluded that Dot-ELISA using AGE from C . fetus ssp . fetus could be employed for the detection of Campylobacter antibodies in sheep sera and the additional use of AGE from C . jejuni as antigen appeared not to be profitable for this purpose. Clin Infect Dis, 2002 Jun 1, 34(11), E59 - 60 Epub 2002 May 07. Campylobacter upsaliensis: Another pathogen for consideration in the United States; Labarca JA et al.; While evaluating quinolone resistance in a sample of Campylobacter isolates recovered from patients with campylobacteriosis in Los Angeles County, California, in 1998, we discovered that the second most frequently isolated species was Campylobacter upsaliensis (6 {4%} of 155 isolates) . The ability of laboratories to recover this species may be dependent on the culture conditions and the media used . Three dogs living in the households of 2 of these 6 patients had C . upsaliensis isolated in their stool specimens. Curr Opin Infect Dis, 2002 Jun, 15(3), 221 - 8 The relationship of Campylobacter jejuni infection and the development of Guillain-Barré syndrome; Tsang RS; Campylobacter jejuni is recognized as the most common infectious agent associated with the development of Guillain-Barre syndrome . Available information on the complete genome sequence of C . jejuni NCTC 11168 has helped researchers to identify polysaccharide capsules as well as genetic mechanisms in the synthesis of ganglioside-like cell surface molecules in this bacteria . Toxins may contribute to the host's inflammatory response seen in Guillain-Barre syndrome. J Periodontal Res, 2002 Apr, 37(2), 86 - 92 Parotid salivary S-IgA antibodies during experimental gingivitis in smokers and non-smokers; Lie MA et al.; Persons who smoke display a less pronounced increase of gingival bleeding in the experimental gingivitis model as compared with non-smokers . The aim of the present study was to investigate whether this could partly be explained by differences in levels of parotid total secretory IgA (S-IgA) or parotid S-IgA reactive with selected oral microorganisms . Parotid saliva samples were obtained from 11 smoking and 14 non-smoking volunteers, at baseline, after 5 and 14 days of full mouth experimental gingivitis . Output levels of total S-IgA and of specific S-IgA reactive with cell extracts from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Actinomyces naeslundii, Campylobacter rectus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella nigrescens, Peptostreptococcus micros, Streptococcus gordonii and Streptococcus mutans were determined in the samples by means of ELISA . Smokers and non-smokers were found to have similar output levels (microg/min) of total S-IgA, and the values did not significantly change during the experimental gingivitis trial . Parotid salivary outputs (units/min) of the bacteria-specific S-IgA at baseline and at days 5 and 14, were not different between smokers and non-smokers; no changes were observed during the experimental gingivitis trial . The present observations indicate that total S-IgA and bacteria-specific S-IgA in saliva are not main factors that can explain the less pronounced increase of gingival bleeding in the experimental gingivitis model in smokers as compared with non-smokers. J Periodontal Res, 2002 Apr, 37(2), 132 - 46 Serum IgG antibody response to periodontal pathogens in minority populations: relationship to periodontal disease status and progression; Craig RG et al.; Differences in periodontal disease prevalence, severity, subgingival microflora and host immune response have been reported for various ethnic/racial groups, which implies that risk factors for destructive periodontal disease progression may also vary in these populations . As it is possible that these differences may be due to confounding variables other than ethnicity/race, we have measured serum IgG antibody response to six periodontal pathogens, and compared these data with microbiological, clinical and demographic parameters in three urban minority populations . The study population consisted of 23 Asiatic, 48 African-American and 37 Hispanic subjects, who were resident in the greater New York region . Clinical indices that were recorded included pocket depth, attachment level, gingival erythema, bleeding upon probing, suppuration and supragingival plaque . Attachment level measurements were taken twice at each visit, and the difference between the means of pairs of measurements taken at baseline and two months later was used to determine disease progression . Subgingival microbiological species were identified and enumerated using DNA-DNA checkerboard hybridization . Serum IgG antibody levels to Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans serotyopes a and b, Bacteroides forsythus, Campylobacter rectus, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) . Mean serum IgG antibody to P . gingivalis was found to be higher in the African-American group, while IgG antibody to B . forsythus was lower in the Hispanic group . However, the African-American group also had greater mean probing depth, attachment loss, number of missing teeth and numbers of individuals within the unskilled occupational group . When the data were analyzed by occupational status, mean serum IgG antibody to P . gingivalis increased from professional to skilled to unskilled groups . For the entire study population, prior disease and subsequent attachment loss were associated with elevated serum IgG antibody to P . gingivalis . Increasing pocket depth, attachment level, gingival erythema and age were also positively correlated with serum IgG antibody to P . gingivalis, but not with serum IgG antibody to the other five subgingival species . No correlation was found between whole-mouth bacterial levels and homologous serum IgG antibody levels . These results suggest that elevated serum IgG antibody to P . gingivalis reflects destructive periodontal disease status, and may be considered a risk factor for disease progression in these ethnic/racial populations . In addition, although differences in serum IgG antibody profiles to subgingival species were found among the three ethnic/racial groups, environmental and socioeconomic variables may have a greater influence on serum IgG antibody levels in these populations. J Antimicrob Chemother, 2002 May, 49(5), 803 - 5 Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Campylobacter jejuni strains isolated from hospitalized children in Athens, Greece; Chatzipanagiotou S et al.; The antimicrobial susceptibility of 129 Campylobacter jejuni strains, isolated from hospitalized children with gastroenteritis, to five antimicrobials, including nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, ampicillin and co-amoxiclav, was determined . Isolates belonged to two time periods: group A contained strains isolated in 1987-1988; and group B 1998-2000 . Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns differed significantly between the two groups with respect to quinolones, with an increase in the percentage of resistant strains in group B (30.6% versus 0% in group A), whereas erythromycin, ampicillin and co-amoxiclav were effective drugs in both groups. Epidemiol Infect, 2002 Apr, 128(2), 111 - 8 Public health implications of campylobacter outbreaks in England and Wales, 1995-9: epidemiological and microbiological investigations; Frost JA et al.; Although campylobacter has been the most commonly recognized bacterial cause of gastrointestinal infection in England and Wales since 1981, there are few reported campylobacter outbreaks . Of the 2374 general outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease reported to CDSC between 1995 and 1999, for which an aetiological agent was identified, campylobacter accounted for only 50 (2%) . Foodborne transmission was identified in 35 outbreaks and the majority took place in commercial catering establishments; waterborne transmission was responsible for a further four outbreaks . Isolates of Campylobacter jejuni were referred for typing from 25 outbreaks . In 13 outbreaks all isolates were the same subtype, as defined by serotype and phage type, while in the remainder more than one campylobacter subtype was involved. J Anim Sci, 2002 Apr, 80(4), 880 - 5 Effect of chlortetracycline in a trace mineral salt mix on fertility traits in beef cattle females in Florida; Rae DO et al.; The study objective was to determine the effect of chlortetracycline in an ad libitum trace-mineralized salt mix given to heifers before and(or) during bull exposure on the proportion pregnant and the time to conception in a fixed breeding period . Heifers (n = 768), 13 to 15 mo of age, were individually identified, immunized (Leptospira, Campylobacter fetus), examined (body condition score, vaginal lesion score, BW), and randomly allocated within 2 x 2 factorial blocks of treatments where trace mineral salt with and without chlortetracycline medication was provided in similar but nonadjacent pastures either before and(or) during bull exposure . The chlortetracycline feeding period was about 30 d for each . In the 2 d immediately before bull exposure, heifers were examined (body condition score, vaginal lesion score, reproductive tract evaluation) and reallocated to treatment pastures . Pregnancy was determined by per rectal palpation at 45 d following bull removal . Mineral intake was below that expected for heifer groups and, as a result, chlortetracycline intake was estimated at less than one-third of that targeted . Many heifers were not cycling reproductively at the onset of bull exposure (n = 456, 60.3%, based on a reproductive tract score < 3) . Despite these limitations, heifers receiving chlortetracycline treatment before breeding had a pregnancy percentage of 65% (chlortetracycline before and during breeding 67% and chlortetracycline before breeding 61.8%) compared to those receiving no treatment before breeding (53%, P < 0.03; no chlortetracycline before or during breeding 60.4% and chlortetracycline during breeding 47.4%) . Heifers receiving chlortetracycline treatment before breeding were 57% more likely to become pregnant than those not treated before breeding . Change in vaginal lesion score was associated with the proportion pregnant, but neither body condition score nor average daily gain were. Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr, 2002 Apr, 109(4), 167 - 72 {Mixed infections of rotaviruses and Campylobacter jejuni in Caco-2 cells}; Hanel I et al.; A mixed infection with rotavirus and 3 different Campylobacter jejuni strains was analysed in Caco-2 cells, a cell line highly susceptible to these pathogens . The results obtained showed no influence of the virus preinfection on the Campylobacter jejuni adhesion or internalisation in Caco-2 cells . Confocal laser scanning microscopy of mixed infected cells confirmed these results . The data from the present study indicate that specific rather than nonspecific mechanisms are involved in the interaction between rotavirus, campylobacter and host cells. Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr, 2002 Apr, 109(4), 161 - 6 {Colonisation studies using Campylobacter jejuni in chicks}; Schulze F et al.; White Leghorn chicks used in this study were hatched from specific pathogen-free eggs . The colonizing capability of Campylobacter (C.) jejuni strains was investigated in 6 experiments . The formation of specific antibodies associated to colonization was also detected . In each experiment, day of hatch chicks were randomly separated into three groups of 24 birds each: two groups colonized experimentally and one control group . Chicks were reared on the floor in three separated, adjacent rooms with sterilized wood shavings as litter . At 2 or 8 days of age, respectively, the chicks in the experimentally colonized groups received between 3.3 x 10(7) and 2.0 x 10(8) colony-forming units (CFU) of C . jejuni via oesophageal gavage . Furthermore, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42 and 56 days after inoculation, 4 chicks of each group were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, at which time blood, liver and faeces were collected for processing . Serum was centrifuged and Campylobacter-specific IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies were measured by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) . Altogether, the colonizing capability of 11 C . jejuni strains was examined . Surprisingly, there were large differences between the C . jejuni isolates . After these experiments, we could divide the isolates into three groups . 4 out of 11 isolates could not be reisolated, 2 isolates caused weak or delayed colonization and 5 C . jejuni produced strong, long-lasting colonization . In the first days of life (9 days), the C . jejuni-free SPF chicks (control animals) had high IgG titres in sera, which decreased markedly up to the age of 15 days . During the experiments the IgM and IgA titres remained nearly at the same level, i.e., the amounts of maternal antibodies were low and there was no evidence for antibody formation in the chicks themselves . Two- and 8-day-old chicks were inoculated with C . jejuni strain Penner 1 . Two-day-old chicks were colonized 3 weeks after inoculation . In comparison with these animals, 8-day-old chicks were colonized already 2 weeks after inoculation . There is the assumption, that the higher maternal antibodies in 2-day-old chicks could be responsible for this delay . In chicks the C . jejuni colonization resulted in a marked IgG (but not IgM and IgA) increase . Apparently, there is a positive relationship between the counts of this pathogen in caeca and the IgG increase. Acta Vet Scand Suppl, 2001, 95, 85 - 7 May organically farmed animals pose a risk for Campylobacter infections in humans? Engvall A. Organic farming of meat producing poultry like broilers, means that the animals should be kept outdoors as much as possible . This pose a risk that they get infected with Campylobacter . At slaughter, carcasses may be contaminated with campylobacter . If cross contamination occurs in the kitchen or if the meat is undercooked people may ingest the bacteria and suffer from enteritis . It seems possible that close to 100 percent of organically farmed flocks may be infected with campylobacter while under Swedish conditions only 10 percent of conventionally reared flocks are infected. Surg Today, 2002, 32(3), 264 - 6 Thymoma associated with hypogammaglobulinemia (Good's syndrome): report of a case; Oshikiri T et al.; A 63-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for treatment of hypogammaglobulinemia with thymoma (Good's syndrome) . Tests for immunological function showed an abnormality in humoral immunity with decreases in the proportion of cells bearing B-cell markers in the peripheral blood and bone marrow . The patient was found to have Campylobacter fetus sepsis caused by the hypogammaglobulinemia due to humoral immunodeficiency, and he was given gamma-globulin supplement . Thymectomy was performed due to enlargement of the thymoma after 4 years of follow-up and the pathological diagnosis was thymoma of the non-encapsulated, epithelial spindle cell type . Although there was no recurrence of thymoma, the hypogammaglobulinemia remained unchanged and the patient continued to suffer from repeated infections . Thus, we describe the case of a patient with Good's syndrome associated with independent humoral immunodeficiency in whom the effect of thymectomy for hypogammaglobulinemia was negative . In this respect, thymectomy was only beneficial when the thymoma proliferated and seemed to be more threatening than the hypogammaglobulinemia for the patient. An Med Interna, 2002 Jan, 19(1), 23 - 6 {Spontaneous peritonitis induced by Campylobacter spp in patients with liver cirrhosis . Report of 2 cases and review of the literature}; Calonge Raventos L et al.; Campylobacter spp is not usual as the aetiology agent for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis . We report two cases of spontaneous peritonitis due to Campylobacter jejuni diagnosed in our hospital and review the literature trough MEDLINE data base . We found 13 cases of spontaneous peritonitis in which Campylobacter sp was isolated from ascitic fluid . The main characteristics of these cases were: the existence of an evolved alcoholic cirrhosis, a high positivity of blood cultures as well as a high relapse index and letality. Clin Infect Dis, 2002 Jun 1, 34 Suppl 3, S131 - 4 Morbidity of infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria; Travers K et al.; Antimicrobial resistance can have 2 effects on the outcome of infection: there can be an accompanying change in the virulence of the organism, and there can be a poorer response to treatment because of the empiric choice of an antimicrobial to which the organism is resistant . We have reviewed published studies relating antimicrobial resistance to the outcomes of infection caused by enteric pathogens . The data for Salmonella and Campylobacter infections suggest that antimicrobial-resistant strains are somewhat more virulent than susceptible strains-that is, they cause more prolonged or more severe illness than do antimicrobial-susceptible strains . However, not all studies corrected for possible differences in age and underlying diseases between patients infected by antimicrobial-resistant and -susceptible strains of Salmonella . Two studies of Campylobacter infection suggest that poorer outcomes with antimicrobial-resistant pathogens could be related to the initial choice of an ineffective antimicrobial for treatment . Estimates from various sources indicate that fluoroquinolone resistance, likely acquired from the administration of antimicrobials to food animals, leads to >400,000 excess days of diarrhea in the United States per year compared with the duration that would occur if all of the isolates were susceptible . Antimicrobial resistance also could account for an extra 8677 days of hospitalization for nontyphoidal salmonellosis, mainly arising from food animals. Clin Infect Dis, 2002 Jun 1, 34 Suppl 3, S126 - 30 Excess infections due to antimicrobial resistance: the "Attributable Fraction"; Barza M et al.; Antimicrobial use causes a transient decrease in an individual's resistance to colonization by noncommensal bacteria ("competitive effect") and increases the likelihood of infection upon exposure to a foodborne pathogen . The additional "selective effect" of antimicrobial resistance results in a >3-fold increase in vulnerability to infection by an antimicrobial-resistant pathogen among individuals receiving antimicrobial therapy for unrelated reasons . Combining the increase in vulnerability to infection with the prevalence of taking an antimicrobial agent, it is possible to estimate the attributable fraction, or the number of excess infections that occurred as a result of the unrelated use of an antimicrobial agent to which the pathogen was resistant . Calculations based on estimates of the annual infection rates and attributable fractions of infections with nontyphoidal Salmonella and Campylobacter jejuni suggest that resistance to antimicrobial agents results annually in an additional 29,379 nontyphoidal Salmonella infections, leading to 342 hospitalizations and 12 deaths, and an additional 17,668 C . jejuni infections, leading to 95 hospitalizations. Clin Infect Dis, 2002 Jun 1, 34 Suppl 3, S111 - 22 Human diseases caused by foodborne pathogens of animal origin; Swartz MN; Many lines of evidence link antimicrobial-resistant human infections to foodborne pathogens of animal origin . Types of evidence reviewed include: (1) direct epidemiologic studies; (2) temporal evidence; (3) additional circumstantial evidence; (4) trends in antimicrobial resistance among Salmonella isolates; and (5) trends in antimicrobial resistance among other pathogens, such as Campylobacter jejuni . Commensal microorganisms in animals and humans may contribute to antimicrobial resistance among pathogens that cause disease among humans . For instance, enterococci of food-animal origin, particularly strains that are vancomycin resistant, have been linked to strains found in the human gastrointestinal tract . The latent period between the introduction of a given antimicrobial and emergence of resistance varies considerably, but once the prevalence in a population reaches a certain level, control becomes extremely difficult. Clin Infect Dis, 2002 Jun 1, 34 Suppl 3, S93 - S106 Antimicrobial use and resistance in animals; McEwen SA et al.; Food animals in the United States are often exposed to antimicrobials to treat and prevent infectious disease or to promote growth . Many of these antimicrobials are identical to or closely resemble drugs used in humans . Precise figures for the quantity of antimicrobials used in animals are not publicly available in the United States, and estimates vary widely . Antimicrobial resistance has emerged in zoonotic enteropathogens (e.g., Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp.), commensal bacteria (e.g., Escherichia coli, enterococci), and bacterial pathogens of animals (e.g., Pasteurella, Actinobacillus spp.), but the prevalence of resistance varies . Antimicrobial resistance emerges from the use of antimicrobials in animals and the subsequent transfer of resistance genes and bacteria among animals and animal products and the environment . To slow the development of resistance, some countries have restricted antimicrobial use in feed, and some groups advocate similar measures in the United States . Alternatives to growth-promoting and prophylactic uses of antimicrobials in agriculture include improved management practices, wider use of vaccines, and introduction of probiotics . Monitoring programs, prudent use guidelines, and educational campaigns provide approaches to minimize the further development of antimicrobial resistance. Microbiology, 2002 May, 148(Pt 5), 1475 - 81 Quorum sensing in Campylobacter jejuni: detection of a luxS encoded signalling molecule; Elvers KT et al.; The expression of a wide variety of physiological functions in many bacterial species is modulated by quorum sensing, a population-dependent signalling mechanism that involves the production and detection of extracellular signalling molecules . The genome sequence of Campylobacter jejuni NCTC 11168 contains a gene encoding an orthologue of LuxS, which is required for autoinducer-2 (AI-2) production in other bacterial species, but does not contain genes predicted to encode any known acyl-homoserine lactone synthetase . This study demonstrates that C . jejuni produces functional AI-2 activity through the ability of cell-free extracts to specifically induce bioluminescence in Vibrio harveyi BB170, a reporter strain for quorum-sensing system 2 . Production of this signalling compound was shown to be dependent upon the product of the C . jejuni luxS gene (Cj1198) . While the luxS mutant showed comparable growth rate, resistance to oxidative stress and ability to invade Caco-2 cell monolayers to the parental strain, it exhibited decreased motility haloes in semisolid media, suggesting a role for quorum sensing in the regulation of motility. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol, 2002 May, 9(3), 627 - 32 Cloning and expression of a Helicobacter bilis immunoreactive protein; Feng S et al.; In an effort to identify immunoreactive Helicobacter bilis antigens with potential for serodiagnosis, sera from mice experimentally infected with H . bilis were used to screen an H . bilis genomic DNA expression library . Among 17 immunoreactive clones, several contained sequences that encoded a predicted 167-kDa protein (P167) . Five overlapping P167 peptides (P167A to P167E) of approximately 40 kDa each were generated and tested . Immune sera reacted with fragments P167C and P167D at dilutions of 1:1,600 and 1:6,400, respectively, and reacted with an H . bilis membrane extract at a dilution of 1:800 in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . Sera from mice experimentally infected with H . hepaticus did not react with P167C and P167D . Sera from mice naturally infected with H . bilis but not sera from mice naturally infected with H . hepaticus reacted with P167C and P167D . Hyperimmune sera against P167C peptide reacted with recombinant P167C and with a 120-kDa band in H . bilis lysates but did not react with a protein of the same size on immunoblots prepared from H . hepaticus, H . muridarum, or unrelated Borrelia burgdorferi and Campylobacter jejuni whole-cell lysates . Nevertheless, the P167A, P167B, P167C, and P167D primers, but not the P167E primers, amplified DNA from H . hepaticus, and all five primer sets amplified DNA from H . muridarum . These results suggest that P167 is an immunodominant, H . bilis-specific antigen that may have potential for use in serodiagnosis. Mol Microbiol, 2002 Jan, 43(2), 497 - 508 Identification of N-acetylgalactosamine-containing glycoproteins PEB3 and CgpA in Campylobacter jejuni; Linton D et al.; It was demonstrated recently that there is a system of general protein glycosylation in the human enteropathogen Campylobacter jejuni . To characterize such glycoproteins, we identified a lectin, Soybean agglutinin (SBA), which binds to multiple C . jejuni proteins on Western blots . Binding of lectin SBA was disrupted by mutagenesis of genes within the previously identified protein glycosylation locus . This lectin was used to purify putative glycoproteins selectively and, after sodium dodecyl sulphatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Coomassie-stained bands were cut from the gels . The bands were digested with trypsin, and peptides were identified by mass spectrometry and database searching . A 28kDa band was identified as PEB3, a previously characterized immunogenic cell surface protein . Bands of 32 and 34kDa were both identified as a putative periplasmic protein encoded by the C . jejuni NCTC 11168 coding sequence Cj1670c . We have named this putative glycoprotein CgpA . We constructed insertional knockout mutants of both the peb3 and cgpA genes, and surface protein extracts from mutant and wild-type strains were analysed by one- and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) . In this way, we were able to identify the PEB3 protein as a 28 kDa SBA-reactive and immunoreactive glycoprotein . The cgpA gene encoded SBA-reactive and immunoreactive proteins of 32 and 34 kDa . By using specific exoglycosidases, we demonstrated that the SBA binding property of acid-glycine extractable C . jejuni glycoproteins, including PEB3 and CgpA, is a result of the presence of alpha-linked N-acetylgalactosamine residues . These data confirm the existence, and extend the boundaries, of the previously identified protein glycosylation locus of C . jejuni . Furthermore, we have identified two such glycoproteins, the first non-flagellin campylobacter glycoproteins to be identified, and demonstrated that their glycan components contain alpha-linked N-acetylgalactosamine residues. Int J Food Microbiol, 2002 Apr 5, 74(3), 177 - 88 The physiology of Campylobacter species and its relevance to their role as foodborne pathogens; Park SF; Campylobacter jejuni and C . coli are recognised as the leading causes of bacterial foodborne diarrhoeal disease throughout the development world . While most foodborne bacterial pathogens are considered to be relatively robust organisms, as a consequence of the necessity to survive the inimical conditions imposed by food processing and preservation, Campylobacter species have uniquely fastidious growth requirements and an unusual sensitivity to environmental stress . Campylobacters also lack many of the well characterised adaptive responses that can be collated with resistance to stress in other bacteria . The aim of this review is to outline the unusual physiology of campylobacters (C . jejuni and C . coli) and to describe how this influences their role as foodborne pathogens. J Clin Microbiol, 2002 May, 40(5), 1791 - 7 Development and application of a new scheme for typing Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli by PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis; Shi F et al.; A molecular typing approach for Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli was developed with restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of a 9.6-kb PCR-amplified portion of the lipopolysaccharide gene cluster . Sixty-one Penner serotype reference strains were analyzed with this new genotyping scheme, and 32 genogroups were found . Eleven additional genogroups were obtained from 87 clinical C . jejuni strains tested . This molecular typing method shows a correlation with the Penner heat-stable serotyping method, a phenotypic typing method based on lipopolysaccharide structures that is often used as a "gold standard" for subtyping Campylobacter spp . This strong correlation suggests that the data obtained can be directly compared with epidemiological data collected in the past by classical serotyping of C . jejuni and C . coli . In contrast to the high percentage of nontypeability by phenotyping, this molecular typing method results in 100% typeability and provides a superior alternative to serotyping. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2002 May, 68(5), 2214 - 28 Partitioning of bacterial communities between seawater and healthy, black band diseased, and dead coral surfaces; Frias-Lopez J et al.; Distinct partitioning has been observed in the composition and diversity of bacterial communities inhabiting the surface and overlying seawater of three coral species infected with black band disease (BBD) on the southern Caribbean island of Curacao, Netherlands Antilles . PCR amplification and sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes (rDNA) with universally conserved primers have identified over 524 unique bacteri