Campylobacter

J Clin Microbiol, 2000 Oct, 38(10), 3800 - 10
Evaluation of phenotypic and genotypic methods for subtyping Campylobacter jejuni isolates from humans, poultry, and cattle; Nielsen EM et al.; Six methods for subtyping of Campylobacter jejuni were compared and evaluated with a collection of 90 isolates from poultry, cattle, and sporadic human clinical cases as well as from a waterborne outbreak . The applied methods were Penner heat-stable serotyping; automated ribotyping (RiboPrinting); random amplified polymorphic DNA typing (RAPD); pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE); restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the flagellin gene, flaA (fla-RFLP); and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of flaA (fla-DGGE) . The methods were evaluated and compared on the basis of their abilities to identify isolates from one outbreak and discriminate between unrelated isolates and the agreement between methods in identifying clonal lines . All methods identified the outbreak strain . For a collection of 80 supposedly unrelated isolates, RAPD and PFGE were the most discriminatory methods, followed by fla-RFLP and RiboPrinting . fla-DGGE and serotyping were the least discriminative . All isolates included in this study were found to be typeable by each of the methods . Thirteen groups of potentially related isolates could be identified using a criterion that at least four of the methods agreed on clustering of isolates . None of the subtypes could be related to only one source; rather, these groups represented isolates from different sources . Furthermore, in two cases isolates from cattle and human patients were found to be identical according to all six methods.

J Clin Microbiol, 2000 Oct, 38(10), 3550 - 4
Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and acute and persistent diarrhea in returned travelers; Schultsz C et al.; To determine the role of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in acute and persistent diarrhea in returned travelers, a case control study was performed . Enterotoxigenic E . coli (ETEC) was detected in stool samples from 18 (10.7%) of 169 patients and 4 (3.7%) of 108 controls . Enteroaggregative E . coli (EAggEC) was detected in 16 (9.5%) patients and 7 (6.5%) controls . Diffuse adherent E . coli strains were commonly present in both patients (13%) and controls (13.9) . Campylobacter and Shigella species were the other bacterial enteropathogens most commonly isolated (10% of patients, 2% of controls) . Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of ETEC was associated with acute diarrhea (odds ratio {OR}, 6.7; 95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.5 to 29.1; P = 0.005), but not with persistent diarrhea (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 0.4 to 7.4) . EAggEC was significantly more often present in patients with acute diarrhea than in controls (P = 0.009), but no significant association remained after multivariate analysis . ETEC and EAggEC are frequently detected in returned travelers with diarrhea . The presence of ETEC strains is associated with acute but not with persistent diarrhea.

J Health Popul Nutr, 2000 Jun, 18(1), 33 - 8
Isolation and antibiotic susceptibility of Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter from acute enteric infections in Egypt; Wasfy MO et al.; While Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Shigella remain major contributors to acute enteric infections, few studies on these pathogens have been conducted in Egypt . From January 1986 to December 1993, 869 Salmonella, Shigella and Campylobacter strains were isolated from stool specimens from 6,278 patients, presenting to the Abbassia Fever Hospital, Cairo, Egypt, with acute enteric infections . Salmonella predominated, totalling 465 isolates, followed by Shigella with 258 isolates, and Campylobacter with 146 isolates . Of the Shigella isolates, 124 were Shigella flexneri, 49 were S . sonnei, 47 were S . dysenteriae (mainly serotype 1, 2, and 3), and 38 were S . boydii . Campylobacter spp . comprised 92 Campylobacter jejuni and 54 C . coli isolates . Isolation of Salmonella was highest during the months of February-March, June-July, and October-November, while that of Shigella was maximal from July to October . Isolation of Campylobacter increased during May-June and again during August-October . Although Salmonella was sensitive to amikacin, aztreonam, ceftriaxone, and nalidixic acid, it was, however, resistant to erythromycin, streptomycin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline . Shigella (> 80%) was sensitive to amikacin, ceftriaxone, cephalothin, sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim (except S . sonnei), aztreonam, and nalidixic acid . Resistance (> 50%) was noted only for ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline . C . jejuni and C . coli were resistant to cephalothin, aztreonam, and streptomycin . Some of the above antibiotics were employed to characterize the Egyptian isolates, but did not have any clinical utility in the treatment of diarrhoea . Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the resistance profiles of Shigella and Salmonella between late 1980s and early 1990s . The results suggest the use of fluoroquinolones or a third-generation cephalosporin as an empirical treatment of enteric diseases . However, alternative control strategies, including the aggressive development of broadly protective vaccines, may be more effective approaches to curbing morbidity and mortality due to acute enteric infections.

J Health Popul Nutr, 2000 Jun, 18(1), 23 - 6
Identification of enteric pathogens in HIV-positive patients with diarrhoea in northern India; Prasad KN et al.; Enteric pathogens associated with chronic diarrhoea in HIV-positive patients were studied . The study was conducted during January 1995-December 1998 . Stool specimens from all diarrhoea patients (n = 26) were examined microscopically for ova and parasites using wet preparations and stained smears . Stool samples from diarrhoea patients were also cultured on appropriate media to isolate enteric bacterial pathogens . Of the 59 patients, 26 (44%) had prolonged diarrhoea for more than 4 weeks . Enteric pathogens were detected in 19 (73%) of the 26 patients: 17 patients harboured a single pathogen, and 2 patients had mixed pathogens . The detection rate of emerging parasites, including Isospora, Cryptosporidium, Blastocystis hominis, and Strongyloides stercoralis as a single agent, was significantly higher than conventional pathogens (50% vs 19.2%; p < 0.05) . Only one patient harboured both conventional and emerging pathogens (Entamoeba histolytica and Cryptosporidium) . Isospora belli was detected in 8 (31%) of the 26 diarrhoea patients: in 7 (27%) patients as a single agent and in one patient with S . stercoralis . Cryptosporidium was identified in 3 (11%) diarrhoea patients: in 2 (8%) patients as a single agent and in one patient with E . histolytica, followed by B . hominis in 2 (8%) patients . E . histolytica was most commonly isolated (3/26; 11.5%), followed by Giardia lamblia, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter jejuni (one patient each) . Parasitic pathogens were frequently associated with HIV-positive patients with diarrhoea in northern India . I . belli was the most frequent parasite isolated, followed by Cryptosporidium . Stools of all HIV-positive patients with diarrhoea should thoroughly be investigated to identify aetiologic agents for proper management.

Brain, 2000 Oct, 123 ( Pt 10), 2171 - 8
Haemophilus influenzae infection and Guillain-Barré syndrome; Mori M et al.; It has been reported recently that Haemophilus influenzae can elicit an axonal form of Guillain-Barre syndrome . To investigate the incidence and features of H . influenzae-related Guillain-Barre syndrome, anti-H . influenzae antibody titres were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 46 consecutive Japanese patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome, 49 normal controls, 24 patients with multiple sclerosis and 27 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) . Whole bacteria of non-encapsulated (non-typable) H . influenzae isolated from one of the Guillain-Barre syndrome patients was the antigen used . Elevated anti-H . influenzae antibodies for two or three classes of IgG, IgM and IgA were found in six (13%) Guillain-Barre syndrome patients, but not in the normal controls and patients with multiple sclerosis or ALS . The incidence was significantly higher in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome than in the normal controls (P = 0.01) and patients with multiple sclerosis or ALS (P = 0.009) . Western blot analysis confirmed that the H . influenzae-positive patients' IgG recognized the lipopolysaccharides of H . influenzae . Guillain-Barre syndrome patients with anti-H . influenzae antibodies showed relatively uniform clinical and laboratory features: prodromal respiratory infection, less frequent cranial and sensory nerve involvement, pure motor axonal degeneration on electrophysiology, and positivity for IgG anti-GM1 antibodies . Although the features were similar to those in Guillain-Barre syndrome patients infected by Campylobacter jejuni, the recoveries seemed to be better in patients with H . influenzae-related Guillain-Barre syndrome . It is concluded that a form of Guillain-Barre syndrome occurs after respiratory infection by H . influenzae in the Japanese population . A particular strain of non-typable H . influenzae has a ganglioside GM1-like structure and elicits axonal Guillain-Barre syndrome similar to C . jejuni-related Guillain-Barre syndrome.

No To Shinkei, 2000 Aug, 52(8), 715 - 7
{A case report of Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis with positive anti GQ 1 b, GT 1 a, GM 1 ganglioside antibodies}; Nemoto H et al.; Patient was an 18-year-old female student . After she had symptoms of common cold for 3 days, she developed somnolence, diplopia, dysarthria, urinary disturbance and ataxia . On admission neurological examination revealed coma with mydriasis, ophthalmoplegia, ptosis and weakness of the upper limbs . Light reflex, corneal reflex and oculocephalic test were all negative . Deep tendon reflexes were brisk and extensor toe signs were positive bilaterally . She did not have nuchal rigidity . Laboratory test revealed normal cerebrospinal fluid with negative myelin basic protein . Brain MRI, brainstem evoked potentials presented no abnormality . EMG revealed normal conduction velocity and no conduction block . EEG had diffuse theta and delta slowing . Culture of the stool represented no Campylobacter jejuni . At the fifth day of admission consciousness level improved, and other neurological findings disappeared in about 6 weeks . She had anti GQ 1 b, GT 1 a(IgG, IgM) and anti GM 1(IgM) antibodies in the serum . We made a diagnosis of Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis from these neurological symptoms and clinical course . The main lesion was present in the brainstem from midbrain to medulla oblongata in the midline . High titer of anti GT 1a antibody may be related to the ophthalmoplegia as noted in Miller Fisher syndrome . As a result of EMG and stool culture, it denied the complication of Guillain-Barre syndrome . We had no proof of the reason of the presentation of anti GM 1 antibody.

Eur J Radiol, 2000 Sep, 35(3), 154 - 67
The epidemiology and the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease; Karlinger K et al.; The etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is still unknown . However, a satisfactory solution cannot be far away . IBD actually encompasses two diseases, i.e . Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerous colitis (UC) . These diseases resemble each other so closely that they cannot be distinguished even pathologically, but differ from each other sufficiently to regard them as independent entities . Epidemiological observations may be helpful in identifying the true causative factors of this evasive disease . Geographically, the prevalence of the disease has a slope from North to South and, to a lesser degree, from West to East . The Western-Eastern discrepancy can be attributed to a difference in Western life styles . The incidence of the disease has been increasing world-wide of late, but its spread has been slowing down in highly affected countries . Racial and ethnic relations in different populations and immigration studies offer interesting data which can reflect genetic, inherited, environmental and behavioural factors . The disease seems to have a characteristic racial-ethnic distribution: the Jewish population is highly susceptible everywhere, but its prevalence in that population nears that of the domestic society in which they live . In Hungary, the Roma (Gypsies) have a considerably lower prevalence than the average population . This can be attributed to a genetic or environmental influence . According to age, the onset of the disease occurs more often in the second or the third decade of life, but there also is another peak in the 60s . Regarding sexual distribution, there is a slight preponderance of colitis ulcerosa in men and of Crohn's disease in women . It may correspond to the stronger auto-immune affection in the process of Crohn's disease . Environmental factors and behavioural influences also are investigated . Diet, the role of the early ages, smoking habits and the influence of hormonal status and drugs are viewed as useful contributing factors in the manifestation of the disease . Genetic studies show that one-fourth of IBD patients have an affected family member . HLAB27 histocombatibility also plays an important, but not determining role in the development of the disease . Genetic factors seem to have a stronger influence in Crohn's disease than ulcerative colitis . The existence of multiple sclerosis-IBD families may reflect the common genetic background or the similar microbial effect as well . A great number of bacterial and viral factors has been suspected of being infectious factors in IBD, mostly in CD . Mycobacteria, Yersinia, Campylobacter, Clostridium, Clamidias, etc . as well as bacteria and some viruses such as herpes and rotavirus and the primary measles virus . None of them has been proven as a real and exclusively pathogenic factor . Immunological background has an important function in the manifestation of the disease . If an individual has a genetic susceptibility to infections, the down regulation of an inflammation in the bowel wall does not occur in a proper way . This initiates the auto-immune process which is a self-increasing cycle . Extra-intestinal manifestations of IBD are of high importance because they can not only follow intestinal symptoms, but precede them by years . Hepatic and biliary disturbances (primary sclerosing cholangitis), are the most serious complications . Mucocutaneous manifestations can be the first appearance of the main disease (in the mouth) . Auto-immune consequences (erythema nodosum) or complications caused even by the therapy can occur . Ocular and musculoskeletal manifestations supposedly have the same genetic background and often precede the intestinal symptoms . Considering the epidemiological, genetic and immunological data, we can conclude that ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are heterogeneous disorders of mutifactorial etiology in which hereditary (genetic) and environmental (microbial, behaviour) factors interact to produce the disease.

Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr, 2000 Jul-Aug, 113(7-8), 289 - 94
{Peracute mortality in common cranes (Grus grus)}; Prange H et al.; Out of a nonbreeding group of cranes, 10 birds died peracutely at the end of April 1998 . The pathological investigation showed changes in the intestine, liver and kidneys caused probably by an intoxication; but corresponding analyses did not result in a specified poison . The proof of E . coli, Cl . perfringens and Campylobacter jejuni is to be interpreted as a subordinate result . 7 of 8 cranes had a low to high infestation with endoparasites (Porrocaeum spp., Eimeria pusilla, Echinostoma spp.) . 5 of 8 birds showed leaness, possibly as a result of the migration exertion . Further on, the analysis results of a 9th crane found at another place are included in this paper.

Infect Immun, 2000 Oct, 68(10), 5679 - 89
Sequence polymorphism, predicted secondary structures, and surface-exposed conformational epitopes of Campylobacter major outer membrane protein; Zhang Q et al.; The major outer membrane protein (MOMP), a putative porin and a multifunction surface protein of Campylobacter jejuni, may play an important role in the adaptation of the organism to various host environments . To begin to dissect the biological functions and antigenic features of this protein, the gene (designated cmp) encoding MOMP was identified and characterized from 22 strains of C . jejuni and one strain of C . coli . It was shown that the single-copy cmp locus encoded a protein with characteristics of bacterial outer membrane proteins . Prediction from deduced amino acid sequences suggested that each MOMP subunit consisted of 18 beta-strands connected by short periplasmic turns and long irregular external loops . Alignment of the amino acid sequences of MOMP from different strains indicated that there were seven localized variable regions dispersed among highly conserved sequences . The variable regions were located in the putative external loop structures, while the predicted beta-strands were formed by conserved sequences . The sequence homology of cmp appeared to reflect the phylogenetic proximity of C . jejuni strains, since strains with identical cmp sequences had indistinguishable or closely related macrorestriction fragment patterns . Using recombinant MOMP and antibodies recognizing linear or conformational epitopes of the protein, it was demonstrated that the surface-exposed epitopes of MOMP were predominantly conformational in nature . These findings are instrumental in the design of MOMP-based diagnostic tools and vaccines.

Infect Immun, 2000 Oct, 68(10), 5663 - 7
Campylobacter fetus sap inversion occurs in the absence of RecA function; Ray KC et al.; Phase variation of Campylobacter fetus surface layer proteins (SLPs) occurs by inversion of a 6.2-kb DNA segment containing the unique sap promoter, permitting expression of a single SLP-encoding gene . Previous work has shown that the C . fetus sap inversion system is RecA dependent . When we challenged a pregnant ewe with a recA mutant of wild-type C . fetus (strain 97-211) that expressed the 97-kDa SLP, 15 of the 16 ovine-passaged isolates expressed the 97-kDa protein . However, one strain (97-209) expressed a 127-kDa SLP, suggesting that chromosomal rearrangement may have occurred to enable SLP switching . Lack of RecA function in strains 97-211 and 97-209 was confirmed by their sensitivity to the DNA-damaging agent methyl methanesulfonate . Southern hybridization and PCR of these strains indicated that the aphA insertion into recA was stably present . However, Southern hybridizations demonstrated that in strain 97-209 inversion had occurred in the sap locus . PCR data confirmed inversion of the 6.2-kb DNA element and indicated that in these recA mutants the sap inversion frequency is reduced by 2 to 3 log(10) units compared to that in the wild type . Thus, although the major sap inversion pathway in C . fetus is RecA dependent, alternative lower-frequency, RecA-independent inversion mechanisms exist.

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 2000 Oct, 69(4), 522 - 4
Unusual T cell receptor phenotype V gene usage of gamma delta T cells in a line derived from the peripheral nerve of a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome; Cooper JC et al.; Guillain-Barre syndrome is considered to be an immune mediated disorder but the relative role of T cells and antibodies in its pathogenesis is unclear . As gut infection with Campylobacter jejuni is the most common antecedent infection it is possible that gut derived T lymphocytes might play a part in the development of the syndrome.The T cell receptor phenotype (TCR) of a nerve gamma delta T cell line obtained from a sural nerve biopsy taken from a patient with a demyelinating form of GBS was determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and flow cytometry (FACS) . This TCR was compared with the phenotype preferentially expressed in the peripheral blood of the same patient.The T cell nerve line was found to express V gamma 8/delta 1 which represents an unusual T cell subset normally found on lymphocytes resident in epithelial tissue such as the gut . The peripheral blood gamma delta T lymphocytes from the patient were of the V gamma 9/delta 2 subset, which is the phenotype predominantly expressed in the peripheral blood of healthy subjects . In conclusion, the presence of this unusual population of V gamma 8/delta 1(+) lymphocytes in nerve would be consistent with a pathogenetic role for gut associated lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barre syndrome associated with C jejuni.

Microb Drug Resist, 2000 Summer, 6(2), 91 - 8
An integron cassette carrying dfr1 with 90-bp repeat sequences located on the chromosome of trimethoprim-resistant isolates of Campylobacter jejuni; Gibreel A et al.; The frequent occurrence of high-level trimethoprim resistance in clinical isolates of Campylobacter jejuni was shown to be related to the acquisition of foreign resistance genes (dfrl or dfr9 or both) coding for resistant variants of the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase, the target of trimethoprim . The dfr1 gene detected on the chromosome of 40 different clinical strains of C . jejuni was studied further regarding structure and genetic organization . Most of the dfr1 genes were found as integron cassettes inserted in the chromosome . In 36% of the examined isolated, the dfr1 gene showed identity to that previously characterized in trimethoprim-resistant Escherichia coli . In 40% of the cases, however, a variant of the dfr1 gene containing a 90-bp direct repeat was detected, and in 5% of the isolates, the repeat-containing dfr1 variant was found to occur in the form of two cassettes in tandem in an integron context . The existence of the 90-bp repeat within the coding sequence of the dfr1gene was found to play a role in the adaptation of C . jejuni to ambient concentrations of trimethoprim.

Exp Toxicol Pathol, 2000 Aug, 52(4), 287 - 96
Susceptibility to secondary bacterial infections in growing pigs as an early response in ochratoxicosis; Stoev SD et al.; Mycotoxic nephropathy was induced in twelve 14 kg pigs fed a dietary component, moulded by Aspergillus ochraceus and contributing ochratoxin A at 1 or 3 ppm for up to 3 weeks . Concurrently, salmonellosis arose spontaneously in all six animals treated at 3 ppm and all died between days 15 and 17 . Two of the six pigs in the 1 ppm group died similarly but the rest, and all of six control animals, were unaffected . Clinical biochemistry and histology revealed changes typical of renal ochratoxicosis in all ochratoxin-treated pigs . Clinical and pathomorphological changes typical of salmonellosis were evident in all those that died and Salmonella choleraesuis was consistently isolated from their faeces and liver . In a further experiment at 1 ppm ochratoxin A in animals immunised against S . choleraesuis haemorrhagic diarrhoea resulted instead, associated with Serpulina hyodysenteriae and Campylobacter coli . There was concomitant evidence of immunosuppression and delayed response to immunization . For the first time, susceptibility to natural infectious disease has been demonstrated in pigs exposed to the immunotoxicity of ochratoxin A . Differentiation of biochemical and histological changes attributable to ochratoxicosis or to secondary disease may require reinterpretation of a classical description of experimental porcine ochratoxicosis.

J Periodontal Res, 2000 Aug, 35(4), 232 - 41
Prevalence of periodontal pathogens in localized and generalized forms of early-onset periodontitis; Mullally BH et al.; The primary objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence of 8 putative periodontal pathogens in subjects with early-onset periodontitis (EOP) and to evaluate the microbial differences between localized and generalized forms of this periodontal disease condition . Thirty-one females and 11 males with a mean age of 30.3 (s.d . 4.0) years were examined . Seventeen subjects had generalized (GEOP) and 25 had localized early-onset periodontitis (LEOP) . Subgingival plaque samples were assayed using PCR which provided subject prevalence data for the pathogens; Bacteroides forsythus 78.6%, Treponema denticola 88.1%, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans 19.0%, Porphyromonas gingivalis 16.7%, Prevotella intermedia 40.4%, Prevotella nigrescens 61.9%, Eikenella corrodens 42.3% and Campylobacter rectus 92.8% . Only 3 healthy sites harbored one or more of these periodontal pathogens . Seven of the 8 subjects positive for A . actinomycetemcomitans had LEOP . P . intermedia was present in 58.8% of GEOP compared with 28% of LEOP subjects (p=0.046) . At 82.4% of GEOP sites P . nigrescens was present while this bacteria was detected at 52% of LEOP (p=0.044) . P . gingivalis was isolated from 22.6% of females but no male subjects (p=0.084) . C . rectus was recovered from all female subjects compared to 72.7% of males (p=0.014) . A . actinomycetemcomitans (37.5%) and C . rectus (86.5%) were more frequently identified in non-smokers compared to 7.6% and 68.8% of smokers, respectively (p <0.05) . Microbial associations coincided with the clinical division of the cases into LEOP and GEOP in 83% of the subjects.

J Clin Periodontol, 2000 Sep, 27(9), 648 - 57
Comparison of the microbiota of supra- and subgingival plaque in health and periodontitis; Ximenez-Fyvie LA et al.; BACKGROUND, AIMS: The purpose of the present investigation was to compare the microbial composition of supra and subgingival plaque in 22 periodontally healthy (mean age 32+/-16 years) and 23 adult periodontitis subjects (mean age 51+/-14 years) . METHODS: A total of 2358 supra and separately subgingival plaque samples were collected from the mesial aspect of all teeth excluding 3rd molars in each subject . Samples were examined for the presence and levels of 40 bacterial taxa using whole genomic DNA probes and checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization . Clinical assessments including dichotomous measures of gingival redness, bleeding on probing, plaque accumulation and suppuration, as well as duplicate measures of pocket depth and attachment level, were made at 6 sites per tooth . Mean counts (x10(5), % DNA probe count and % sites colonized for each species were determined separately for supra and subgingival samples in each subject and then averaged across subjects in the 2 clinical groups . Significance of differences between healthy and periodontitis subjects was determined using the Mann-Whitney test and adjusted for multiple comparisons . RESULTS: Mean total DNA probe counts (x10(5), +/-SEM) for healthy and periodontitis subjects in supragingival plaque were 72.1+/-11 and 132+/-17.5, respectively (p<0.01), and in subgingival plaque 22.1+/-6.6 and 100.3+/-18.4, (p<0.001) . Porphyromonas gingivalis, Bacteroides forsythus and Treponema denticola could be detected in supragingival plaque samples of both healthy and periodontitis subjects . Actinomyces species were the dominant taxa in both supra- and subgingival plaque from healthy and periodontitis subjects . 4 Actinomyces species accounted for 63.2%, of supragingival and 47.2% of subgingival plaque in healthy subjects and 48.% and 37.8% in periodontitis subjects respectively . Increased proportions of P . gingivalis, B . forsythus, and species of Prevotella, Fusobacterium, Campylobacter and Treponema were detected subgingivally in the periodontitis subjects . P . gingivalis, B . forsythus and T . denticola were significantly more prevalent in both supra- and subgingival plaque samples from periodontitis subjects . CONCLUSIONS: The main differences between supra and subgingival plaque as well as between health and disease were in the proportions and to some extent levels of Actinomyces, "orange" and "red" complex species.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2000 Sep 1, 190(1), 1 - 7
Characterization of gyrA mutations associated with fluoroquinolone resistance in Campylobacter coli by DNA sequence analysis and MAMA PCR; Zirnstein G et al.; Increasing numbers of fluoroquinolone-resistant Campylobacter coli isolates received at the Minnesota State Public Health Laboratory and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been a cause for concern . The gyrA quinolone resistance-determining regions of several fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates were sequenced to examine the mechanism of resistance . Ciprofloxacin-resistant C . coli isolates examined by DNA sequencing had a Thr-86 to Ile (ACT-->ATT) gyrA mutation, leading to resistance to fluoroquinolone antibiotics . A mismatch amplification mutation assay polymerase chain reaction protocol was developed to detect this gyrA mutation.

Am J Reprod Immunol, 2000 Jul, 44(1), 30 - 40
Endocrine-immune interaction: alteractions in immune function resulting from neonatal treatment with a GnRH antagonist and seasonality in male primates; Mann DR et al.; PROBLEM: The effect of neonatal gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist (Ant) treatment and seasonality on immune system development and function was investigated in male primates . METHOD OF STUDY: Neonatal male rhesus monkeys and marmosets were treated with Ant, and its effect on immune system morphology, circulating lymphocyte subsets, and cell- and humorally-mediated immune responses was assessed during development . In adult rhesus monkeys, we correlated seasonal changes in immune function with circannual fluctuations in immunoactive hormones . RESULTS: In neonatal marmosets, Ant reduced the number of B cells and T cells in the thymic medulla and T cells in the periarterial lymphatic sheaths (PALS) of the spleen . Ant also altered the development of, but did not permanently impair, the proliferative index (PI) of blood lymphocytes to mitogens . In vitro treatment of control lymphocytes with GnRH analogues altered their response to these proliferative agents . In neonatal rhesus monkeys, Ant treatment increased the frequency of clinical problems, lowered circulating levels of lymphocytes, total T cells, CD8+ T cells and B cells, and altered the PI of lymphocytes to mitogens . As adults, the cell- and humorally-mediated immune responses remained impaired . We also documented seasonal fluctuations in the prevalence of diseases, circulating immune cells and immune function in rhesus monkeys . The number of cases of campylobacteriosis and shigellosis was lowest in the winter and highest in the spring . Circulating numbers of white blood cells (WBC) and neutrophils and the PI of lymphocytes to mitogens were higher in the winter than in the summer . Natural killer cell activity also varied with season . Cortisol and leptin secretion exhibited circannual rhythms, rising in concert with decreasing photoperiod and increasing testicular activity in the fall . Conversely, prolactin levels declined with decreasing photoperiod and then rose in the spring . CONCLUSION: Neonatal exposure of male primates to Ant appears to alter early postnatal programming of immune function . In the rhesus monkey, immune function shows seasonal fluctuations that may be driven by circannual changes in the secretion of immunoactive hormones.

Microbiology, 2000 Sep, 146 ( Pt 9), 2283 - 90
Concerted evolution of duplicate fla genes in Campylobacter; Meinersmann RJ et al.; Campylobacters have two similar copies (flaA and flaB) of their flagellin gene . It has been hypothesized that the two copies can serve for antigenic phase variation . Analysis of polymorphisms within aligned multiple DNA sequences of the Campylobacter flagellin genes revealed high pairwise homoplasy indexes between flaB/flaB pairs that were not observed between any flaA/flaA pairings or flaA/flaB pairings . Thus it seems there are constraints on the sequence of flaB that distinguish it from flaA . Nevertheless, segments of the two genes that are highly variable between strains are conserved between the flaA and flaB copies of the genes within a strain . The patterns of synonymous and non-synonymous differences suggest that one segment of the flagellin sequence is under selective pressure at the amino acid sequence level . Another segment of the protein is maintained within a strain by conversion or recombination . Comparisons of strict consensus amino acid sequences did not reveal any motifs that are uniquely FlaA or FlaB, but there are differences between FlaA and FlaB in those amino acids available for post-translational modification . The observed pattern of concerted evolution of portions of a structural gene is an unusual finding in bacteria and should be searched for with other duplicated genes . Concerted evolution was unexpected for genes involved in phase variation since it minimizes the antigenic repertoire that can be expressed by a single clone in the face of the host immune response.

Lett Appl Microbiol, 2000 Sep, 31(3), 209 - 12
The incidence and PCR detection of Campylobacter upsaliensis in dogs and cats; Steinhauserova I et al.; A study was made of the incidence of Campylobacter upsaliensis among dogs and cats suffering from acute or chronic diarrhoea; 225 dogs and cats were examined and 51 strains were identified, 16 (7%) of which were Camp . upsaliensis . When rectal swabs were taken from a control group of 126 dogs and cats without clinical symptoms, 19 Campylobacter spp . and four Camp . upsaliensis were identified . All the Camp . upsaliensis strains were isolated in dogs . The Campylobacter strains were identified on the basis of their biochemical characteristics and by PCR (polymerase chain reaction).

Helicobacter, 2000 Sep, 5(3), 142 - 7
Differentiation of clinical Helicobacter pullorum isolates from related Helicobacter and Campylobacter species; Melito PL et al.; BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pullorum, first detected in the liver and intestinal contents of poultry, was defined as a new species in 1994 . This organism has since been isolated from humans with gastroenteritis . Phenotypic as well as genotypic methods have been used to identify H . pullorum associated with cases of human disease . MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical isolates were submitted for identification to the National Laboratory for Enteric Pathogens by Provincial Public Health Laboratories within Canada . Phenotypic characterization was conducted using a variety of growth and biochemical tests including oxidase, catalase, indoxyl acetate, H2S production in triple sugar iron (TSI) agar, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and fatty acid analysis . Genotypic identification was performed using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of a 1-kb fragment of the Helicobacter 16S rRNA gene . RESULTS: During the last 7 years (1993-1999) a total of 11 isolates of H . pullorum were detected from patients with gastroenteritis for inclusion in this study . Typically, these isolates were oxidase and catalase positive, produced optimal growth at 42 degrees C, and produced H2S in TSI . Of these 11 isolates, 1 showed DNase activity, while another did not produce H2S in TSI, and only 2 showed tolerance to 1% bile . Antimicrobial susceptibility assays indicated that 6 of the 11 strains were resistant to nalidixic acid . The fatty acid profiles of the isolates were similar to each other and provided a distinguishing profile from the other related species . Genetically identical and distinct species-specific restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns were produced using the restriction enzymes Bsr I and Dde I . CONCLUSION: Phenotypic and genotypic procedures were used to identify H . pullorum . Interspecies phenotypic variability was apparent and supported the use of a polyphasic approach for identification . Similarities to the more prominent human pathogens Campylobacter coli and C . lari were also noted . The use of a combination of phenotypic and, in particular, genotypic markers for H . pullorum should prove valuable both for epidemiological investigations and for the diagnosis of disease related to this emerging human pathogen.

Mol Cell Probes, 2000 Aug, 14(4), 233 - 40
Rapid detection of Campylobacter fetus by polymerase chain reaction combined with non-radioactive hybridization using an oligonucleotide covalently bound to microwells; Casademont I et al.; Campylobacter fetus is recognized as a human and animal pathogen . The isolation and differentiation of C . fetus in diagnostic laboratories is hindered by its relatively slow growth and lack of distinguishing biochemical characteristics . We cloned and sequenced a 1581-bp DNA fragment, IG02, isolated from a C . fetus genomic library . This fragment was used as a probe on DNAs extracted from C . fetus strains and other Campylobacter species: IG02 hybridized only with DNAs from C . fetus strains . A PCR-based test was developed for the detection of C . fetus . A pair of oligonucleotide primers was designed to amplify a 141-bp fragment of IG02 . The amplified product was analysed by a non-radioactive sandwich hybridization in microtiter plate using a capture oligonucleotide and a biotin-labelled oligonucleotide for the detection . The combination of PCR and non-radioactive microplate hybridization is a convenient method for the rapid detection of C . fetus .

J Clin Microbiol, 2000 Sep, 38(9), 3379 - 87
Comparative fingerprinting analysis of Campylobacter jejuni subsp . jejuni strains by amplified-fragment length polymorphism genotyping; Lindstedt BA et al.; Amplified-fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis with the endonucleases BglII and MfeI was used to genotype 91 Campylobacter jejuni subsp . jejuni strains from outbreaks and sporadic cases . AFLP-generated fragments were labeled with fluorescent dye and separated by capillary electrophoresis . The software packages GeneScan and GelCompar II were used to calculate AFLP pattern similarities and to investigate phylogenetic relationships among the genotyped strains . The AFLP method was compared with two additional DNA-based typing methods, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using SmaI and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis on PCR products (PCR-RFLP) of the flaA and flaB genes . We found that AFLP analysis of C . jejuni strains is a rapid method that offers better discriminatory power than do both PFGE and PCR-RFLP . AFLP and, to a lesser extent, PCR-RFLP could differentiate strains within the same PFGE profiles, which also makes PCR-RFLP an alternative to PFGE . We were able to clearly distinguish 9 of 10 recognized outbreaks by AFLP and to identify similarities among outbreak and sporadic strains . Therefore, AFLP is suitable for epidemiological surveillance of C . jejuni and will be an excellent tool for source identification in outbreak situations.

J Formos Med Assoc, 2000 Aug, 99(8), 612 - 7
Bacteremia due to Campylobacter species: high rate of resistance to macrolide and quinolone antibiotics; Lu PL et al.; BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although the rate of isolation of Campylobacter from stool specimens in Taiwan is similar to those in other developed countries, Campylobacter bacteremia has rarely been reported in Taiwan, and the patterns of antimicrobial susceptibility of blood isolates to various antimicrobial agents remain unknown in the Taiwanese population . The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics of patients with Campylobacter infection in a university hospital in Taiwan and the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the Campylobacter isolates . METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of all patients with Campylobacter bacteremia treated in a university hospital between January 1991 and March 1999 . Minimum inhibitory concentrations of 13 antimicrobial agents to 10 stored blood isolates were determined using the E-test . RESULTS: Approximately half (52%) of the 21 patients had chronic liver disease and one-quarter had hepatobiliary or gastrointestinal malignancies . Thirteen (62%) patients had conditions that were associated with gastroenteritis . Other clinical manifestations associated with Campylobacter infection included cellulitis, perinatal sepsis, peritonitis, vascular catheter-related infection, and primary bacteremia . The duration of illness was generally short: approximately half (52%) of the 21 patients had fever lasting for only 1 day . Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the 10 isolates revealed that most of the blood isolates were resistant to erythromycin and nalidixic acid (100% and 90%, respectively), while the rate of cross-resistance between erythromycin and azithromycin was 70%, and that between nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin was 67% . CONCLUSIONS: Our observations suggest that Campylobacter bacteremia should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with chronic liver disease or malignancies involving the hepatobiliary system or gastrointestinal tract who present with fever and gastroenteritis . Clinicians in Taiwan should be alert to the high rate of resistance of Campylobacter isolates to macrolide and quinolone antibiotics.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 2000 Jul, 19(7), 542 - 4
Outbreak of Campylobacter infection in a subartic community; Melby KK et al.; A presumably waterborne outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni/coli infection in a subarctic community is described . Drinking water supplied to residents was delivered unchlorinated during a 4-week period . No Campylobacter sp . was recovered from the water supply . Three hundred thirty individuals (15% of the 2,200 exposed) became ill . Diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, nausea and joint pain occurred in 81%, 30%, 29%, 43% and 21%, respectively . Nine percent reported swelling of joints, and two cases of reactive arthritis occurred . A Campylobacter sp . was isolated from 9 of 33 individuals who became ill and from 1 of 33 healthy controls . All culture-positive individuals, 46% of culture-negative ill persons and 27% of healthy controls were seropositive . All strains recovered had an identical DNA profile.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 2000 Sep, 66(9), 4115 - 8
Quantitative immunocapture PCR assay for detection of Campylobacter jejuni in foods; Waller DF et al.; The rapid detection of food-borne bacterial pathogens as part of a quality control program is necessary for the maintenance of a safe food supply . In this report, we present our findings for an immunocapture PCR method for the detection of Campylobacter jejuni in foods . The method permits direct detection of the pathogen without an enrichment step and can be performed in approximately 8 h . Assay results are quantitative, and one cell in a milliliter sample can be detected . Application of the method to spiked milk samples and chicken skin washes did not affect the sensitivity of the assay.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 2000 Sep, 66(9), 4029 - 36
Application of the 5'-nuclease PCR assay in evaluation and development of methods for quantitative detection of Campylobacter jejuni; Nogva HK et al.; Campylobacter jejuni is recognized as a leading human food-borne pathogen . Traditional diagnostic testing for C . jejuni is not reliable due to special growth requirements and the possibility that this bacterium can enter a viable but nonculturable state . Nucleic acid-based tests have emerged as a useful alternative to traditional enrichment testing . In this article, we present a 5'-nuclease PCR assay for quantitative detection of C . jejuni and describe its evaluation . A probe including positions 381121 to 381206 of the published C . jejuni strain NCTC 11168 genome sequence was identified . When this probe was applied, the assay was positive for all of the isolates of C . jejuni tested (32 isolates, including the type strain) and negative for all other Campylobacter spp . (11 species tested) and several other bacteria (41 species tested) . The total assay could be completed in 3 h with a detection limit of approximately 1 CFU . Quantification was linear over at least 6 log units . Quantitative detection methods are important for both research purposes and further development of C . jejuni detection methods . In this study, we used the assay to investigate to what extent the PCR signals generated by heat-killed bacteria interfere with the detection of viable C . jejuni after exposure at elevated temperatures for up to 5 days . An approach to the reduction of the PCR signal generated by dead bacteria was also investigated by employing externally added DNases to selectively inactivate free DNA and exposed DNA in heat-killed bacteria . The results indicated relatively good discrimination between exposed DNA from dead C . jejuni and protected DNA in living bacteria.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 2000 Sep, 66(9), 3917 - 23
Amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis of Campylobacter jejuni strains isolated from chickens and from patients with gastroenteritis or Guillain-Barré or Miller Fisher syndrome; Duim B et al.; The high-resolution genotyping method of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis was used to study the genetic relationships between Campylobacter jejuni strains infecting chickens (n = 54) and those causing gastroenteritis in humans (n = 53) . In addition, C . jejuni strains associated with the development of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) (n = 14) and Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) (n = 4), two related acute paralytic syndromes in human, were included . Strains were isolated between 1989 and 1998 in The Netherlands . The AFLP banding patterns were analyzed with correlation-based and band-based similarity coefficients and UPGMA (unweighted pair group method using average linkages) cluster analysis . All C . jejuni strains showed highly heterogeneous fingerprints, and no fingerprints exclusive for chicken strains or for human strains were obtained . All strains were separated in two distinct genetic groups . In group A the percentage of human strains was significantly higher and may be an indication that genotypes of this group are more frequently associated with human diseases . We conclude that C . jejuni from chickens cannot be distinguished from human strains and that GBS or MFS related strains do not belong to a distinct genetic group.

J Periodontol, 2000 Jul, 71(7), 1144 - 50
Fusobacterium nucleatum involvement in adult periodontitis and possible modification of strain classification; Roques CG et al.; BACKGROUND: This investigation was designed to evaluate the involvement of Fusobacterium nucleatum clinical strains in adult periodontitis by subspecies and expression of hemagglutination activity . METHODS: Forty-nine Fusobacterium strains were isolated from 40 sites in 40 subjects presenting with adult periodontitis . F . nucleatum subspecies identification was based on the electrophoretic migration of glutamate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate reductase . Hemagglutination activity and inhibition by galactose were tested on sheep erythrocytes . RESULTS: The 49 isolates belonged to the F . nucleatum species with a predominance of the nucleatum (34.7%) followed by the vincentii (26.5%) subspecies . In parallel, 71% of the strains belonging to the nucleatum subspecies were preferentially associated with Porphyromonas gingivalis . Prevotella intermedia/nigrescens detection was essentially correlated with identification of Fusobacterium nucleatum subspecies vincentii . No correlation was established between any particular subspecies and the pathogenicity factors tested (hemagglutination and production of short-chain fatty acids) . On the other hand, significant predominance (65%, P= 0.017) of strongly hemagglutinating strains (titre > or =8 U) was observed in the sites where Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia/nigrescens and/or Campylobacter rectus were not detected . These strains also showed higher butyric acid production . CONCLUSION: The importance of the adherence factors for Fusobacterium nucleatum strains and their multimodal aspect may indicate a higher pathogenicity or a higher involvement of certain strains and could lead to a classification of these strains, which is more closely related to their implication in the development of periodontal disease.

J Peripher Nerv Syst, 1998, 3(1), 3 - 18
Anti-ganglioside antibody and neuropathy: review of our research; Yuki N; Some patients developed Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) after the administration of bovine gangliosides . Patients with GBS subsequent to Campylobacter jejuni enteritis frequently have IgG antibody to GM1 ganglioside . Fisher's syndrome (FS), a variant of GBS, is associated with IgG antibody to GQ1b ganglioside . We showed the existence of molecular mimicry between GM1 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of C . jejuni isolated from a GBS patient, and that between GQ1b and C . jejuni LPSs from FS patients . Several lines of evidence suggest a pathogenic role for anti-ganglioside antibodies . Some patients developed sensorimotor polyneuropathy after anti-GD2 antibody administration . Anti-GM1 antibody can block motor nerve conduction . The molecular mimicry between infectious agents and gangliosides may function in the production of anti-ganglioside antibodies and the development of GBS and FS . Anti-GQ1b IgG antibody is detected also in Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis and acute ophthalmoparesis, which suggests that these conditions are categorized as autoimmune diseases related to FS . Since a tryptophan-immobilized column effectively adsorb anti-GQ1b IgG antibody, immunoadsorption with the column should be considered as an alternative form of plasmapheresis for the anti-GQ1b IgG antibody syndrome.

Microbios, 2000, 102(403), 159 - 64
Detection and investigation of Campylobacter jejuni by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis; Kiuchi A et al.; A molecular typing approach for Campylobacter jejuni with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the flagellin gene flaA in C . jejuni, was generated and studied . Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-RFLP with the restriction endonuclease Mbo I, it was demonstrated that C . jejuni could be divided into four types . Genotypic analysis of C . jejuni by PCR-RFLP is a valuable technique for epidemiological typing.

Can Fam Physician, 2000 Aug, 46, 1634 - 8
Preparing patients to travel abroad safely . Part 4: Reducing risk of accidents, diarrhea, and sexually transmitted diseases; Thomas RE; OBJECTIVE: To present evidence-based recommendations on traveling abroad safely so family physicians can advise travelers on how to reduce risk of accidents, diarrhea, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and how to treat diarrhea themselves if medical care is unavailable . QUALITY OF EVIDENCE: A MEDLINE search from 1990 to November 1998 found 163 articles on travel and accidents, 504 on travel and diarrhea, and 42 on travel and STDs . Titles and abstracts were reviewed, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews were sought . The Cochrane Collaboration database of systematic reviews and meta-analyses was searched for studies relevant to family physicians . MAIN MESSAGE: For preventing diarrhea, RCTs demonstrate that bismuth subsalicylate, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole are useful prophylactics . Once travelers have diarrhea, RCTs show that loperamide and zaldaride reduce symptoms and duration; quinolones, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and oral aztreonam reduce abdominal symptoms and time to last liquid stool by several days; azithromycin is effective in treatment of ciprofloxacin-resistant Campylobacter, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is effective in treating cyclospora . There are no RCTs of preventing accidents and STDs abroad . Health Canada has issued a statement summarizing the risks of acquiring STDs abroad . CONCLUSION: Family physicians can advise their patients on how to reduce risk of travelers' diarrhea and how to treat it themselves on holiday . There is expert advice on how to reduce risk of STDs.

Acta Neurol Scand, 2000 Aug, 102(2), 132 - 4
Is Campylobacter lipopolysaccharide bearing a GD3 epitope essential for the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Yuki N, Koga M, Hirata K.
The hypothesis has been proposed that the GD3 ganglioside-like lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is essential for and functions in the development of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) subsequent to Campylobacter jejuni enteritis . Our study showed that patients with GBS or MFS who had previously suffered diarrhea had anti-GD3 antibodies less often than those who had not had diarrhea . Sera from patients who showed GBS or MFS with the serologic evidence of prior C . jejuni infection had anti-GD3 antibodies less frequently than sera from those without evidence of infection . Statistical analysis showed that anti-GD3 antibodies were less frequent in patients with GBS or MFS from whom C . jejuni had been isolated than were other antiganglioside antibodies, such as anti-GM1 antibodies . These results could not support the above hypothesis.

Infect Immun, 2000 Sep, 68(9), 5450 - 3
Random transposon mutagenesis of Campylobacter jejuni; Golden NJ et al.; Genetic studies of Campylobacter jejuni have been limited due to the lack of a transposon mutagenesis method . Here, we describe a novel technique for random transposon mutagenesis using a mariner-based transposon into C . jejuni strain 480 . Insertions were random, as demonstrated by Southern blot analysis and insertional junction sequencing . We have demonstrated, for the first time, random in vivo transposon mutagenesis of C . jejuni.

J Immunol, 2000 Sep 1, 165(5), 2612 - 8
Expression of the cytolethal distending toxin (Cdt) operon in Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans: evidence that the CdtB protein is responsible for G2 arrest of the cell cycle in human T cells; Shenker BJ et al.; We have previously shown that Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans produces an immunosuppressive factor that is encoded by the cdtB gene, which is homologous to a family of cytolethal distending toxins (Cdt) expressed by several gram-negative bacteria . In this study, we report that the cdt locus in A . actinomycetemcomitans is composed of five open reading frames, designated orf1, orf2, cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC . The deduced amino acid sequences of the five open reading frames are highly conserved among A . actinomycetemcomitans strains 652, Y4, 29522, and HK1651 . There is also strong homology with the Cdt proteins of Haemophilus ducreyi (87-91%), but only partial homology with that of Campylobacter jejuni and Escherichia coli (29-48%) . Analysis of A . actinomycetemcomitans mRNA by RT-PCR suggests that the two small open reading frames upstream of cdtA are coexpressed with cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC . We next utilized a series of plasmids that express various combinations of the cdt genes to determine their requirement for expression of immunoinhibitory activity . Cell extracts of E . coli transformed with each of the plasmids were tested for their capacity to induce G2 arrest in the cell cycle of PHA-activated human T cells . These experiments suggest that expression of cdtB alone is sufficient to induce G2 arrest in human T cells, but do not exclude the possibility that cdtC also contributes to cell cycle arrest . The implications of our results with respect to the function of the individual Cdt proteins are discussed.

J Food Prot, 2000 Aug, 63(8), 1043 - 8
Rapid detection of Salmonella typhimurium in chicken carcass wash water using an immunoelectrochemical method; Che YH et al.; An immunoelectrochemical method coupled with immunomagnetic separation was developed for rapid detection of Salmonella Typhimurium in chicken carcass wash water . Samples of chicken carcass wash water were inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium at different cell numbers . Possible nonspecified inhibitors in the wash water were minimized by filtration and centrifugation . An approximately 9.4% loss of Salmonella cells was found after filtration (P < 0.01) . The samples were mixed with anti-Salmonella-coated magnetic beads (ASCMB) and alkaline phosphatase-labeled anti-Salmonella (APLAS) to form ASCMB-Salmonella-APLAS conjugates . The conjugates were separated from the solution using a magnetic separator and then incubated with phenylphosphate substrate to produce phenol . The number of Salmonella was determined by measuring the phenol concentration using an amperometric tyrosinase carbon paste electrode in a flow injection analysis system . Under optimized parameters (1 mM MgCl2, 0.2 microg/ml APLAS, and 1 mM phenylphosphate in pH 7.0 Tris buffer solution), Salmonella Typhimurium in chicken carcass wash water could be identified and enumerated within 2.5 h with a detection limit of 5 x 10(3) CFU/ml . A linear relationship on a log-log scale was found between Salmonella cell number and the peak current ratio for Salmonella concentrations ranging from 10(3) to 10(7) CFU/ml (R2 = 0.963) . The peak currents of multibacteria samples, containing Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter jejuni, were not significantly different from Salmonella-only samples (P > 0.01).

N Z Med J, 2000 Jul 14, 113(1113), 281 - 4
Economic cost to New Zealand of foodborne infectious disease; Scott WG et al.; AIMS: To estimate the annual economic cost to New Zealand of foodborne infectious disease . METHODS: Annual incidence rates were combined with unit cost data to derive estimates of the annual economic cost to society of each foodborne infectious disease . Market prices and wages were used as proxies for the unit costs of resource utilisations . A decision analytic model was developed to estimate the costs of each disease and to undertake sensitivity analysis . RESULTS: There are an estimated 119 320 episodes of foodborne infectious disease per year in New Zealand (3241 per 100 000 population) . The total cost of these cases was $55.1 million ($462 per case) made up of direct medical costs of $2.1 million, direct non-medical costs of $0.2 million, indirect cost of lost productivity of $48.1 million, and intangible cost of loss of life of $4.7 million . Campylobacteriosis generated most of the costs . Lost productivity was the major cost component for all diseases . The total cost of potentially foodborne infectious disease was estimated to be $88.8 million . Broad estimates of additional costs due to cases of infectious intestinal diseases caused by non-foodborne pathogens or for which no pathogen is identified could raise the cost to $215.7 million . CONCLUSION: The findings imply that resources of $55 million could be devoted to prevention of foodborne infectious disease . Efforts should focus on lowering the incidence of campylobacteriosis as this disease accounts for most of foodborne illness costs.

Rev Sci Tech, 2000 Aug, 19(2), 638 - 61
Ostrich diseases; Verwoerd DJ; Scientific knowledge of ostrich diseases is incomplete and very fragmented, with specific details on technical aspects of diagnostic and/or screening tests completely absent in most cases . Salmonella Typhimurium is common in multispecies collections and causes mortality in chicks younger than three months on commercial farms, but is rarely found in chicks older than six months, or slaughter birds of twelve to fourteen months in southern Africa . Campylobacter jejuni and Chlamydia psittaci are occasionally reported, mainly in young ostriches, but both remain a diagnostic challenge . Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is transmitted to domestic animals including ostriches, principally by ticks of the genus Hyalomma . In the ostrich, the disease causes no clinical symptoms during a viraemia of approximately four days . Spongiform encephalopathy has not been reliably reported in ostriches, while anthrax has occurred rarely in modern times but was reportedly an important cause of death approximately 100 years ago in South Africa . Salmonella Gallinarum and S . Pullorum are unknown in ostriches . Pasteurella multocida occurs but is easily contained with antibiotics . Mycoplasma spp . are regularly found in an upper respiratory disease syndrome complicated by opportunistic bacterial pathogens . Ostriches of all ages are susceptible to challenge by velogenic Newcastle disease virus (NDV), but standard inactivated La Sota poultry vaccines can stimulate protective immunity lasting over six months . The viraemic period in vaccinated slaughter ostriches is between nine and eleven days and there are no indications of a carrier state or presence of the virus in the meat or any other tissues after this period, with peak immunoglobulin G response reached on day fourteen post infection . Haemagglutination inhibition tests are significantly less sensitive and less specific than enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays . Cloacal and choanal swabs used for direct virological screening in clinically affected cases (field and experimental) could not detect NDV . All avian influenza isolates reported from ostriches have been non-pathogenic to poultry, even the H5 and H7 subtypes . Some of the latter have been associated with mortality of ostrich chicks in localised outbreaks during periods of inclement weather and with significant wild bird (waterfowl) contact . Borna disease causes a nervous syndrome in ostrich chicks, but to date, has only been reported in Israel . Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitides cause fatal disease in ostriches and other ratites, with mortality ranging from less than 20% to over 80% in affected flocks . These diseases are present in North, Central and South America where the associated ornithophilic mosquito vectors occur . Equine and human vaccines are apparently safe and efficacious in ratites . Wesselsbron disease, infectious bursal disease (type 2), adenovirus and coronavirus infections have been reported from ostriches but the significance of these diseases is unclear . Due to the paucity of data regarding ostrich diseases and the unvalidated state of most poultry tests in this unique group of birds, strict observation of a pre-slaughter quarantine of thirty days is strongly advised, whilst live exports and fertile eggs should be screened through the additional use of sentinel chickens and/or young ostriches.

Rev Sci Tech, 2000 Aug, 19(2), 376 - 95
Campylobacter infection of commercial poultry; Shane SM; Campylobacter jejuni, a widespread food-borne pathogen is responsible for enteritis in the populations of both industrialised and developing nations and is acquired by consumption of contaminated water, milk and food products . Contaminated poultry meat is regarded as an important source of campylobacteriosis, with both commercial broiler and turkey growing flocks infected at two to three weeks of age by direct and indirect horizontal exposure . Non-chlorinated water is regarded as a vehicle of infection, followed by rapid intraflock dissemination . Intensification in the poultry industry has contributed to the increased prevalence rates on carcasses associated with increased stocking density and mechanized processing which are inherent to the high efficiency dictated by a competitive market . Currently, pre- and post-harvest control measures may ameliorate the problem of Campylobacter infection in consumers . Refrigerated storage and transport of red meat and poultry, appropriate handling and food preparation, and thorough cooking reduce the possibility of food-borne infection . In view of the world-wide distribution of C . jejuni infection and the multiplicity of sources, including non-pasteurised milk and contaminated water, it is inappropriate to impose trade restrictions on poultry meat based on the detection of campylobacters.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 2000 Aug, 46(2), 303 - 6
Activity of antibiotics used in human medicine for Campylobacter jejuni isolated from farm animals and their environment in Lancashire, UK; Piddock LJ et al.; A retrospective study of 96 Campylobacter jejuni isolated from farm animals and the environment showed that most were less susceptible than the NCTC type strain to nalidixic acid (MICs 4-32 mg/L), ciprofloxacin (MICs 1-2 mg/L) and erythromycin (MICs 16-64 mg/L), but had similar susceptibility to tetracycline (MICs 4-8 mg/L) and kanamycin (MICs 4-8 mg/L) . None had the high MICs of ciprofloxacin (>32 mg/L) or erythromycin (1024 mg/L) typically associated with clinical resistance in this species . Some farms used antimicrobial agents, but there was no obvious association between the use of agents and the susceptibility of the isolates.

Mol Microbiol, 2000 Aug, 37(3), 501 - 14
Phase variation of a beta-1,3 galactosyltransferase involved in generation of the ganglioside GM1-like lipo-oligosaccharide of Campylobacter jejuni; Linton D et al.; Ganglioside mimicry by Campylobacter jejuni lipo-oligosaccharide (LOS) is thought to be a critical factor in the triggering of the Guillain-Barre and Miller-Fisher syndrome neuropathies after C . jejuni infection . The combination of a completed genome sequence and a ganglioside GM1-like LOS structure makes C . jejuni NCTC 11168 a useful model strain for the identification and characterization of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of ganglioside-mimicking LOS . Genome analysis identified a putative LOS biosynthetic cluster and, from this, we describe a putative gene (ORF Cj1139c), which we have termed wlaN, with a significant level of similarity to a number of bacterial glycosyltransferases . Mutation of this gene in C . jejuni NCTC 11168 resulted in a LOS molecule of increased electrophoretic mobility, which also failed to bind cholera toxin . Comparison of LOS structural data from wild type and the mutant strain indicated lack of a terminal beta-1,3-linked galactose residue in the latter . The wlaN gene product was demonstrated unambiguously as a beta-1,3 galactosyltransferase responsible for converting GM2-like LOS structures to GM1-like by in vitro expression . We also show that the presence of an intragenic homopolymeric tract renders the expression of a functional wlaN gene product phase variable, resulting in distinct C . jejuni NCTC 11168 cell populations with alternate GM1 or GM2 ganglioside-mimicking LOS structures . The distribution of wlaN among a number of C . jejuni strains with known LOS structure was determined and, for C . jejuni NCTC 12500, similar wlaN gene phase variation was shown to occur, so that this strain has the potential to synthesize a GM1-like LOS structure as well as the ganglioside GM2-like LOS structure proposed in the literature.

J Clin Microbiol, 2000 Aug, 38(8), 3076 - 9
Rapid detection of Campylobacter jejuni in stool specimens by an enzyme immunoassay and surveillance for Campylobacter upsaliensis in the greater Salt Lake City area; Hindiyeh M et al.; The Alexon-Trend, Inc . (Ramsey, Minn.), ProSpecT Campylobacter microplate assay was compared with culture on a Campy-CVA plate (Remel, Lenexa, Kans.) and blood-free campylobacter agar with cefoperazone (20 microg/ml), amphotericin B (10 microg/ml), and teicoplanin (4 microg/ml) (CAT medium; Oxoid Limited, Hampshire, England) with 631 patient stool samples . The CAT medium was used to isolate Campylobacter upsaliensis . The enzyme immunoassay (EIA) had a sensitivity and a specificity of 89 and 99%, respectively, and the positive and negative predictive values were 80 and 99%, respectively . Even though we extensively looked for C . upsaliensis in stool samples from patients from the greater Salt Lake City area, we did not isolate this species during the study period . The overall excellent specificity of the EIA allows rapid detection and treatment of positive patients; however, a negative result should be confirmed by culture when clinical suspicion is high.

Adolesc Med, 2000 Jun, 11(2), 263 - 78
Infectious diseases of gastrointestinal tract in adolescents; Marsh WW; This article reviews the following gastrointestinal infections: esophagitis, gastritis, duodenitis including duodenal ulcers, and enteritis (gastroenteritis) . The epidemiology, risk factors, microbiology and pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, morbidity/mortality, and prevention are discussed in relation to the most important pathogens . The symptoms and pathogenesis of esophagitis caused by Candida albicans and herpes simplex are contrasted with the symptoms of esophagitis caused by Helicobacter pylori and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) . The incidence of gastritis and gastric and duodenal ulcers caused by H . pylori is discussed . The treatment regimens of H . pylori infection recommended by the CDC are presented . Endoscopic findings in esophagitis, gastritis, and duodenal ulcers are presented and discussed . The difference in symptoms caused by viral agents (Norwalk virus), bacterial agents (enterotoxigenic E . coli), and parasites (Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum) are compared and contrasted . The symptoms of infections of the terminal small bowel caused by Salmonella and Campylobacter jejuni and the symptoms of pure colonic infection, dysentery, caused by Shigella and enteroinvasive E . coli and Entamoeba histolytica are discussed . The treatment regimens for enteritis are presented.

J Infect Dis, 2000 Aug, 182(2), 620 - 3 Epub 2000 Jul 19.
Cytolethal distending toxin in avian and human isolates of Helicobacter pullorum; Young VB et al.; Helicobacter pullorum has been isolated from the feces and livers of poultry and is associated with human gastroenteritis . Discrimination of this organism from other enterohepatic Helicobacter species and Campylobacter species has proven difficult . H . pullorum from both avian and human clinical sources has DNA sequence homology and cytotoxic activity that represent a new member of the cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) family of bacterial toxins . CDT is a potential virulence factor in H . pullorum that may serve as a distinguishing phenotype and aid in identification of this organism in veterinary and human clinical samples.

J Periodontol, 2000 Jun, 71(6), 885 - 97
"Checkerboard" assessments of periodontal microbiota and serum antibody responses: a case-control study; Papapanou PN et al.; BACKGROUND: We explored the association between subgingival microbial profiles and serum IgG responses to periodontal microbiota in relation to clinical periodontal status . METHODS: One hundred thirty-one (131) periodontitis patients aged 29 to 74 years (mean 51.8) were age- and gender-matched with 74 periodontally intact controls (range 26 to 77, mean 49.3) . Smoking habits and health history were recorded and assessments of plaque, bleeding on probing, probing depth, and attachment level were performed at 6 sites per tooth on all present teeth, excluding third molars . Subgingival plaque samples were obtained from each tooth in one upper and one lower quadrant (maximum 14 samples/subject; 2,440 samples total) and analyzed with respect to 19 species by means of whole genomic DNA probes . Serum IgG antibodies against the same 19 species were assessed by an immunoassay . RESULTS: Cases displayed an average of 22.7 teeth, 20.3 sites with probing depth > or =6 mm, and 18.9 sites with attachment loss > or =6 mm . Corresponding figures for controls were 27.1, 0.1, and 1.0, respectively . Heavy smoking was 3 times more frequent among cases than controls (32.1% versus 9.6%) . Higher levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Porphyromonas endodontalis, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella nigrescens, Prevotella melaninogenica, Bacteroides forsythus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Treponema denticola, Eubacterium nodatum, Peptostreptococcus micros, and Campylobacter rectus were found in cases and higher levels of Eikenella corrodens, Veillonella parvula, and Actinomyces naeslundii in controls . Cases displayed higher IgG levels against P . gingivalis and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, while controls displayed higher levels against F . nucleatum, T . denticola, E . nodatum, and Capnocytophaga ochracea . Positive correlations between bacterial colonization and antibody responses were identified for 9 species in controls . In cases, however, statistically significant correlations were observed for only 3 species out of which only one was positive (V . parvula) . Both bacterial levels and antibody responses declined in ages over 55 years . A logistic regression employing selected elements of bacterial colonization and antibody responses as independent variables resulted in 81.1% correct diagnosis, with sensitivity of 83.1%, specificity of 77.8%, positive predictability of 86%, and negative predictability of 73.7% . Smoking did not reach statistical significance in this model . CONCLUSION: A combined microbial colonization/antibody response profile can effectively discriminate between periodontitis patients and periodontally intact controls.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2000 Aug 1, 189(1), 19 - 24
A variation of the amplified-fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique using three restriction endonucleases, and assessment of the enzyme combination BglII-MfeI for AFLP analysis of Salmonella enterica subsp . enterica isolates; Lindstedt BA et al.; We have performed amplified-fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting on a collection of Salmonella enterica subsp . enterica serovar typhimurium strains with a restriction endonuclease combination (BglII and MfeI) that has previously been used successfully for typing Campylobacter jejuni isolates with high resolution . Additionally, a variation of the AFLP assay in which two rare cutting restriction enzymes (XbaI and BsrGI) in combination with the frequent cutter (HinP1I) was examined . The BglII and MfeI enzyme combination offered low resolution for genotyping Salmonella typhimurium isolates and is not recommended for this common serovar . The three-enzyme combination gave a higher discrimination, and is thus a new alternate way of performing AFLP fingerprinting of S . typhimurium.

Prev Vet Med, 2000 Aug 10, 46(3), 209 - 23
A longitudinal study of campylobacter infection of broiler flocks in Great Britain; Evans SJ et al.; One hundred flocks associated with five integrated poultry companies were monitored for one production cycle to investigate risk factors for campylobacter infection of poultry broiler flocks . Bacteriological samples were collected from one house of birds on each site at weekly intervals from 3 to 4 weeks of age until the birds were infected with campylobacter or the flock was depopulated (whichever was sooner) . Environmental samples were obtained from 20 houses after cleansing and disinfection of the site before chick arrival . Conventional methods were used for the isolation of campylobacter . Questionnaires were used to collect information on potential risk factors for campylobacter infection . Discrete-time survival analysis was used to assess the influence of various exposures on the age at which the flock was infected with campylobacter.More than 40% of flocks were infected with campylobacter by the time the chicks were 4 weeks old and >90% by 7 weeks . Infection spread rapidly to most birds in a flock . Infection was not predictable by campylobacter status of the last flock reared on the site . (However, because most flocks were infected, the power to detect such an association was poor.) There was no evidence of environmental survival of campylobacters in broiler houses after adequate cleansing and disinfection . The most important predictors of protection from campylobacter were related to effective hygiene barriers (such as housing birds in buildings in a good state of repair, appropriate usage of disinfectant boot dips and a high standard of cleansing and disinfection of the drinking-water equipment) . There was no evidence that rodents were a source of infection (but most sites operated effective vermin-control programmes).

Acta Trop, 2000 Jul 21, 76(1), 59 - 63
Zoonotic infections in Nigeria: overview from a medical perspective; Coker AO et al.; Infections of domestic and wild animals that are transmitted directly or by an arthropod vector to humans are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and particularly in Nigeria . With a population of over 100 million and the need for improved health care delivery, Nigerians are at considerable risk considering the seriousness of these infections . Zoonotic infections that are endemic in Nigeria include tuberculosis, trypanosomiasis, toxoplasmosis, taeniasis, rabies, lassa fever and yellow fever . Zoonotic food-borne infections (caused by Campylobacter, Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7) and cryptosporidiosis are emerging . Sporadic cases such as strongyloidiasis, ascariasis, leptospirosis, scabies, pentastomiasis and African histoplasmosis have been reported . There is a need to determine the prevalence of tick-borne zoonoses . Prevention and control of zoonoses in humans is by vaccination, treatment and health education . As a first measure to improve control, the link between veterinary and medical officers, which is presently very weak, needs to be strengthened . Furthermore, regional multidisciplinary approaches to the control of zoonotic infections should be adopted in West Africa, which take into consideration the huge inter-border traffic.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2000 Jul 15, 188(2), 115 - 8
The iron-responsive regulator Fur of Campylobacter jejuni is expressed from two separate promoters; van Vliet AH et al.; A lacZ-based reporter gene system was used to identify the promoter of the Campylobacter jejuni iron-responsive gene regulator Fur . In other Gram-negative bacteria, the fur promoter is usually located directly upstream of the fur gene and is often autoregulated in response to iron . In this study we demonstrate that expression of the C . jejuni fur gene is controlled from two promoters located in front of the first and second open reading frames upstream of fur . Neither of these promoters was iron-regulated, and the presence of both promoters in front of fur gives higher expression of the lacZ reporter than with either promoter alone . Expression from two distal promoters might be a mechanism for regulating the level of the C . jejuni Fur protein in response to unknown stimuli.

Clin Infect Dis, 2000 Jul, 31(1), 192 - 6
Acute community-acquired diarrhea requiring hospital admission in Swiss children; Essers B et al.; In order to ascertain the prevalence of agents that cause childhood diarrheal illness, stool specimens of 312 consecutive children with community-acquired diarrhea requiring admission were evaluated . Pathogens were detected in 166 (53%) of the 312 children (>/=2 pathogens in 28 children): Rotavirus (n=75), Salmonella spp . (n=37), Campylobacter spp . (n=24), Shigella spp . (n=5), Giardia spp . (n=4), Yersinia spp . (n=2), Aeromonas spp . (n=15), Cryptosporidium (n=15), enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (n=13), enterotoxigenic E . coli (n=7), and enterohemorrhagic E . coli (n=5) . In conclusion, acute childhood diarrheal illness pathogens, such as Aeromonas, Cryptosporidium, and diarrheagenic E . coli, account for a large proportion of patients with a microbiologically positive stool specimen.

Br J Biomed Sci, 2000, 57(2), 137 - 41
Deoxyribonucleic acid restriction digest patterns in Campylobacter species: a comparison with Penner serotype; Smith SI et al.; Diversity, based on restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, was studied in 48 strains of Campylobacter, comprising 27 chicken and 21 human strains of C . jejuni and C . coli, using genomic Southern hybridisation . Restriction digests of chromosomal DNA were prepared by treating with HaeIII and probed using a C . jejuni DNA probe . Nineteen distinct hybridisation patterns were identified, and differences in hybridisation pattern between members of the two species, and in individual strains of the same species, were seen . The method described proved more discriminatory than the Penner serotype, as strains from the same serotype were distinguished . The relative simplicity of the patterns obtained, together with the apparent diversity identified among individual strains and species, suggests that DNA fingerprinting using the C . jejuni DNA probe could be a useful identification method in epidemiological studies of Campylobacter infection in Nigeria.

Emerg Infect Dis, 2000 Jul-Aug, 6(4), 412 - 4
Primary care surveillance for acute bloody diarrhea, Wales; Chalmers RM et al.; A sentinel group of primary-care physicians in Wales actively reported cases of acute bloody diarrhea from February 1997 through December 1998 . The estimated annual rate was 18 cases per 100,000 population . Most (80%) cases were due to Campylobacter or Salmonella; however, 18% were undiagnosed.

Commun Dis Public Health, 2000 Jun, 3(2), 101 - 5
Survey of local authority approaches to investigating sporadic cases of suspected food poisoning; Rooney R et al.; Local authorities in England were surveyed in 1997 to document their approach to investigating sporadic cases of suspected food poisoning, the data they collect, and their objectives for doing so . Three hundred and nineteen of the 359 authorities (89%) responded . The main objectives stated were to prevent spread of infection, detect outbreaks, educate the public, and identify risk factors for infection . Most outbreaks of food poisoning were detected as a result of complaints from members of the public . Investigation of Salmonella spp and Vero cytotoxin producing Escherichia coli O157 appeared to have a higher priority than campylobacter infection and viral gastroenteritis . Eighty-five per cent (266/311) of local authorities had agreed timescales for investigating cases and 54% (165/306) reported using computer technology to collate and analyse data on sporadic cases of food poisoning . Almost all (243/244) respondents supported the idea of having a new national system for the collation of such data and 79% (244/309) expressed interest in piloting a new standard form for enhanced surveillance of food poisoning.

Infect Immun, 2000 Aug, 68(8), 4384 - 90
Involvement of a plasmid in virulence of Campylobacter jejuni 81-176; Bacon DJ et al.; Campylobacter jejuni strain 81-176 contains two, previously undescribed plasmids, each of which is approximately 35 kb in size . Although one of the plasmids, termed pTet, carries a tetO gene, conjugative transfer of tetracycline resistance to another strain of C . jejuni could not be demonstrated . Partial sequence analysis of the second plasmid, pVir, revealed the presence of four open reading frames which encode proteins with significant sequence similarity to Helicobacter pylori proteins, including one encoded by the cag pathogenicity island . All four of these plasmid-encoded proteins show some level of homology to components of type IV secretion systems . Mutation of one of these plasmid genes, comB3, reduced both adherence to and invasion of INT407 cells to approximately one-third that seen with wild-type strain 81-176 . Mutation of comB3 also reduced the natural transformation frequency . A mutation in a second plasmid gene, a virB11 homolog, resulted in a 6-fold reduction in adherence and an 11-fold reduction in invasion compared to the wild type . The isogenic virB11 mutant of strain 81-176 also demonstrated significantly reduced virulence in the ferret diarrheal disease model . The virB11 homolog was detected on plasmids in 6 out of 58 fresh clinical isolates of C . jejuni, suggesting that plasmids are involved in the virulence of a subset of C . jejuni pathogens.

Infect Immun, 2000 Aug, 68(8), 4378 - 83
Helicobacter pylori urease suppresses bactericidal activity of peroxynitrite via carbon dioxide production; Kuwahara H et al.; Helicobacter pylori can produce a persistent infection in the human stomach, where chronic and active inflammation, including the infiltration of phagocytes such as neutrophils and monocytes, is induced . H . pylori may have a defense system against the antimicrobial actions of phagocytes . We studied the defense mechanism of H . pylori against host-derived peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), a bactericidal metabolite of nitric oxide, focusing on the role of H . pylori urease, which produces CO(2) and NH(3) from urea and is known to be an essential factor for colonization . The viability of H . pylori decreased in a time-dependent manner with continuous exposure to 1 microM ONOO(-), i.e., 0.2% of the initial bacteria remained after a 5-min treatment without urea . The bactericidal action of ONOO(-) against H . pylori was significantly attenuated by the addition of 10 mM urea, the substrate for urease, whereas ONOO(-)-induced killing of a urease-deficient mutant of H . pylori or Campylobacter jejuni, another microaerophilic bacterium lacking urease, was not affected by the addition of urea . Such a protective effect of urea was potentiated by supplementation with exogenous urease, and it was almost completely nullified by 10 microM flurofamide, a specific inhibitor of urease . The bactericidal action of ONOO(-) was also suppressed by the addition of 20 mM NaHCO(3) but not by the addition of 20 mM NH(3) . In addition, the nitration of L-tyrosine of H . pylori after treatment with ONOO(-) was significantly reduced by the addition of urea or NaHCO(3), as assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection . These results suggest that H . pylori-associated urease functions to produce a potent ONOO(-) scavenger, CO(2)/HCO(3)(-), that defends the bacteria from ONOO(-) cytotoxicity . The protective effect of urease may thus facilitate sustained bacterial colonization in the infected gastric mucosa.

Curr Biol, 2000 Jun 29, 10(13), R498 - 501
The controlled chaos of shifty pathogens; Faguy DM; Bacterial pathogens use novel mechanisms to vary their surface structures . Three new genome sequences provide a perspective on these mechanisms in Borrelia burgdorferi, Neisseria meningitidis, and Campylobacter jejuni, which cause lyme disease, meningitis and gastroenteritis, respectively.

Eur J Surg Suppl, 1999, (584), 17 - 25
Efficacy and potential clinical applications of Pentaglobin, an IgM-enriched immunoglobulin concentrate suitable for intravenous infusion; Lissner R et al.; OBJECTIVE: Characterisation of the antibodies against important human pathogens in two immunoglobulin preparations: Intraglobin F and IgM-enriched Pentaglobin . DESIGN: In vitro assay of antibody titre using bacterial outer-membrane proteins, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and exotoxins of clinically relevant bacteria . METHODS: Antibody reactivities measured by ELISA and immunoblot techniques against antigens from bacteria that cause sepsis, antibiotic-resistant nosocomial pathogens, and enteric pathogens . RESULTS: IgG anti-LPS reactivity was present in both study drugs . Specific IgM antibodies against LPS of gram-negative bacteria that cause sepsis were also detected in the IgM-enriched Pentaglobin . IgG-reactivity against gram-positive multiresistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (S . aureus) were detectable in both preparations . IgG and IgM antibodies present against Yersinia outer proteins and Campylobacter jejuni (C . jejuni) outer membrane proteins were detected in Pentaglobin . Both preparations reacted against alpha toxin of S . aureus and streptolysin of Streptococcus pyogenes . Pentaglobin showed a strong IgM-reactivity against alpha-haemolysin . CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that infusion of well characterised immunoglobulin preparations might be beneficial for patients with severe infections . This is highly relevant in view of the high pathogenicity of bacteria that cause infections in patients in hospital and the continually increasing antibiotic resistance (particularly methicillin-resistant S . aureus).

Mol Biol Evol, 2000 Jul, 17(7), 989 - 1000
Enolase from Trypanosoma brucei, from the amitochondriate protist Mastigamoeba balamuthi, and from the chloroplast and cytosol of Euglena gracilis: pieces in the evolutionary puzzle of the eukaryotic glycolytic pathway; Hannaert V et al.; Genomic or cDNA clones for the glycolytic enzyme enolase were isolated from the amitochondriate pelobiont MASTIGAMOEBA: balamuthi, from the kinetoplastid TRYPANOSOMA: brucei, and from the euglenid EUGLENA: gracilis . Clones for the cytosolic enzyme were found in all three organisms, whereas EUGLENA: was found to also express mRNA for a second isoenzyme that possesses a putative N-terminal plastid-targeting peptide and is probably targeted to the chloroplast . Database searching revealed that ARABIDOPSIS: also possesses a second enolase gene that encodes an N-terminal extension and is likely targeted to the chloroplast . A phylogeny of enolase amino acid sequences from 6 archaebacteria, 24 eubacteria, and 32 eukaryotes showed that the MASTIGAMOEBA: enolase tended to branch with its homologs from TRYPANOSOMA: and from the amitochondriate protist Entamoeba histolytica . The compartment-specific isoenzymes in EUGLENA: arose through a gene duplication independent of that which gave rise to the compartment-specific isoenzymes in Arabidopsis, as evidenced by the finding that the EUGLENA: enolases are more similar to the homolog from the eubacterium Treponema pallidum than they are to homologs from any other organism sampled . In marked contrast to all other glycolytic enzymes studied to date, enolases from all eukaryotes surveyed here (except EUGLENA:) are not markedly more similar to eubacterial than to archaebacterial homologs . An intriguing indel shared by enolase from eukaryotes, from the archaebacterium Methanococcus jannaschii, and from the eubacterium Campylobacter jejuni maps to the surface of the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme and appears to have occurred at the same position in parallel in independent lineages.

J Agric Food Chem, 2000 Jun, 48(6), 2589 - 94
Kombucha fermentation and its antimicrobial activity; Sreeramulu G et al.; Kombucha was prepared in a tea broth (0.5% w/v) supplemented with sucrose (10% w/v) by using a commercially available starter culture . The pH decreased steadily from 5 to 2.5 during the fermentation while the weight of the "tea fungus" and the OD of the tea broth increased through 4 days of the fermentation and remained fairly constant thereafter . The counts of acetic acid-producing bacteria and yeasts in the broth increased up to 4 days of fermentation and decreased afterward . The antimicrobial activity of Kombucha was investigated against a number of pathogenic microorganisms . Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella sonnei, Escherichia coli, Aeromonas hydrophila, Yersinia enterolitica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, Staphylococcus epidermis, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus cereus, Helicobacterpylori, and Listeria monocytogenes were found to be sensitive to Kombucha . According to the literature on Kombucha, acetic acid is considered to be responsible for the inhibitory effect toward a number of microbes tested, and this is also valid in the present study . However, in this study, Kombucha proved to exert antimicrobial activities against E . coli, Sh . sonnei, Sal . typhimurium, Sal . enteritidis, and Cm . jejuni, even at neutral pH and after thermal denaturation . This finding suggests the presence of antimicrobial compounds other than acetic acid and large proteins in Kombucha.

Rev Cubana Med Trop, 1999 Jan-Apr, 51(1), 14 - 9
{Bacterial origin of acute diarrhea in Merida, Venezuela}; Vizcaya Delgado LE et al.; 464 stool specimens from children under 5 with acute diarrheal disease and other 149 specimens from the control group were studied from July, 1993, to May, 1995 . The specimens were collected at the Pediatric Emergency Department of the Autonomous Institute of the Teaching Hospital of Los Andes, Merida, Venezuela . The presence of the internationally recommended bacterial, parasitary and viral agents was investigated . The commonest bacteria isolated as unique pathogens were: Shigella (42.85%), Shigella sonnei, the most found, (66.67%), and the thermotolerant Campylobacter, Aeromonas sp . and enteropathogenous Escherichia coli, with 15; 15 and 13.5%, respectively . 6.5% of parasites and 24.12% of Rotavirus were also found . It was concluded that in the period of time under study the infectious and mainly, the bacterial origin is an important cause of acute diarrheal disease in Merida.

Lett Appl Microbiol, 2000 Jul, 31(1), 77 - 81
Development of a direct viable count procedure for the investigation of VBNC state in Listeria monocytogenes; Besnard V et al.; A viable but non-culturable (VBNC) bacterial state was originally detected in studies in environmental microbiology . In particular, this state has been demonstrated for a number of human pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Vibrio cholerae, Legionella pneumophila and Campylobacter jejuni) . The presence of VBNC cells poses a major public health problem since they cannot be detected by traditional culturing methods and the cells remain potentially pathogenic under favourable conditions . But, as far as we know, the VBNC state has not been yet described in Listeria monocytogenes . In most studies, this has been assessed by the Kogure procedure based on cellular elongation in the presence of DNA gyrase inhibitors . The antibiotic used was nalidixic acid in order to prevent DNA replication, only efficient in Gram-negative bacteria studies . In this study, we describe a new DVC procedure to detect and count viable of L . monocytogenes suspended in filtered, sterilized distilled water . We used different concentrations of ciprofloxacin, efficient both in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria . Bacteria cells were removed and resuspended in BHI broth, with yeast extract and ciprofloxacin . The mixture was incubated at different incubation times at 37 degrees C . After different incubation times, cells were filtered through an isopore polycarbonate black membrane filter and covered with a DAPI solution or orange acridine . The filters were prepared and examined by epifluorescence microscopy . Elongated cells were counted as viable cells, whereas normal size was regarded as nonactive ones . This method allows determination of ciprofloxacin concentration and incubation time optimal to detect maximum viable cells percentage in L . monocytogenes.

Lett Appl Microbiol, 2000 Jul, 31(1), 14 - 9
Efficacy of flagellin gene typing for epidemiological studies of Campylobacter jejuni in poultry estimated by comparison with macrorestriction profiling; Petersen L et al.; Thirty isolates of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from 29 different Danish broiler flocks were chosen for the evaluation of PCR-Fla typing as a genotyping tool . Except for two isolates that originated from the same broiler flock, the isolates were clearly distinguishable on basis of their macrorestriction profiles using the restriction endonucleases SmaI and KpnI . PCR-Fla typing of the 30 isolates yielded 16 distinct genotypes, whereas one isolate was untypeable by this method . The dominant PCR-Fla type (1/1) was shared by eight isolates, and five additional Fla groups containing two or three isolates were obtained . The PCR-Fla type of one isolate changed spontaneously after five subcultures, illustrating the relative plasticity of the gene locus . Comparison of MRPs within and between Fla-types support the view that some PCR-Fla types may be conserved within clonal lines . It is concluded that PCR-Fla typing is useful as a genotyping tool in large-scale epidemiological studies but that additional analyses with other methods are required to properly define interstrain relationships.

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop, 2000 Mar-Apr, 33(2), 223 - 4
The comparison of the Butzler medium, filtration technique and their association with isolation of Campylobacter ssp; Modolo JR; Campylobacter was isolated in 178 out of 622 stool samples (200 porcine, 220 bovine, and 202 canine) . From these 178 samples, the microorganism was identified in 64 samples (36%) isolated only in Butzler selective medium (BSM), 34 samples (19%) using filtration technique (FT), and in 80 samples (45%) using both BSM and FT . Comparison of the proportion of positivity using both techniques showed a significant value (chi2 = 9,184; p > 0.001); BSM (36%) being more efficient than FT (19%) . The use of both techniques yielded the highest isolation positivity (45%).

Appl Environ Microbiol, 2000 Jul, 66(7), 3110 - 2
Roles of Fe superoxide dismutase and catalase in resistance of Campylobacter coli to freeze-thaw stress; Stead D et al.; We demonstrated that oxidative stress plays a role in freeze-thaw-induced killing of Campylobacter coli following analysis of mutants deficient in key antioxidant functions . Superoxide anions, but not H(2)O(2), were formed during the freeze-thaw process . However, a failure to detoxify superoxide anions may lead to spontaneous disproportionation of the radicals to H(2)O(2).

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 2000 Jan-Feb, (1), 95 - 103
{The potentials for the laboratory diagnosis of infections caused by bacteria in the genus Campylobacter}; Vorob'ev AA et al.; Information on the laboratory diagnostics of Campylobacter infections, carried out with the use of traditional method and molecular biology methods which based on the study of the genetic apparatus of infective agents, is summarized . Classical bacteriological analysis ensuring the isolation and biochemical identification of bacteria, up to the determination of their species, complex bacteriological analysis permitting their isolation and phenotypic identification, as well as genotypic diagnostics in reference laboratories (the detection and identification of infective agents by means of molecular hybridization or gene amplification), may be used.

Symp Ser Soc Appl Microbiol, 2000, (29), 144S - 148S
Food safety through the meat supply chain; Attenborough M et al.; Food poisoning in humans can be caused by many different bacterial genera . While the incidence of food poisoning in England, Wales and Scotland from Salmonella has reached a plateau, there has been an increase in the incidence from Campylobacter . The incidence from Escherichia coli O157:H7 rose to 1997 but declined slightly in 1998 (data from the Public Health Laboratory Service and the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health) . This organism has a high virulence in humans and a very low infective dose . Infection can produce a wide range of responses, including death . The low infective dose presents a major threat . The organism is relatively heat-sensitive and the cooking of food products to achieve a centre core temperature of 70 degrees C for 2 min is sufficient to destroy it . It is relatively acid-tolerant and will survive for several weeks at pH 4.2 . Several foodstuffs, as well as water, have been implicated in world-wide outbreaks . The E . coli O157:H7 food-borne outbreak in Lanarkshire in 1996 led to 21 fatalities . The Pennington Group report, issued in April 1997, reported on the circumstances leading to this outbreak, the implications for food safety and the lessons to be learnt . Four areas covered within the Pennington Group report specific to meat hygiene are reviewed in this paper . On-farm practices must ensure the presentation of clean animals for slaughter . There is a requirement for the development and introduction of risk assessment techniques based upon Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points in abattoirs, and the Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) is producing a manual for use by the abattoir sector . The Pennington report stated that there was a need for research into the potential use of end-process treatments such as steam pasteurization . The MLC is involved in evaluating such a system . Meat production premises and butchers' shops in England are introducing HACCP through an MLC scheme funded by the Department of Health . At the point of consumption, food safety is improved by the provision of practical guidelines regarding the handling of meat and meat products . These are distributed at retail outlets and communicated to secondary schools via MLC's educational publications.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1999 Nov-Dec, (6), 27 - 30
{A nutrient medium for the isolation and cultivation of Campylobacter}; Temirkhanova ZU et al.; Campylobacter agar, nutrient medium intended for the isolation of bacteria of the genus Campylobacter from clinical material, has been developed . The composition of the medium includes sprat hydrolysate, aerotolerant additive (ferric sulfate--oxide, sodium pyruvate, sodium pyrosulfite), sodium glutaminate, agar . The selective properties of the medium are ensured by introducing the mixture of antibiotics consisting of polymyxin B, rifampicin, amphotericin B, ristomycin . The balanced composition of Campylobacter agar ensures the aerotolerance of Campylobacter organisms and gives the optimal conditions for their growth when the inoculated material is cultivated in the atmosphere made up of the mixture of three gases (5% of oxygen, 10% of carbon dioxide, 85% of nitrogen), as well as under the conditions of a "candle vessel" . The medium suppresses the development of the associative microflora diluted 10(-1) . As shown in the trial of the quality of Campylobacter agar by the inoculation of material taken from patients with acute enteric infections, agricultural animals and monkeys, the medium has pronounced selective, properties with regard to extraneous microflora, while ensuring the isolation of Campylobacter on the level of the control medium.

J Periodontol, 2000 May, 71(5), 816 - 24
Features of severe periodontal disease in a teenager with Chédiak-Higashi syndrome; Delcourt-Debruyne EM et al.; BACKGROUND: Chediak-Higashi syndrome (C-HS) is a rare congenital disease characterized by defective neutrophil function with abnormal lysosomal inclusions, neutropenia, and reduced chemotaxis . The complete syndrome includes oculocutaneous albinism with photophobia, neurologic features, recurrent infections, and enterocolitis . METHODS: A 14-year-old male C-HS patient was referred to us because of serious periodontal destruction with acute inflamed gingiva and ulcers . Clinical and biological investigations were performed, leading to the diagnosis of C-HS . RESULTS: Laboratory findings included neutropenia and hypergammaglobulinemia . Peripheral blood smears showed giant granules in neutrophils, eosinophils, and granulocytes . Bone marrow smears showed giant inclusions in leukocyte precursor cells . These granules and inclusions were characteristic of Chediak-Higashi syndrome . Oral radiographic status showed extensive loss of alveolar bone leading, in most cases, to tooth exfoliation . Bacteria often associated with periodontitis were detected in subgingival plaque samples, including Fusobacterium nucleatum, Campylobacter rectus, Prevotella melaninogenica, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, and Clostridium sp . Biopsies of periodontal tissues for light and electronic microscopic examinations revealed massive bacterial invasion of the epithelial tissue, epithelial cells, and connective tissue . Ultrastructural observations of periodontal polymorphonuclear leukocytes showed defective granulation, with abnormal granules not discharging their lysosomal content against engulfed bacteria . Viable dividing bacteria were found in the cytoplasm . CONCLUSIONS: In this case, early-onset periodontitis seems to be the expression of C-HS granulocyte deficiency . Periodontal treatment of these patients is often unsuccessful . This case report illustrates the importance of the dentist in initiating clinical and biological investigations in such early aggressive periodontitis in young patients.

Small Rumin, Res. . 2000 Aug 1, 37(3), 215 - 221
Bioserogroups of Campylobacter species isolated from sheep in Kaduna State, Nigeria; Raji MA et al.; Sheep Campylobacter isolates from Kaduna State were characterized into their species and bioserogrouped . A total of 1100 samples were collected from Kaduna abattoir and National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Shika . The samples were from 250 gallbladder, 250 intestinal contents, 100 fetal stomach contents all from Kaduna abattoir while 250 rectal swabs and 250 vaginal swabs were from the NAPRI Small Ruminant Programme . Of a total of 1100 samples, 39 (3.54%) yielded Campylobacter organisms . The highest isolation rate (6.8%) was from samples of intestinal contents followed by those from gall bladders (4.0%) . Samples from the vaginal and fetuses had the lowest isolation rates (2.80%) and (0%), respectively . Of the 39 Campylobacter isolates from all the sources, (79%) were characterized as C . fetus subsp jejuni, C . coli (13%) and C . laridis (8.0%) . while C . coli and C . laridis were isolated from gall bladder and intestinal contents only . Campylobacter fetus subsp jejuni biotype 1 accounted for 40.3% of the total isolates . C . laridis biotypes I and II were also isolated and accounted for 5% and 3% of the isolates, respectively . 5% of the isolates were not typeable . The serogroups 4 (13%), 36 (10%), 9 (10%), 84 (8%), 29 (5%) and 20 (8%) were the commonest serogroups identified in sheep at two locations surveyed . The isolation of Campylobacter organisms from rectum, vagina, gallbladder, and intestinal contents is a clear indication that sheep serves as a reservoir of this organisms in Nigeria . Similarities between documented human Campylobacter isolates in Nigeria and those in the present study raised the possibility of cross-transmission between sheep and man . It is concluded that biotyping and serotyping can be used for epidemiological study of campylobacteriosis due to Campylobacter jejuni in sheep in Kaduna State of Nigeria.

FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol, 2000 Jul, 28(3), 257 - 63
Bacterial, viral and parasitic enteric pathogens associated with acute diarrhea in hospitalized children from northern Jordan; Youssef M et al.; To determine the etiology of acute diarrhea in Jordanian children under 5 years of age, we examined stool samples from 265 children admitted to the pediatric ward at Princess Rahma Hospital for Children, Irbid, Jordan, for parasites, rotavirus and enteric bacteria . Using both traditional and molecular diagnostic techniques, we detected enteropathogens in 66.4% of patients with diarrhea . A single enteric pathogen was detected in 50.9% of the children, and multiple pathogens were detected in 15.5% . The prevalence of enteropathogens identified was as follows: rotavirus (32.5%), enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (12.8%), enteroaggregative E . coli (10.2), enterotoxigenic E . coli (5.7%), Shigella spp . (4.9%), Entamoeba histolytica (4.9%), Salmonella spp . (4.5%), Campylobacter jejuni/coli (1.5%), Cryptosporidium spp . (1.5%), enteroinvasive E . coli (1.5%), eae-, Ehly-positive E . coli (0.8%), Giardia lamblia (0 . 8%) and Yersinia enterocolitica (0.4%) . No Vibrio cholerae, Shiga toxin-producing E . coli, microsporidia, adenovirus or small round virus were detected . Findings from this study demonstrate that rotavirus and several types of diarrheagenic E . coli, which are not screened for during routine examinations of stool samples in public health laboratories, were the most frequently detected enteropathogens in these children . Our findings highlight the value of using a combination of traditional and molecular techniques in the diagnosis of diarrheal disease in this population.

Rev Prat, 2000 Apr 1, 50(7), 724 - 30
{Acquired demyelinating neuropathies}; Hahn AF; The acquired demyelinating polyneuropathies with either acute or chronic clinical presentation are considered autoimmune disorders . The Guillain-Barre syndrome is viewed as an acutely reactive and self-limited autoimmune disease, triggered by preceding bacterial or viral infections . There is a particularly strong association with the gastroenteric pathogen, Campylobacter jejuni, and with Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus . It is likely that immune response directed towards the infecting organisms are involved in the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barre syndrome by cross-reaction with neural tissues . In the susceptible individual, the infecting organism induces humoral and cellular immune responses that, because of the sharing of homologous epitopes (molecular mimicry), cross-react with ganglioside surface components of peripheral nerve . Immune reactions against target epitopes in the Schwann cell surface membrane or myelin result in acute inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy (90% of cases); reactions against epitopes contained in the axonal membrane cause the acute axonal forms of Guillain-Barre syndrome . Immunomodulation with infusions of IgG or plasma exchange treatments effectively foreshorten the disease course . The immunopathogenesis of the chronic disease forms, chronic inflammatory demyelinating peripheral neuropathy and multifocal motor neuropathy are less well-known . Immunomodulatory treatments with corticosteroid or cytotoxic drug treatments, infusion of Ig or therapeutic plasma exchanges are variably effective . The article outlines the principles and practices of an individualized approach to therapy.

J Food Prot, 2000 Jun, 63(6), 807 - 9
Incidence of foodborne illnesses reported by the foodborne diseases active surveillance network (FoodNet)-1997 . FoodNet Working Group; Wallace DJ et al.; In 1997, the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Program (FoodNet) conducted active surveillance for culture-confirmed cases of Campylobacter, Escherichia coli O157, Listeria, Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio, Yersinia, Cyclospora, and Cryptosporidium in five Emerging Infections Program sites . FoodNet is a collaborative effort of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Infectious Diseases, the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, and state health departments in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Minnesota, and Oregon . The population under active surveillance for foodborne infections was approximately 16.1 million persons or roughly 6% of the United States Population . Through weekly or monthly contact with all clinical laboratories in these sites, 8,576 total isolations were recorded: 2,205 cases of salmonellosis, 1,273 cases of shigellosis, 468 cases of cryptosporidiosis, 340 of E . coli O157:H7 infections, 139 of yersiniosis, 77 of listeriosis, 51 of Vibrio infections, and 49 of cyclosporiasis . Results from 1997 demonstrate that while there are regional and seasonal differences in reported incidence rates of certain bacterial and parasitic diseases, and that some pathogens showed a change in incidence from 1996, the overall incidence of illness caused by pathogens under surveillance was stable . More data over more years are needed to assess if observed variations in incidence reflect yearly fluctuations or true changes in the burden of foodborne illness.

J Vet Med Sci, 2000 May, 62(5), 557 - 60
Risk factors in causing outbreaks of food-borne illness originating in schoollunch facilities in Japan; Michino H et al.; We reviewed records of all outbreaks of food-borne illnesses due to schoollunch in Japan from 1987 through 1996 to determine the risk factors causing these outbreaks . Major hazards in 269 outbreaks were Salmonella spp., Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus . Foods including uncooked or partially cooked items, salad or egg products presented a high risk in 62 outbreaks with confirmed food sources . Contaminated food items were involved in 29 incidents (46.8%); storage of foods for an extended period before serving in 29 incidents (46.8%), inadequate cooking and cross contamination in 21 incidents (33.9%) each; infected employees in nine incidents (14.5%).

Australas Radiol, 2000 May, 44(2), 204 - 5
Florid computed tomographic appearance of acute Campylobacter enterocolitis; Brown G et al.; A 28-year-old male presented with severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea . Computed tomographic scan showed marked swelling of the distal ileum and entire colorectum . The patient recovered and Campylobacter jejuni was subsequently grown from his faeces.

Lett Appl Microbiol, 2000 Jun, 30(6), 479 - 84
Establishing a campylobacter-free pig population through a top-down approach; Weijtens MJ et al.; Fattening pigs are often infected with campylobacter . To eliminate campylobacter from the pig population, a top-down approach, involving the breeding and reproduction farms, seems appropriate . In order to investigate the effectiveness of a top-down approach, sows' faeces from the following farms were analysed for the presence of campylobacter: one specific pathogen free (SPF) farm, three top-breeding farms with no connection with SPF breeding, and a breeding farm repopulated with SPF sows after a period of vacancy (farm 5) . The faeces samples from the SPF farm were free from campylobacter . The three top-breeding farms provided faeces samples which were 98% positive for campylobacter . However, only 22% of the faeces samples from farm 5 were positive for campylobacter . In a period of 20 months, the percentage of sows infected with campylobacter on farm 5 did not significantly increase . Genetic typing with ERIC-PCR and RFLP of campylobacter isolates from one of the top-breeding farms and from farm 5 showed a high diversity of campylobacter types . The results suggest that a campylobacter-free pig population can be established in breeding farms by combining a top-down approach (campylobacter-free top-breeding farms) with a strict regime of hygiene management.

J Med Microbiol, 2000 Jun, 49(6), 525 - 34
Identification of cdtB homologues and cytolethal distending toxin activity in enterohepatic Helicobacter spp; Chien CC et al.; A bacterial toxin that causes progressive distension and death of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and HeLa cells, termed cytolethal distending toxin (Cdt), has been identified in several diarrhoeagenic bacteria, including Campylobacter spp . (C . jejuni and Cq coli), some pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli and Shigella spp . Genes encoding this toxin were identified as a cluster of three adjacent genes cdtA, cdtB and cdtC . Homologues of cdtB from five species of enterohepatic helicobacters (Helicobacter hepaticus, H . bilis, H . canis and two novel Helicobacter spp . isolated from mice and woodchuck, respectively) were identified by means of degenerative PCR primers, cloned and sequenced . The similarities of these partial cdtB nucleotide sequences from these Helicobacter spp . to those of cdtB genes known to be present in other bacteria were: C . jejuni, 58.3-64.8%; E . coli, 52.3-57.8%, Haemophilus ducreyi, 53.4-58.4% and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, 52.7-58.1% . Bacterial lysates from four of these helicobacters caused characteristic cytolethal distension of HeLa cells . Cdt caused cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase as measured by flow cytometry . The results demonstrated the presence of a toxin in these Helicobacter spp . belonging to the family of Cdt.

Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2000, 51(1), 53 - 61
{Campylobacter in surface waters for communal purposes in Bydgoszcz region}; Drzewiecka B et al.; The aim of our work was to determine the frequency of Campylobacter occurrence in surface water taken from lakes and rivers . For this purpose the membrane filters technique in microaerophylic conditions and Columbia Agar with the antibiotics addition as the culture medium were used . The genera of Campylobacter were determined . At the same time the purity of water's samples was estimated . The total number of bacteria as well as the number of Coli spp . were determined . The results indicate that 33% of water samples were contaminated with Campylobacter (predominated C . coli and C . jejuni) . The percentage increased with the degree of contamination with Coli.

AIDS Patient Care STDS, 1999 Jun, 13(6), 369 - 74
Periodontopathic bacteria in English HIV-seropositive persons; Scully C et al.; Selected periodontopathic bacteria were sought in 20 HIV-infected English patients and eight noninfected control subjects with similar periodontal status, using highly specific DNA probes . Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (A . a), Porphyromonas gingivalis, Campylobacter rectus, Prevotella intermedia, and Fusobacterium nucleatum were more frequently detected and were found at higher levels in HIV-infected individuals than in controls . Significantly increased levels of Treponema denticola but, in contrast, lower levels of Eikenella corrodens were found in nonbleeding sites of HIV-infected patients compared with controls . The results of the present investigation on English patients suggest a periodontopathogenic role for A . a, P . gingivalis and C . rectus, and possibly P . intermedia and are in general accord with most previously reported data from the United States . Longitudinal studies are now required to determine more precisely the association between periodontopathic microflora, immune competence and periodontal health and disease in HIV-infected persons.

Haematologia (Budap), 2000, 30(1), 69 - 72
Primary pseudomonas meningitis in an adult, splenectomized, multitransfused thalassaemia major patient; Ghosh K et al.; A 19-year-old splenectomized, multitransfused female patient with beta-thalassaemia major developed primary meningitis due to P . putida . Her blood cultures were negative . P . putida is an unusual nosocomial organism to cause primary meningitis . Infection due to this organism carries high mortality . However, owing to early diagnosis and energetic treatment this patient survived without any sequelae . A review of serious infections over the last 7 years in patients in our thalassaemia care centre revealed 11 serious infections among our splenectomized patients (n = 46) and none in the non-splenectomized group (n = 106) . Surprisingly, all overwhelming infections (23.8% in the splenectomized group) were caused by Gram-negative bacilli like Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Aeromonas and Campylobacter species . As all our splenectomized patients had prior pneumococcal vaccination and oral penicillin prophylaxis, overwhelming septicaemia due to S . Pneumoniae was successfully prevented, but an increasing incidence of overwhelming sepsis due to Gram-negative bacilli, against which no vaccination or suitable prophylactic antibiotics are available, is now posing a new threat to this vulnerable group of patients.

J Clin Microbiol, 2000 Jun, 38(6), 2297 - 301
Molecular characterization of Campylobacter jejuni from patients with Guillain-Barré and Miller Fisher syndromes; Endtz HP et al.; Campylobacter jejuni has been identified as the predominant cause of antecedent infection in Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) . The risk of developing GBS or MFS may be higher after infection with specific C . jejuni types . To investigate the putative clonality, 18 GBS- or MFS-related C . jejuni strains from The Netherlands and Belgium and 17 control strains were analyzed by serotyping (Penner and Lior), restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR products of the flaA gene, amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis . Serotyping revealed 10 different O serotypes and 7 different Lior serotypes, thereby indicating a lack of serotype clustering . Two new O serotypes, O:35 and O:13/65, not previously associated with GBS or MFS were found . Serotype O:19 was encountered in 2 of 18 strains, and none was of serotype O:41 . The results of all genotypic methods also demonstrated substantial heterogeneity . No clustering of GBS- or MFS-related strains occurred and no molecular marker capable of separating pathogenic GBS or MFS from non-GBS- or non-MFS-related enteritis strains could be identified in this study . Sialic-acid-containing lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are thought to be involved in the triggering of GBS or MFS through molecular mimicry with gangliosides in human peripheral nerves . Therefore, further characterization of GBS- or MFS-related C . jejuni should target the genes involved in the synthesis of LPS and the incorporation of sialic acid.

Acta Vet Scand Suppl, 2000, 93, 63 - 8; discussion 68-74
Spread of resistance from food animals to man--the UK experience; Threlfall EJ et al.; Since 1990 there have been dramatic increase in the occurrence multiply drug-resistant strains of zoonotic pathogens causing infections in humans in many developed countries . Of particular note has been the epidemic spread of MR strains of S . typhimurium DT 104, which now appear to have an almost world-wide distribution . Within DT104 the increasing spectrum of resistance is of considerable concern, with strains with decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin increasing in incidence in the United Kingdom and also causing serious disease in humans in other countries . For campylobacters the incidence of ciprofloxacin-resistant organisms is also increasing, with reports of such isolates from numerous countries throughout the world . For VTEC O157, although resistance is increasing, multiple resistance and resistance to ciprofloxacin remains rare . Drug resistance in food-borne pathogens is an unfortunate but almost inevitable consequence of the use of antimicrobials in food animals . Although for some pathogens--e.g., Campylobacter spp., the use of antimicrobials in human medicine is also an important factor (Smith el al 1999), it is the use of antimicrobials in food animals which has been a major factor in the development of decreased susceptibility to antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin in zoonotically-transmitted salmonellas . Such use is quite legitimate . However it is regrettable that recommendations such as propounded in 1992 in the UK by the Expert Group on Animal Feedingstuffs--the Lamming Committee, that any new antibiotics with cross resistance to those used in human medicine should not be used for prophylaxis in animal husbandry, were not accepted (Anonymous, 1992) . Although the clock cannot be turned back, to combat the development of resistance to such important drugs as the fluoroquinolones it is hoped that a Code of Practice for their use in food animals will soon be internationally implemented.

Z Gastroenterol, 2000 Apr, 38(4), 307 - 9
Campylobacter jejuni-induced severe colitis--a rare cause of toxic megacolon; Schneider A et al.; The development of toxic megacolon as a sequel of infectious colitis is rare . We have observed the very rare case of a campylobacter jejuni-induced toxic megacolon . A 28-year-old man was admitted with severe enterocolitis and appearance of blood in stools . He had been treated with loperamide without success . Two days after admission stool cultures revealed campylobacter jejuni and then an oral antibiotic therapy was started . On the fifth day clinical performance deteriorated again with development of toxic megacolon and consecutive subtotal colectomy . Rectoscopy before discharge after 13 days showed a normal mucosa . The unusual course with first improvement and then rapid deterioration despite adequate therapy was observed in 4 other cases, which may also be a hint of ensuing megacolon . Even in usually harmless enterocolitis like campylobacter infection, predisposing factors such as loperamide are known to precipitate toxic megacolon and should be considered in clinical practice.

Infect Immun, 2000 Jun, 68(6), 3140 - 6
Interactions between periodontal bacteria and human oral epithelial cells: Fusobacterium nucleatum adheres to and invades epithelial cells; Han YW et al.; Bacteria are causative agents of periodontal diseases . Interactions between oral bacteria and gingival epithelial cells are essential aspects of periodontal infections . Using an in vitro tissue culture model, a selected group of gram-negative anaerobic bacteria frequently associated with periodontal diseases, including Bacteroides forsythus, Campylobacter curvus, Eikenella corrodens, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotella intermedia, were examined for their ability to adhere to and invade primary cultures of human gingival epithelial cells (HGEC) . The effects of these bacteria on the production of interleukin-8 (IL-8), a proinflammatory chemokine, were also measured . These studies provided an initial demonstration that F . nucleatum adhered to and invaded HGEC and that this was accompanied by high levels of IL-8 secretion from the epithelial cells . The attachment and invasion characteristics of F . nucleatum were also tested using KB cells, an oral epithelial cell line . The invasion was verified by transmission electron microscopy and with metabolic inhibitors . Invasion appeared to occur via a "zipping" mechanism and required the involvement of actins, microtubules, signal transduction, protein synthesis, and energy metabolism of the epithelial cell, as well as protein synthesis by F . nucleatum . A spontaneous mutant, lam, of F . nucleatum, isolated as defective in autoagglutination, was unable to attach to or invade HGEC or KB cells, further indicating the requirement of bacterial components in these processes . Sugar inhibition assays indicated that lectin-like interactions were involved in the attachment of F . nucleatum to KB cells . Investigation of these new virulence phenotypes should improve our understanding of the role of F . nucleatum in periodontal infections.

Clin Infect Dis, 2000 May, 30(5), 770 - 8 Epub 2000 May 18.
Enteropathogens in adult patients with diarrhea and healthy control subjects: a 1-year prospective study in a Swedish clinic for infectious diseases; Svenungsson B et al.; A 1-year prospective study was conducted to identify enteropathogens in adults with diarrhea (n=851) and in healthy control subjects (n=203) by use of conventional laboratory methods . Virulence factor genes for diarrheagenic Escherichia coli were detected by polymerase chain reaction . Enteropathogens were identified in 56% of patients and 16% of control subjects . The isolation rate was 65% for patients with symptoms for <1 week and for travelers; >1 pathogen was found in 11% of patients . The most frequent enteropathogens were Campylobacter (13% of patients), Clostridium difficile (13%), enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (8%), Salmonella (7%), Shigella (4%), Blastocystis hominis (4%), calicivirus (3%), rotavirus (3%), enteroaggregative E . coli (2%), Aeromonas (2%), Giardia intestinalis (2%), Cryptosporidium (2%), and astrovirus (2%) . Less frequently isolated (< or =1% of patients) were verotoxigenic E . coli, enteropathogenic E . coli, enteroinvasive E . coli, Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar, microsporidia, and adenovirus . Fifty percent of the patients were hospitalized, and 43% needed intravenous fluids . The median duration of diarrhea was 14 days . Clinical features were not helpful for predicting the etiology of diarrhea.

J Commun Dis, 1999 Jun, 31(2), 65 - 72
Some emerging food and water borne pathogens; Gugnani HC; Emerging pathogens are those infective organisms whose incidence has recently increased or is likely to increase during the next two decades due to changes in demography, food habits, food technology, commerce, water sources and environmental factors . Some important emerging food and water borne bacterial pathogens include Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter jejuni, Yersinia enterocolitica, Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli O157: H7, Vibrio cholerae biotype E1 Tor Serotype 0139, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Aeromonas hydrophila, A . sobria, and A . caviae . The prevalence, ecological relationships of these organisms, their transmission through food, water and other environmental sources, and role of their virulent factors in the pathogenesis of infections and their public health significance is discussed in this paper with special reference to the situation in India.

Eur J Neurol, 2000 Jan, 7(1), 107 - 9
Cramping pain and prolonged elevation of serum creatine kinase levels in a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome following Campylobacter jejuni enteritis; Satoh J et al.; We describe a patient with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) following Campylobacter jejuni enteritis, accompanied with severe cramping pain and a marked increase in serum creatine kinase (CK) levels . Both conditions became evident three weeks after the onset of GBS and continued for longer than one month . In this patient, it is possible that rapid extensive denervation due to severe axonal degeneration of motor nerve terminals might have caused hyperexcitability in regional muscles, leading to recurrent muscle cramps and persistent release of muscular CK.

Arch Intern Med, 2000 May 8, 160(9), 1349 - 53
Helicobacter pylori--is it a novel causative agent in Vitamin B12 deficiency?
Kaptan K, Beyan C, Ural AU, Cetin T, Avcu F, Gulsen M, Finci R, Yalcin A.
BACKGROUND: Evidence for vitamin B12 deficiency usually involves combinations of low serum vitamin B12 levels, clinical and metabolic abnormalities, and therapeutic response . Identification of the underlying cause is important in the diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency that is usually attributed to malabsorption . Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common causes of peptic ulcer disease worldwide and a major cause of chronic superficial gastritis leading to atrophy of gastric glands . It is suggested that there may be a casual relationship between H . pylori and food-cobalamin malabsorption . OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the H . pylori incidence in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency prospectively and to assess whether treatment for H pylori infection could correct this deficiency over time . PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study involving 138 patients who had anemia and vitamin B12 deficiency . An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed to assess the severity of atrophic gastritis and biopsy specimens for Campylobacter-like organisms tests and histological examination for H pylori were obtained at the time of diagnosis . The diagnosis of H . pylori prompted a combination treatment . RESULTS: Helicobacter pylori was detected in 77 (56%) of 138 patients with vitamin B12 deficiency and eradication of H pylori infection successfully improved anemia and serum vitamin B12 levels in 31 (40 %) of 77 infected patients . CONCLUSIONS: Helicobacter pylori seems to be a causative agent in the development of adult vitamin B12 deficiency . Eradication of H . pylori infection alone may correct vitamin B12 levels and improve anemia in this subgroup of patients.

J Periodontol, 2000 Apr, 71(4), 562 - 7
The prevalence of pathogenic periodontal microflora in healthy young adult smokers; Shiloah J et al.; BACKGROUND: Smoking is a major risk factor in periodontitis, although the mechanisms of its effects are not well understood . The overall goal of this clinical study was to determine if smoking enhances the colonization of the oral cavity by pathogenic bacteria in a periodontitis-free population . The prevalence of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Campylobacter rectus, Eikenella corrodens, Bacteroides forsythus, and Treponema denticola was investigated in 25 smokers and 25 non-smokers by using DNA probes . METHODS: The subjects were 21 to 35 years of age with a healthy periodontium or slight gingivitis and were systemically healthy . The test group included subjects who had a minimum of a 1.5 pack-year history of smoking, while the control subjects never smoked . Subgingival plaque samples were taken by paper point following the assessment of multiple clinical parameters . RESULTS: This investigation showed: 1) no statistically significant differences were noted in any clinical parameter measured between the groups; 2) of the 8 subjects who were infected by at least 1 tested pathogen, seven were smokers (P= 0.02); 3) infected smokers had a 15.7+/-3.5 pack-year history and smoked a mean of 27+/-5 cigarettes/day versus 4.4+/-0.8 pack years and 15+/-1 cigarettes/day for the non-infected smokers (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.004); and 4) smokers were 18 times more likely to exhibit the presence of pathogens than non-smokers . CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that the prevalence of colonization of the sulcus by pathogenic bacterial species in periodontitis-free individuals is related to the quantity and duration of cigarette smoking.

AIDS Patient Care STDS, 1999 Aug, 13(8), 467 - 72
Rifabutin prophylaxis against Mycobacterium avium complex infections in HIV-infected patients: impact on the incidence of campylobacteriosis; Pulik M et al.; Following the observation of the decreasing occurrence of campylobacteriosis in HIV-infected patients . This study examines the incidence of campylobacteriosis in patients who had received rifabutin prophylaxis against Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection compared with the incidence observed among patients treated before the advent of rifabutin . A retrospective analysis (February 1992 to November 1995) was conducted in a hospital HIV inpatient unit . The study included two patient groups: 73 HIV-infected patients with CD4 counts of < 100 cells/microL (mean 30 cells/microL) who were treated between February 1992 and July 1993 and who had not received rifabutin prophylaxis (Group R-), as well as 90 HIV-infected patients with CD4 counts of < 100 cells/microL (mean 22 cells/microL) who had received rifabutin 300 mg/day as primary prophylaxis against MAC bacteremia between July 1993 and November 1995 (Group R+) . For the patient population as a whole, 20 episodes of campylobacter infection were observed in 13 patients . Causative pathogens were Campylobacter jejuni (n = 10), C . coli (8), and unidentifiable (2) . Seventeen episodes (in 12 patients) of campylobacter infection occurred in Group R- versus 3 episodes (in 2 patients) in Group R+ (p < 0.0005) . The rate of symptomatic infection per 100 patient-months was 0.251 in Group R+ versus 2.02 in Group R- . The results of this study indicate that rifabutin prophylaxis was associated with a decrease in the rate of campylobacter infection in HIV-infected patients . These findings are supported by evidence that rifabutin is active against C . jejuni in vitro.

Mol Cell Probes, 2000 Apr, 14(2), 95 - 9
Multiplex PCR detection of Campylobacter jejuni and Arcobacter butzleri in food products; Winters DK et al.; Arcobacter is a recently described species, previously considered part of the Campylobacter family . A sensitive assay such as that provided by PCR could help to distinguish the closely related Arcobacter from Campylobacter . A PCR method to specifically detect both Campylobacter jejuni and Arcobacter butzleri in the same reaction tube has been developed . C . jejuni and A . butzleri were inoculated into a range of dairy products, raw and ready-to-eat foods . The presence of these two organisms was detected in these test foods by the multiplex PCR assay . A product of 159 bp was apparent when C . jejuni was present, while a 1223 bp product was seen when A . butzleri was present . When both organisms were present, both bands could be detected on the agarose gel . All organisms were confirmed by standard microbiological methods . There was complete agreement between the PCR and standard methods . This PCR assay will allow detection of both organisms within the same PCR tube and can be performed within an 8 h day . The presence of these two human pathogens, which are difficult to distinguish by standard biochemical methods, can now be identified using this PCR assay .

J Med Microbiol, 2000 May, 49(5), 473 - 9
Characterisation of cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) mutants of Campylobacter jejuni; Purdy D et al.; In order to assess the contribution of cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) to the toxigenicity and pathogenicity of Campylobacter jejuni, the C . jejuni 81-176 and C . jejuni NCTC 11168 CDTs were inactivated by insertional mutation of the cdtB toxin subunit . Cell-free sonicates from isogenic C . jejuni 81-176 cdtB- strains were found to be greatly attenuated in HeLa cytotoxicity assays, whilst still retaining some toxigenicity . Sonicates from a C . jejuni NCTC 11168 cdtB- strain produced no detectable cytotoxicity . When orally administered to adult severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, C . jejuni cdtB mutant strains were unaffected in enteric colonisation abilities but demonstrated impaired invasiveness into blood, spleen and liver tissues . These data suggest that CDT may be the principal toxin produced by this species and that some C . jejuni strains may generate additional toxigenic factor(s) distinct from CDT.

Int J Antimicrob Agents, 2000 May, 14(4), 291 - 4
Antibiotic resistance monitoring in bacteria of animal origin: analysis of national monitoring programmes; Wray C et al.; Methods of antibiotic resistance monitoring of bacteria from animals in 12 European countries were surveyed in 1998 . Most laboratories used disk diffusion methods, usually expressing results qualitatively, although a few also expressed the results either as MICs or zone diameters . The number of antibiotics used ranged from 5 to 37 (mean 15) and the most common antibacterials were streptomycin, gentamicin, neomycin, ampicillin, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol and sulphonamides . Salmonellae were monitored by most centres but few-tested campylobacter regularly . Escherichia coli from a wide range of animal species were tested in nine countries . Enterococci were tested on a limited ad hoc basis in six countries . Staphylococci, streptococci and pasteurellae were also frequently monitored but the number of isolates tested showed wide variation . Overall the presentation of the results differed, but most programmes used disk diffusion, control strains and monitored similar bacteria . Thus, it may be possible to harmonise monitoring programmes within the EU.

Int J Food Microbiol, 2000 Apr 10, 55(1-3), 263 - 7
Survival and recovery of viable but noncultivable forms of Campylobacter in aqueous microcosm; Talibart R et al.; Previous studies suggesting that the persistence of thermotolerant Campylobacter in water, especially as a viable but non-cultivable form (VNC), was involved in human campylobacteriosis, the capacities of survival and resuscitation of a significant collection of 85 strains in aqueous microcosms were investigated . Two-thirds of these strains (68%) were not detectable on agar medium after a stay of 14-21 days, whereas 21% reached this state before 14 days and 11% were non-cultivable after a stay of 21 days . Some strains remained cultivable after 35 days in a shaken aqueous microcosm and beyond 60 days without shaking . After 30 days, 51% of the non-detectable strains by conventional culture were recovered after injection in 9-day fertilised chicken eggs . A kinetic study showed that the age of the viable but non-cultivable forms and characteristics of the strains could explain the variations of recovery . These results suggest that viable but non-cultivable forms of Campylobacter could be a potential risk of colonisation of human or animals and that an embryonic factor seems to be essential to allow resuscitation.

Int J Food Microbiol, 2000 Apr 10, 55(1-3), 63 - 7
Demonstration of a protein synthesis in starved Campylobacter jejuni cells; Cappelier JM et al.; For many years, environmental microbiologists working on water samples, have reported differences between bacterial counts performed by culture and by microscopy . These observations have led to the demonstration of the viable but non-culturable (VNC) state in bacteria . Some hygienist specialists underlined the risk presented by pathogenic bacteria in the VNC state . The VNC state in bacteria has been studied by a number of authors, but the relation between VNC state and bacterial stress response has not been established yet, while the VNC state is generally described in responses to adverse conditions . Campylobacter jejuni enter the VNC state in response to starvation . In our study, we searched for a protein synthesis in the first hours of the cell starvation exposure . Three Campylobacter jejuni strains were suspended in filtered, sterilized, distilled water, and incubated at 4 degrees C with gentle shaking (100 rpm) . After 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 h of starvation, C . jejuni cells were removed and subjected to a heat shock (55 degrees C, 3 min) and to a conductimetric assay . Results obtained showed that a protein synthesis occurred in the onset of the starvation period, and that these improved the nutrient assimilation and enhanced the heat resistance in starved cells.

J Periodontal Res, 2000 Feb, 35(1), 33 - 41
Profile of subgingival microbiota in children with primary dentition; Kamma JJ et al.; Eruption of primary teeth has a great influence on the oral environment by providing suitable niches for bacterial colonization . The aim of the study was to investigate the composition of the subgingival microbiota of primary incisors, canines and molars in 40 systemically healthy children aged 4-5 yr, chosen randomly . Subgingival plaque samples were taken from the mesiobuccal sites of primary incisors (61, 81), canines (53, 73) and molars (64, 84) . The samples were cultured for bacterial isolation anaerobically and in 10% CO2 plus air using selective and non-selective media . Forty-one different microbial species were isolated . Gemella morbillorum and Peptostreptococcus magnus were statistically significantly more frequently detected in incisors while P . micros, Streptococcus intermedius, Bacteroides forsythus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella loeschei, P . melaninogenica and Selenomonas sputigena were more frequently detected in molars . The bacterial species S . constellatus, G . morbillorum and P . magnus were isolated in greater numbers in incisors and P . micros, S . intermedius, Campylobacter concisus, Bacteroides egertheii, B . forsythus, P . oralis and S . sputigena were isolated in greater numbers in molars, respectively . Cluster analysis revealed 4 clusters in which 6-7 bacterial species were elevated above mean levels . Cluster I was predominated by S . constellatus, S . mitis, S . sanguis, G . morbillorum, P . melaninogenica and P . oralis; cluster II was predominated by S . sanguis, Actinomyces naeslundii, Capnocytophaga gingivalis, C . ochracea and P . intermedia; cluster III was predominated by S . mitis, C . ochracea, F . nucleatum, P . loeschei, P . melaninogenica and P . oralis; and finally cluster IV was predominated by S . sanguis, C . gingivalis, Veillonella parvula, Campylobacter gracilis, F . nucleatum and P . intermedia . The bacterial species S . constellatus, P . micros, Pseudoramibacter alactolyticus, Eikenella corrodens and F . nucleatum were associated with non-bleeding sites while S . intermedius, C . concisus, P . intermedia and P . loescheii were found more frequently in bleeding sites.

J Clin Microbiol, 2000 May, 38(5), 1998 - 2000
A three-year study of Campylobacter jejuni genotypes in humans with domestically acquired infections and in chicken samples from the Helsinki area; Hanninen ML et al.; Campylobacter jejuni isolates from stool samples of patients with domestically acquired sporadic infections and from chicken from retail shops were studied during seasonal peaks from June to September over a 3-year period from 1996 to 1998 . A large number of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) genotypes (a combined SmaI-SacII pattern) were identified each year . Certain genotypes persisted for the whole study period, and predominant genotypes represented 28 to 52% of the strains during a restricted period of time . The peak level of positive chicken samples was between July and August of each study year, when 10 to 33% of the samples were positive for campylobacter . The same PFGE genotypes found in humans were also detected in the chicken samples . This suggests that common genotypes were circulating in the area.

J Clin Microbiol, 2000 May, 38(5), 1940 - 6
Computer-assisted analysis and epidemiological value of genotyping methods for Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli; de Boer P et al.; For epidemiological tracing of the thermotolerant Campylobacter species C . jejuni and C . coli, reliable and highly discriminatory typing techniques are necessary . In this study the genotyping techniques of flagellin typing (flaA typing), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), automated ribotyping, and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting were compared . The following aspects were compared: computer-assisted analysis, discriminatory power, and use for epidemiological typing of campylobacters . A set of 50 campylobacter poultry isolates from The Netherlands and neighboring countries was analyzed . Computer-assisted analysis made cluster analysis possible and eased the designation of different genotypes . AFLP fingerprinting was the most discriminatory technique, identifying 41 distinct genotypes, while PFGE identified 38 different types, flaA typing discriminated 31 different types, and ribotyping discriminated 26 different types . Furthermore, AFLP analysis was the most suitable method for computer-assisted data analysis . In some cases combining the results of AFLP fingerprinting, PFGE, and flaA typing increased our ability to differentiate strains that appeared genetically related . We conclude that AFLP is a highly discriminatory typing method and well suited for computer-assisted data analysis; however, for optimal typing of campylobacters, a combination of multiple typing methods is needed.

Acta Vet Scand Suppl, 1999, 92, 51 - 7
Transfer of antibiotic resistant bacteria from animals to man; Wegener HC et al.; Antibiotic resistance develops in zoonotic bacteria in response to antibiotics used in food animals . A close association exists between the amounts of antibiotics used and the levels of resistance observed . The classes of antibiotics routinely used for treatment of human infections are also used for animals either for therapy or for growth promotion . Antibiotic resistance in zoonotic bacteria constitute a public health hazard, primarily through the increased risk of treatment failures . This paper describes the zoonotic bacteria, salmonella, campylobacter, yersinia and entero-haemorrhagic E . coli (EHEC) . Infections with these agents do not generally require antibiotic therapy, but in some cases antibiotics are essential to obtain a successful cure . The levels and types of resistance observed in zoonotic bacteria in some countries, especially the increasing levels of fluoroquinolone resistance in salmonella and campylobacter, gives cause for concern . The principles of controlling resistance development involve infection control at herd level and prudent use of antibiotics.

Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 2000 Mar, 74(3), 269 - 73
{A case report of Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus oophoritis}; Kanagawa T et al.; A 45-year-old female with oophoritis (pelvic inflammatory disease) caused by Campylobacter fetus (C . fetus) is reported . She was admitted to the hospital because of high fever and an acute abdomen . On admission, severe inflammation was observed by the laboratory findings, and abdominal X-ray and CT scan revealed ileus with marked swelling of the right ovary . Laparotomy was performed with adonexooophrectomy due to the tubo-ovarian abscesses . C . fetus was isolated from the right ovary, salpinx and ascites . Erythromycin was administered after a sensitive test of C . fetus as the bacteria was isolated at operation . She was discharged on the 17th day after her admission . Indirect immunofluorescent test with hyperimmune rabbit sera to isolated C . fetus revealed a fine to coarse granular immunoreaction in the cytoplasm of the macrophages infiltrated in the tissue . This result was interpreted as the existence and growth of bacteria in the right ovarian tissue . Oophoritis due to C . fetus subspecies fetus is very rare . To our knowledge, this case is the second case reported in Japan.

Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 1999 Jun, 30(2), 319 - 23
The seasonal variation in the microbial agents implicated in the etiology of diarrheal diseases among children in Lao People's Democratic Republic; Phetsouvanh R et al.; During 1994-1995, the etiological structure of children's diarrhea was monitored in outpatients at Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR . Of the 191 children studied, 42% had stool specimens positive for enteropathogens; 22% had rotavirus, 21.5% enteropathogenic E . coli, 4.7% Shigella flexneri, 2.9% Campylobacter jejuni, 2.1% Shigella sonnei, and 0.5% each of Giardia intestinalis and Entamoeba histolytica . No Vibrio cholerae and Salmonella spp . was detected in this monitoring . In children under five years, rotaviruses were detected almost all round the year with a maximum prevalence in January in the dry season . Shigella species were highly detected in June to July in the rainy season.

Yakugaku Zasshi, 2000 Apr, 120(4), 374 - 86
{Study of macrolide, lincosamide, and streptogramin B antibiotics resistance in Staphylococcus aureus}; Matsuoka M; Macrolide antibiotics (Mac) consist of a 12- to 16-membered lactone ring combined with a sugar moiety, and they inhibit protein synthesis via binding to 23S ribosomal RNA in bacteria . The 14- and 16-membered Mac are used for treating infectious diseases caused by Gram-positive and other bacteria; e.g., Haemophilus influenzae, Bordetella pertussis, Legionella pneumophila, Campylobacter, Treponema pallidum and Mycoplasma . Resistance to macrolide, lincosamide, and streptogramin-B (MLS) antibiotics in staphylococci is known to have the following mechanisms: 1) alteration of the target on ribosome due to dimethylation of a specific adenine residue in the 23S ribosomal RNA by the product of the erm gene, and consequently a decrease in binding of MLS antibiotics; 2) inactivation of streptogramin-B (STG-B) and lincosamide by the products of the sbh (encoding streptogramin B hydrolase) and linA' (encoding 3-lincomycin 4-clindamycin O-nucleotidyltransferase) genes, respectively; and 3) active efflux of Mac and STG-B antibiotics determined by the msrA and msrB genes in Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus xylosus, respectively, both of which appear to act as an ATP-dependent efflux pump . I have shown that Staphylococcus aureus 8325(pEP2104) exhibits inducible resistance to PMS (partial macrolide and streptogramin B)-antibiotics {the 14-membered macrolides, erythromycin (EM), and oleandomycin (OL), and the 16-membered macrolide mycinamicin (MCM) and STG-B} . The sequence of the N-terminal amino acid residues of a 63 kDa protein (MsrSA) that appeared in the membrane of PMS-resistant strains was identical to that of an MsrA polypeptide related to enhanced efflux of {14C}EM . Ribosomes from PMS-resistant strains showed a similar affinity for EM to those from the PMS-sensitive host strain NCTC8325, and no inactivation of EM by 8325(pEP2104) was observed . In the present study, I showed the DNA sequence of the msrSA region on the constitutive PMS-resistant plasmid pMC38, PMS-inducible resistant plasmid pEP2104 and PMS-sensitive mutant plasmid pSP6, and the region that is essential for inducible expression in PMS resistance . In addition, I investigated the relationship between PMS resistance and intracellular accumulation of EM.

Bull Soc Pathol Exot, 2000 Feb, 93(1), 58 - 61
{Acute childhood gastroenteritis study at Central University Hospital of Pointe-à-Pitre/Abymes, Guadeloupe, from November 1997 to March 1998}; Courouble G et al.; To determine the role of enteric pathogens in acute childhood diarrhoea in Guadeloupe, 161 children (108 cases and 53 controls) from 0 to 2 years of age, admitted to Pointe-a-Pitre/Abymes University Hospital, were evaluated over a five-month period . A known enteric pathogen was identified in 40.8% of children . The most commonly identified aetiologic agents were Salmonella (16.7% of cases), especially Haddar serotype and Rotavirus (20.5%) . This virus was isolated more often in the dry season . Adenovirus were detected in 3.6% of diarrhoeal stools and were not significatively associated with diarrhoeal disease . No Shigella, Campylobacter or parasites were found.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2000 May, 44(5), 1140 - 5
Antibiotic resistance trends in enteropathogenic bacteria isolated in 1985-1987 and 1995-1998 in Barcelona; Prats G et al.; Trends in resistance to antimicrobial agents used for therapy have been evaluated with 3,797 enteropathogenic bacteria, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, and Yersinia, between 1985-1987 and 1995-1998 . The greater increase in the rate of resistance was observed in Campylobacter jejuni for quinolones (from 1 to 82%) and tetracycline (from 23 to 72%) and in gastroenteric salmonellae for ampicillin (from 8 to 44%), chloramphenicol (from 1.7 to 26%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and nalidixic acid (from less than 0.5 to 11%) . Multidrug resistance was detected in several Salmonella serotypes . In the 1995-1998 period, 76% of Shigella strains were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 43% were resistant to ampicillin, and 39% were resistant to chloramphenicol . Seventy-two percent of Yersinia enterocolitica O3 strains were resistant to streptomycin, 45% were resistant to sulfonamides, 28% were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and 20% were resistant to chloramphenicol.

J Formos Med Assoc, 2000 Feb, 99(2), 166 - 9
Arcobacter butzleri bacteremia in a patient with liver cirrhosis; Yan JJ et al.; Invasive Arcobacter butzleri infection in humans has been rarely described . We report a 60-year-old man with liver cirrhosis who presented with high fever and esophageal variceal bleeding . Two aerobic blood cultures grew Campylobacter-like organisms . The biochemical reactions of the isolate were inconclusive, while sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene definitively identified the organism as A . butzleri . The patient's bleeding stopped after endoscopic sclerosing therapy . Although the organism appeared to be resistant to cephalosporins on the basis of the minimum inhibitory concentrations determined with the E test, the fever resolved with parenteral cefuroxime . Whether the clinical improvement was related to cephalosporin therapy or to the self-limited nature of Arcobacter bacteremia is not known.

Infect Immun, 2000 May, 68(5), 2594 - 601
The galE gene of Campylobacter jejuni is involved in lipopolysaccharide synthesis and virulence; Fry BN et al.; Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is one of the main virulence factors of gram-negative bacteria . The LPS from Campylobacter spp . has endotoxic properties and has been shown to play a role in adhesion . We previously cloned a gene cluster (wla) which is involved in the synthesis of the Campylobacter jejuni 81116 LPS molecule . Sequence alignment of the first gene in this cluster indicated similarity with galE genes . These genes encode a UDP-glucose 4-epimerase, which catalyzes the interconversion of UDP-galactose and UDP-glucose . A Salmonella galE mutant was transformed with the galE gene from C . jejuni . The LPS analysis of wild-type, galE, and complemented galE Salmonella strains showed that the C . jejuni galE gene could restore the smooth wild-type Salmonella LPS . A UDP-glucose 4-epimerase assay was used to demonstrate that the galE gene from C . jejuni encoded this epimerase . We constructed a C . jejuni galE mutant which expressed a lipid A-core molecule of reduced molecular weight that did not react with antiserum raised against the parental strain . These results show an essential role for the galE gene in the synthesis of C . jejuni LPS . The galE mutant also showed a reduction in its ability to adhere to and invade INT407 cells . However, it was still able to colonize chickens to the same level as the wild-type strain . The serum resistance and hemolytic activity of this mutant were not changed compared to the parent strain . The ability of the mutant to take up DNA and integrate it in its genome was reduced 20-fold . These results show that LPS of C . jejuni is an important virulence factor.

Risk Anal, 1999 Dec, 19(6), 1091 - 100
Comparison of six dose-response models for use with food-borne pathogens; Holcomb DL et al.; Food-related illness in the United States is estimated to affect over six million people per year and cost the economy several billion dollars . These illnesses and costs could be reduced if minimum infectious doses were established and used as the basis of regulations and monitoring . However, standard methodologies for dose-response assessment are not yet formulated for microbial risk assessment . The objective of this study was to compare dose-response models for food-borne pathogens and determine which models were most appropriate for a range of pathogens . The statistical models proposed in the literature and chosen for comparison purposes were log-normal, long-logistic, exponential, beta-Poisson and Weibull-Gamma . These were fit to four data sets also taken from published literature, Shigella flexneri, Shigella dysenteriae, Campylobacter jejuni, and Salmonella typhosa, using the method of maximum likelihood . The Weibull-gamma, the only model with three parameters, was also the only model capable of fitting all the data sets examined using the maximum likelihood estimation for comparisons . Infectious doses were also calculated using each model . Within any given data set, the infectious dose estimated to affect one percent of the population ranged from one order of magnitude to as much as nine orders of magnitude, illustrating the differences in extrapolation of the dose response models . More data are needed to compare models and examine extrapolation from high to low doses for food-borne pathogens.

Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 2000 Mar, 50 Pt 2, 865 - 72
Campylobacter lanienae sp . nov., a new species isolated from workers in an abattoir; Logan JM et al.; Campylobacter-like organisms were isolated from the faeces of healthy individuals during a hygiene survey of abattoir workers . The strains, which exhibited characteristics of Campylobacter, being non-glucose-fermenting, oxidase- and catalase-positive, Gram-negative, motile rods, were identified to the genus level by a PCR assay . Nucleotide sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene, DNA homology experiments and determination of G + C content demonstrated that they constituted a previously undescribed species, whose nearest phylogenetic neighbours were Campylobacter hyointestinalis subsp . hyointestinalis, Campylobacter fetus and Campylobacter mucosalis . The name Campylobacter lanienae sp . nov . is proposed for this taxon and species-specific PCR primers were evaluated which will find use in the study of its epidemiology, prevalence and pathogenicity.

J Child Neurol, 2000 Mar, 15(3), 183 - 91
New concepts of Guillain-Barré syndrome; Asbury AK; Guillain-Barre syndrome is an acute autoimmune polyradiculoneuropathy with a clinical presentation of flaccid paralysis with areflexia, variable sensory disturbance, and elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein without pleocytosis . Although Guillain-Barre syndrome previously had been viewed as a unitary disorder with variations, it currently is viewed as a group of syndromes with several distinctive subtypes . These include the principal subtype prevalent in the Western world (acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, and others, each with distinctive electrodiagnostic and pathologic features, including acute motor axonal neuropathy), acute motor-sensory axonal neuropathy, Miller Fisher syndrome, and perhaps others . The clinical and pathologic features of these Guillain-Barre syndrome subtypes are reviewed, and the role of antecedent infections, particularly Campylobacter jejuni gastroenteritis, and the role of antiganglioside antibody responses are reviewed with respect to pathogenesis . Treatment of Guillain-Barre syndrome includes both important supportive measures and immunotherapies, specifically high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange.

Cell Immunol, 2000 Mar 15, 200(2), 105 - 15
Seasonal variations in cytokine expression and cell-mediated immunity in male rhesus monkeys; Mann DR et al.; Our objectives in this study were to examine seasonal changes in immune responses including cytokine profiles of male rhesus monkeys housed under natural lighting conditions . We also monitored circannual changes in the secretion of several immunomodulatory hormones as potential mediators of the seasonal shifts in immune status . Retrospectively, the medical records of a large group of rhesus monkeys were examined to determine whether a common disease (campylobacteriosis) in this species shows a seasonal pattern of prevalence . Results of the study showed that there was a seasonal shift in the frequency of cells expressing TH1 cytokines (interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma) versus the TH2 prototype cytokine (interleukin-4) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) collected during the winter and summer . The frequency of TH1-type cytokine synthesis in the summer was markedly greater than in the winter whereas TH2-type cytokine expression did not vary between the two seasons . The proliferative response of PBMC to mitogens and natural killer cell activity of PBMC also varied with the season . Several hormones (testosterone, leptin, and prolactin) that modulate immune function exhibited circannual patterns of secretion . The prevalence of Campylobacter infections was higher in the spring than during the summer, fall, or winter . The data suggest that seasonal fluctuations in immune system status may alter the ability of primates to successfully respond to pathogens, and this may be related to circannual patterns of secretion of immunomodulatory hormones .

Lett Appl Microbiol, 2000 Mar, 30(3), 207 - 12
Development of a combined PCR-culture technique for the rapid detection of Arcobacter spp . in chicken meat; Gonzalez I et al.; A combined PCR-culture technique was developed to detect Arcobacter spp . in fresh chicken meat . Following a short selective enrichment of chicken samples, bacterial DNA was extracted and amplified using primers targeted at the genes encoding 16S rRNA of Arcobacter spp . The selected primers amplify a 181-bp fragment from all Arcobacter spp., whereas no PCR product is generated for other bacteria, including the closely related Campylobacter and Helicobacter species . The assay was used to screen 96 retail-purchased chicken samples for the presence of Arcobacter spp . Fifty-three percent of the samples analysed were positive for this micro-organism . The assay is simple and sensitive and reduces the amount of time required to positively detect Arcobacter spp . in poultry meat.

Lett Appl Microbiol, 2000 Mar, 30(3), 192 - 6
Growth of Helicobacter pylori in various liquid and plating media; Stevenson TH et al.; The objectives of this research were to compare commonly used liquid and plating media to elucidate whether one medium provided superior growth of Helicobacter pylori in vitro . The liquid media compared were Mueller-Hinton broth, brain heart infusion broth and H . pylori special peptone broth, formulated in this laboratory . No significant differences in growth rates were noted and shaking during the incubation of broths was not essential for good growth . The plating media compared included Columbia agar, Mueller-Hinton agar, modified Glupczynski's Brussels campylobacter charcoal agar, Johnson-Murano agar and H . pylori special peptone agar (HPSPA) . None of the non-specific plating media that have been used historically to culture H . pylori exhibited any particular advantage . However, HPSPA provided an obvious advantage in colony size . Helicobacter pylori special peptone agar enhances the cultivation of H . pylori and could improve the recovery of the bacterium from clinical samples in vitro.

J Clin Microbiol, 2000 Apr, 38(4), 1668 - 9
A field-suitable, semisolid aerobic enrichment medium for isolation of Campylobacter jejuni in small numbers; Jeffrey JS et al.; The objective of this study was to produce an economical, easy to prepare, field-suitable enrichment medium for detection of Campylobacter jejuni in small numbers . A semisolid aerobic enrichment medium was developed . Rates of recovery from inoculated medium, sterile swabs, and mixed cultures of C . jejuni and coliform bacteria were tested.

J Clin Microbiol, 2000 Apr, 38(4), 1664 - 7
Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using random chromosomal gene probes for epidemiological analysis of Campylobacter jejuni infections; Fujimoto S et al.; We have evaluated the ability of a new genotyping method for Campylobacter jejuni based on restriction fragment length polymorphisms using random chromosomal gene probes . DNAs from C . jejuni strains digested with each of three restriction enzymes, HhaI, HaeIII, and HpaII, were analyzed by Southern hybridization using each of two unrelated cosmid clones, P14 and P15 (respectively containing 30- and 35-kb genomic DNA fragments of C . jejuni strain OH4384) . The method reported provides a stable and discriminating means for identifying C . jejuni strains and should be useful for epidemiological analyses.

J Clin Microbiol, 2000 Apr, 38(4), 1488 - 94
Identification of Campylobacter jejuni, C . coli, C . lari, C . upsaliensis, arcobacter butzleri, and A . butzleri-like species based on the glyA gene; Al Rashid ST et al.; Currently, the detection and identification of Campylobacter and Arcobacter species remains arduous, largely due to cross-species phenotypic similarities and a relatively narrow spectrum of biochemical reactivity . We have developed a PCR-hybridization strategy, wherein degenerate primers are used to amplify glyA fragments from samples, which are then subjected to species-specific oligodeoxyribonucleotide probe hybridizations, to identify and distinguish between Campylobacter jejuni, C . coli, C . lari, C . upsaliensis, Arcobacter butzleri, and an A . butzleri-like species . Evaluation of this strategy with genomic DNA from different type strains suggests that this approach is both specific and sensitive and thus may be applicable in a diagnostic assay to identify and differentiate these highly related species.

Presse Med, 2000 Mar 11, 29(9), 476 - 81
{Joint manifestations related to Clostridium difficile}; Vermeulen C et al.; BACKGROUND: Reactional joint disease subsequent to digestive tract infections have been well studied for Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia and Campylobacter . Association with HLA B27 is well documented . A review of the literature since 1976 disclosed 23 cases of articular and extra-articular inflammatory reactions following pseudomembranous Clostridium difficile infection . CASE REPORT: We describe 2 new cases which followed a favorable course . This is the usual outcome although inflammatory manifestations may persist or relapse . DISCUSSION: The pathophysiological interest of this condition lies in the pathogenic potential of Clostridium difficile which appears to be directly related to toxin production . This would suggest an immune mechanism rather than pure infection.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 2000 Mar 17, 49(10), 201 - 5
Preliminary FoodNet data on the incidence of foodborne illnesses--selected sites, United States, 1999; Campylobacter recovery from external and internal organs of commercial broiler carcass prior to scalding; USDA-ARS, Poultry Processing and Meat Quality Research Unit, Russell Research Center, Athens, Georgia 30604-5677, USA . mberrang@ars.usda.gov

Campylobacter is a human pathogen commonly found on live broilers and processed carcasses . To plan effective intervention strategies, it would be helpful to know which Campylobacter populations are associated with the external and internal organs of broilers . Six carcasses were collected after exiting the bleed tunnel at a commercial broiler plant on each of three visits (n = 18) . Carcasses were placed individually into sterile plastic bags, sealed, and covered with ice for transport to the laboratory . Five locations were sampled aseptically from each carcass: breast feathers (hand picked from the sternal tracts); breast skin, including the sternal tracts; crop; ceca; and colon . Samples included adhering contamination or lumen contents and were covered with phosphate-buffered saline and blended . Serial dilutions were made for examination of Campylobacter, coliform, Escherichia coli, and total aerobic bacterial populations . Average sample weights (grams) were as follows: feathers, 1.5; skin, 6.5; crop, 5.1; ceca, 7.8; and colon, 3.1 . Campylobacter populations (mean log10 colony-forming units per gram of sample) found were feathers, 5.4; skin, 3.8; crop, 4.7; ceca, 7.3; and colon, 7.2 . Coliform/E . coli populations observed were feathers, 6.4/6.0; skin, 5.3/4.9; crop, 4.3/3.7; ceca, 6.6/6.2; and colon, 5.8/5.3 . Total aerobic bacterial populations found were feathers, 7.9; skin, 7.1; crop, 5.8; ceca, 6.8; and colon, 6.4 . On a per gram basis, ceca and colon are the internal organs that if ruptured could cause the highest number of Campylobacter to be leaked onto the carcass . The crop also contained more Campylobacter per gram than did the skin, and if compromised may increase the numbers on the surface of the carcass . However, even with no contamination from an internal organ, a substantial population of Campylobacter is already resident on broiler skin as the carcass enters the early stages of processing.

Poult Sci, 2000 Feb, 79(2), 205 - 11
The effects of dietary mannaoligosaccharides on cecal parameters and the concentrations of enteric bacteria in the ceca of salmonella-challenged broiler chicks; Spring P et al.; The ability of different enteric pathogens and coliforms to trigger agglutination of yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, NCYC 1026) and a yeast cell wall preparation (MOS) was examined . Five of seven strains of Escherichia coli and 7 of 10 strains of Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis agglutinated MOS and Sac . cerevisiae cells . Strains of Salmonella choleraesuis, Salmonella pullorum, and Campylobacter did not lead to agglutination . Two strains that agglutinated MOS (S . typhimurium 29E and Salmonella dublin) and one nonagglutinating strain (S . typhimurium 27A) were selected as challenge organisms for in vivo studies in chicks under controlled conditions . In a series of three trials in which 3-d-old chicks were orally challenged with 10(4) cfu of S . typhimurium 29E, birds receiving 4,000 ppm of dietary MOS had reduced cecal S . typhimurium 29E concentrations (5.40 vs 4.01 log cfu/ g; P < 0.05) at Day 10 . In a second series of three trials with S . dublin as challenge organism, the number of birds that tested salmonella positive in the ceca at Day 10 was less when MOS was part of the diet (90 vs 56%; P < 0.05) . To test the effect of MOS on concentrations of bacteria that do not express Type 1 fimbriae, a challenge trial was conducted with S . typhimurium 27A . However, strain 27A did not colonize the birds sufficiently to evaluate whether MOS affected its cecal concentration . Mannanoligosaccharide did not significantly reduce the concentrations of cecal coliforms (P < 0.10) although they were numerically lower . It had no effect on cecal concentrations of lactobacilli, enterococci, anaerobic bacteria, lactate, volatile fatty acid, or cecal pH.

Poult Sci, 2000 Mar, 79(3), 436 - 41
Influence of flooring type during transport and holding on bacteria recovery from broiler carcass rinses before and after defeathering; Buhr RJ et al.; Four trials were conducted to determine whether conventional solid or elevated wire mesh flooring, during transport and holding of broilers prior to slaughter, influenced the number of bacteria recovered from feathered and defeathered carcasses . After 4 h off feed, 7-wk-old broilers were placed at commercial density into a modified commercial transport dump-coop on either fiberglass sheeting or 2.54x2.54 cm wire mesh flooring that allowed feces to fall through . Broilers were transported for 1 h and then held for 13 h under a covered shed before processing . Broilers were killed by electrocution, and the vents were plugged to prevent escape of feces . External carcass rinses were obtained twice (from the same carcass) from eight broilers per flooring treatment per trial, before scalding and defeathering and again after defeathering and removal of the head and feet . Greater numbers of total aerobes, coliforms, and Escherichia coli were recovered from feathered carcasses than from defeathered carcasses . Campylobacter count was also less for defeathered than feathered carcasses from the solid flooring treatment but did not significantly decrease following defeathering of carcasses from the wire flooring . The incidence of Campylobacter-positive carcasses was reduced following defeathering for both flooring treatments, but the percentage of Salmonellae-positive carcasses remained constant . Coliform (log10 6.20 vs . 5.63 cfu/mL of rinse) and E . coli (log10 5.93 vs . 5.36) counts in the feathered rinses were significantly higher for the solid flooring compared with wire flooring, respectively . After defeathering, the number of coliforms (log10 3.12) and E . coli (log10 2.91) recovered did not differ between flooring treatments . Aerobic plate count (log10 7.06 and 4.02), Campylobacter count (log10 2.49 and 1.80), and the incidence of Campylobacter-positive (44 and 11%) and Salmonellae-positive (52 and 50%) carcasses for feathered and defeathered rinses, respectively, did not differ between flooring treatments . These results indicate that although broilers transported and held on solid flooring had noticeably dirtier breast feathers and higher coliform and E . coli counts prior to scalding and defeathering, bacteria recovery from external carcass rinses did not differ between the solid and wire flooring treatments after defeathering.

Neuromuscul Disord, 2000 Mar, 10(3), 182 - 6
Lipopolysaccharides of a Campylobacter coli isolate from a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome display ganglioside mimicry; Bersudsky M et al.; Campylobacter coli was isolated from a patient with severe, axonal type Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) . The patient's serum was tested by ELISA for glycolipid antibodies and showed a high titer of IgG antibodies to asialo-GM1 (GA1) and GD3 . Campylobacter coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was extracted and analyzed by ELISA, immunoblot binding and blocking studies, and found to avidly bind cholera toxin and peanut agglutinin . The LPS from the patient's isolate also induced anti-GA1 antibodies in a rat model . These findings suggest that the LPS from this bacterial isolate contains a ganglioside-like epitope, which most likely resembles GA1 . Thus, it appears that ganglioside cross-reactivity is not unique to Campylobacter jejuni and seems to occur in all bacterial isolates from GBS cases so far analyzed.

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 2000 Mar-Apr, 95(2), 247 - 9
Antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter jejuni subsp . jejuni assessed by E-test and double dilution agar method in Southern Chile; Fernandez H et al.; The susceptibility patterns of 108 Campylobacter jejuni subsp . jejuni clinical strains, to six antimicrobial agents was determined by using the E-test and the double dilution agar methods . Using both methods, no strain was found to be resistant to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin and gentamicin, but two (1.8%) were resistant to tetracycline and all to aztreonam . Seven (6.5%) strains were resistant to ampicillin by the E-test and five (4.6%) by the double dilution agar method and by both methods . No great discrepancies were observed between both methods.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2000 Apr 1, 185(1), 43 - 9
Genetic diversity of the Campylobacter genes coding immunodominant proteins; Pawelec DP et al.; Three Campylobacter jejuni 72Dz/92 genes (cjaA (ompH1), cjaC (hisJ) and cjaD (omp18)) encoding immunodominant proteins are considered to be potential chicken vaccine candidates . The presence and conservation of cjaA, cjaC and cjaD genes among different Campylobacter clinical isolates were determined . The genes were detected in thirty Campylobacter strains using hybridization as well as Western blot analysis . However, PCR products of the predicted size were amplified only from ten out of thirty examined strains regardless of the employed primer pair . The nucleotide sequence of the C . jejuni 72Dz/92 genes was compared with the nucleotide sequences of their homologs cloned from other Campylobacter strains as well as with the whole genome sequence of C . jejuni NCTC 11168 . The examined sequences revealed 0 to 16% divergence . Strain-dependent levels of divergence were observed . The polymorphism detected in cjaC was mainly within the 5' region of the gene, while the nucleotide substitutions in cjaA and cjaD are distributed uniformly along the whole genes . Most of the observed nucleotide substitutions occurred at the third base of the codons . This observation is consistent with the results of Western blot experiments.

J Trop Pediatr, 2000 Feb, 46(1), 10 - 4
Bacterial, viral and parasitic aetiology of paediatric diarrhoea in the highlands of Papua New Guinea; Howard P et al.; Enteropathogens and clinical features associated with diarrhoea were investigated in 1526 children admitted over a 5-year period to the paediatric ward of a hospital in the highlands of Papua New Guinea . Overall, a recognized pathogen was isolated from 39 per cent of the children admitted with diarrhoea . The most commonly isolated agents were rotavirus (23 per cent), Shigella spp . (13 per cent), Campylobacter spp . (12 per cent), Cryptosporidium parvum (10 per cent) and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (8 per cent) . The clearest clinical associations were rotavirus with vomiting, and Shigella with blood and pus in the stool . A control series of children admitted with other complaints was also included, and the odds ratios for diarrhoea for the above five pathogens were 18.2, 9.6, 3.7, 2.2, and 1.6, respectively.

J Dent Res, 2000 Feb, 79(2), 785 - 92
Campylobacter species in health, gingivitis, and periodontitis; Macuch PJ et al.; At least seven Campylobacter species have been identified from subgingival sites . Campylobacter rectus has been implicated as a periodontal pathogen; however, association with periodontal infections of other Campylobacter species, especially the newly described Campylobacter showae, is unclear . This study examined which Campylobacter species were associated with periodontal health and disease . Subgingival Campylobacter species from initial and established periodontitis were compared with species from periodontally healthy subjects, including subjects with gingivitis . Campylobacter species were isolated on selective media and identified by whole-cell protein profiles (SDS-PAGE) . Except for C . rectus, Campylobacter levels were frequently below the detection limit (2-5% of the microbiota) of non-selective culture methods . C . rectus and C . showae, including Campylobacter X, were found more frequently and in higher levels from diseased than from healthy periodontal sites . C . gracilis was the dominant Campylobacter species found in relatively shallow pockets; however, its presence was unrelated to periodontal health or disease . C . concisus was isolated in higher proportions from relatively shallow and healthy sites, compared with deeper pockets . C . curvus was unrelated to periodontal health or disease . Analysis of the study data confirmed the relationship of C . rectus with diseased subgingival sites and indicated that C . showae may also be associated with periodontal disease.

Mol Cell Probes, 2000 Feb, 14(1), 7 - 16
Detection and differentiation of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in broiler chicken samples using a PCR/DNA probe membrane based colorimetric detection assay; O'Sullivan NA et al.; Campylobacter enteritis in humans has been linked to consumption of poultry meat . Surveys show that 30-100% of poultry harbour Campylobacter as normal flora of the digestive tract which indicates a need to identify prevalent organism types in flocks and trace their epidemiology . In this study we describe a Campylobacter genus specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, amplifying the 16 S-23 S rRNA intergenic spacer region with an internal Campylobacter genus specific DNA probe and species specific probes for Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli designed for confirmation of the amplified PCR products by Southern blot and colorimetric reverse hybridization assays . The specificity of this assay was established by testing a range of food pathogens . Broiler chicken samples were tested following presumptive positive identification by the Malthus System V analyser (Malthus Instruments, UK) . The combined PCR and colorimetric reverse hybridization assay is easy to perform and faster than conventional methods for confirmation and identification of Campylobacter species .

Infect Immun, 2000 Apr, 68(4), 2110 - 8
Chronic atrophic gastritis in SCID mice experimentally infected with Campylobacter fetus; Young VB et al.; Campylobacter fetus is a cause of enteritis and invasive extraintestinal disease in humans . In order to develop an animal model of C . fetus infection, outbred ICR SCID mice were orally challenged with a clinical isolate of C . fetus . The stomachs of SCID mice were heavily colonized with C . fetus, and colonization was associated with the development of chronic atrophic gastritis . This lesion was characterized by an inflammatory infiltrate of granulocytes and macrophages that over time resulted in a loss of specialized parietal and chief cells in the corpus and the appearance of a metaplastic mucous epithelium . This lesion bears similarity to that encountered during experimental murine infection with Helicobacter pylori or Helicobacter felis . Despite colonization of the cecum and colon tissues by C . fetus in SCID mice, no lesions were noted in these tissues . A follow-up study confirmed these findings for SCID mice and also demonstrated that C . fetus could also infect the gastric mucosa of wild-type, outbred ICR mice . However, in ICR mice, the anatomic extent of colonization was more limited and the severity of inflammation and epithelial alterations was significantly less than that observed in infected SCID mice . The stomach may represent an unrecognized environmental niche for Campylobacter species.

J Food Prot, 2000 Mar, 63(3), 309 - 14
Continuous source outbreak of campylobacteriosis traced to chicken; Pearson AD et al.; Poultry is a source of human campylobacteriosis, but a large continuous source outbreak, heretofore, has not been attributed to both a single source of poultry and single serotype of Campylobacter . Here we report an outbreak of C . jejuni affecting 6 catering college trainees and 13 patrons of a restaurant in southern England . An epidemiological investigation successfully tracked the outbreak source to the farm of origin . Frequency of occurrence of campylobacters and outbreak serotype distribution were determined in index cases, the local population, and local chicken suppliers . The source farm was investigated and the effect of interventions assessed . A single outbreak serotype of C . jejuni was isolated from trainee chefs, patrons, and chicken supplied to the college by Wholesaler A . The Campylobacter isolation rate for Wholesaler A was 89% (98% outbreak serotype), compared to 40% for non-Wholesaler A (10% outbreak serotype) . The isolation rate for 14 months averaged 85% (99% outbreak serotype) in chickens grown on two farms (X and Y) supplying Wholesaler A, contributing approximately 40% to all local cases . In the research reported here, a specific strain and hygiene practice were found to be important for understanding transmission of Campylobacter from poultry to humans in this outbreak.

J Food Prot, 2000 Mar, 63(3), 304 - 8
Isolation and identification of enteropathogenic Campylobacter spp . from chicken samples in Taipei; Shih DY; A total of 95 chicken samples that consisted of 34 whole chickens, 32 organs (gizzards and livers), and 29 chicken parts (drumsticks, wings, and breasts), collected from traditional retail markets (no chilling facilities) and supermarkets in Taipei, were examined for the occurrence of enteropathogenic campylobacters . Three selective media, Peterz's charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar, Campy-Cefex agar, and charcoal-based selective medium, were evaluated for their efficacy to isolate Campylobacter spp . from chicken samples . The results showed that there were no differences among the three media to isolate Campylobacter spp . from all chicken samples (P > 0.05) . However, there were markedly different isolation rates of campylobacters between supermarket and retail market (P < 0.05) . Enteropathogenic campylobacters (C . jejuni and C . coli) were found on 68% of whole chickens, 100% of chicken parts, and 100% of organs from retail markets . In supermarkets, the isolation rates of these campylobacters from whole chickens, chicken parts, and organs were 42%, 53%, and 60%, respectively . The low isolation rates of the two campylobacters isolated from chicken samples in supermarkets differed statistically from those obtained from traditional retail markets (P < 0.10) . The API CAMPY test kit also was evaluated for the identification of Campylobacter spp . as compared with the conventional identification method . The results showed that the API CAMPY test kit (Biomerieux, Marcy-l'Etoile, France) could efficiently detect 87 Campylobacter spp . isolates from chicken samples examined, with 100% agreement at the genus level to 94% at the species level as compared with conventional methods.

Ann Neurol, 2000 Mar, 47(3), 314 - 21
Clinical features and response to treatment in Guillain-Barré syndrome associated with antibodies to GM1b ganglioside; Yuki N et al.; GM1b is a minor ganglioside in human peripheral nerves . Serum anti-GM1b antibodies frequently are present in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) . In this collaborative study, we investigated the antecedent infections, clinical features, and response to treatment of GBS patients with anti-GM1b antibodies . Of 132 GBS patients who participated in the Dutch GBS trial that compared the effect of intravenous immunoglobulins and plasma exchange, 25 (19%) patients had anti-GM1b antibodies . IgM antibodies were present in 14, IgG antibodies in 15, and both isotypes in 4 patients . The 25 patients with anti-GM1b antibodies had a clinical pattern distinct from that of the other 107 GBS patients . They more often had an episode of gastrointestinal illness and frequently showed serological evidence of recent infection by Campylobacter jejuni . The anti-GM1b-positive subgroup was marked by more rapidly progressive, more severe, and predominantly distal weakness . Cranial nerve involvement and sensory deficits were less common in the patients with anti-GM1b antibodies . The presence of anti-GM1b antibodies was associated with slower recovery . The clinical manifestations predominantly were associated with anti-GM1b antibodies of the IgG isotype . Fourteen (56%) of the 25 patients with anti-GM1b antibodies also had anti-GM1 antibodies . The group of patients with both antibodies was clinically more homogeneous and had a more rapidly progressive, pure motor neuropathy . The subgroup of anti-GM1b-positive GBS patients responded well to treatment with immunoglobulins but not to plasmapheresis . The distinctive clinical features of the patients with anti-GM1b antibodies show that acute motor neuropathy represents a specific subgroup within GBS and that recognizing these patients may have consequences as to the choice of therapy.

J Infect, 1999 Nov, 39(3), 241 - 3
Successful treatment by meropenem of Campylobacter jejuni meningitis in a chronic alcoholic following neurosurgery; Burch KL et al.; Meningitis caused by Campylobacter jejuni is rare, we describe a case following neurosurgery for intra-cranial haematoma in a chronic alcoholic patient . Conventional culture of CSF and blood was supplemented by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of Campylobacter jejuni.

J Neuroimmunol, 2000 May 1, 104(2), 133 - 8
Campylobacter jejuni lipopolysaccharides from Guillain-Barré syndrome patients induce IgG anti-GM1 antibodies in rabbits; Ang CW et al.; Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from Campylobacter jejuni strains isolated from patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) display molecular mimicry with GM1 . We immunized rabbits with C . jejuni LPS from GBS-associated strains containing a GM1-like epitope . All animals produced high titre anti-LPS antibodies that were cross-reactive with GM1 . We conclude that C . jejuni strains from GBS patients are able to induce antibodies that cross-react with gangliosides and LPS . This study further confirms the role of molecular mimicry in the induction of anti-ganglioside antibodies in GBS patients.

Vet J, 2000 Mar, 159(2), 111 - 23
Prospects for 'competitive exclusion' treatment to control salmonellas and other foodborne pathogens in poultry; Mead GC; In newly hatched chicks, the rapid establishment of an adult-type intestinal microflora, via the oral route, produces almost immediate resistance to colonization by any food poisoning salmonellas that gain access to the rearing environment . Exploitation of the 'competitive exclusion' (CE) effect is now an accepted part of the overall strategy by which poultry-associated salmonellas are being controlled in some countries.This review covers practical aspects of CE treatment and factors affecting efficacy in both laboratory-scale trials and field studies . It also considers possible applications in preventing colonization of poultry with Escherichia coli O157 and Campylobacter jejuni . For the latter, evidence suggests that the 'protective' organisms are different from those involved in salmonella control .

Mol Microbiol, 2000 Mar, 35(5), 1120 - 34
Multiple N-acetyl neuraminic acid synthetase (neuB) genes in Campylobacter jejuni: identification and characterization of the gene involved in sialylation of lipo-oligosaccharide; Linton D et al.; N-acetyl neuraminic acid (NANA) is a common constituent of Campylobacter jejuni lipo-oligosaccharide (LOS) . Such structures often mimic human gangliosides and are thought to be involved in the triggering of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and Miller-Fisher syndrome (MFS) following C . jejuni infection . Analysis of the C . jejuni NCTC 11168 genome sequence identified three putative NANA synthetase genes termed neuB1, neuB2 and neuB3 . The NANA synthetase activity of all three C . jejuni neuB gene products was confirmed by complementation experiments in an Escherichia coli neuB-deficient strain . Isogenic mutants were created in all three neuB genes, and for one such mutant (neuB1) LOS was shown to have increased mobility . C . jejuni NCTC 11168 wild-type LOS bound cholera toxin, indicating the presence of NANA in a LOS structure mimicking the ganglioside GM1 . This property was lost in the neuB1 mutant . Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry analysis of LOS from wild-type and the neuB1 mutant strain demonstrated the lack of NANA in the latter . Expression of the neuB1 gene in E . coli confirmed that NeuB1 was capable of in vitro NANA biosynthesis through condensation of N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and phosphoenolpyruvate . Southern analysis demonstrated that the neuB1 gene was confined to strains of C . jejuni with LOS containing a single NANA residue . Mutagenesis of neuB2 and neuB3 did not affect LOS, but neuB3 mutants were aflagellate and non-motile . No phenotype was evident for neuB2 mutants in strain NCTC 11168, but for strain G1 the flagellin protein from the neuB2 mutant showed an apparent reduction in molecular size relative to the wild type . Thus, the neuB genes of C . jejuni appear to be involved in the biosynthesis of at least two distinct surface structures: LOS and flagella.

FEBS Lett, 2000 Mar 3, 469(1), 93 - 7
MOMP (major outer membrane protein) of Campylobacter jejuni; a versatile pore-forming protein; De E et al.; The great majority of trimeric porins of Gram-negative bacteria cannot be dissociated into monomers without disrupting their folded conformation . The porin of Campylobacter jejuni, however, displays two folded structures, a classical oligomer and a monomer resistant to detergent denaturation . We probed the transition of trimer to monomer using light scattering experiments and examined the secondary structures of these two molecular states by infra-red spectroscopy . The channel-forming properties of both trimer and monomer were studied after incorporation into artificial lipid bilayers . In these conditions, the trimer induced ion channels with a conductance value of 1200 pS in 1 M NaCl . The pores showed marked cationic selectivity and sensitivity to low voltage . Analysis of the isolated monomer showed nearly the same single-channel conductance and the same selectivity and sensitivity to voltage . These results indicate that the folded monomer form of C . jejuni MOMP displays essentially the same pore-forming properties as the native trimer.

J Clin Periodontol, 2000 Feb, 27(2), 116 - 9
Lack of antimicrobial effect on periodontopathic bacteria by ultrasonic and sonic scalers in vitro; Schenk G et al.; BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the antimicrobial effects of a sonic and ultrasonic scaler generally used for subgingival scaling on gram-negative and gram-positive periodontopathic bacteria . METHOD: Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Campylobacter rectus, or Peptostreptococcus micros were suspended in Schaedler's broth medium and treated by a sonic or a magnetostrictive ultrasonic scaler for 30 s and 150 s in vitro . Bacterial suspensions treated by an ultrasonic cell disruptor served as a positive control and untreated bacterial suspensions served as a negative control . Following sonication, samples were serially diluted, streaked on blood agar plates and incubated for 2-5 days at 37 degrees C . RESULTS: Treatment by the sonic or ultrasonic scaler for up to 150 s did not reduce the viability of any of the tested periodontal pathogens . Compared to untreated controls, the viability of A . actinomycetemcomitans and P . gingivalis was significantly (p<0.05) reduced only following ultrasonication with the cell disruptor after 30 s (0.72 and 0.54 log CFU/ml, respectively) and of A . actinomycetemcomitans, P . gingivalis, C . rectus, and P . micros after 150 s (1.98, 1.34, 1.95 and 1.98 log CFU/ml, respectively) . CONCLUSION: The data of the study may indicate that the assessed sonic and ultrasonic scaler used for subgingival debridement do not result in killing of the tested periodontal pathogens.

South Med J, 2000 Feb, 93(2), 232 - 4
Polymicrobial cholangitis and liver abscess in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Alvarez OA et al.; Cholangitis/cholangiopathy associated with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is characterized by chronic abdominal pain, low-grade fever, cholestasis, and sometimes areas of focal or diffuse dilatation of the bile ducts that may be apparent on noninvasive imaging studies . Although the etiology of this biliary disease may be multifactorial, it appears to be the result of immunosuppression and/or secondary opportunistic infections rather than a direct cytopathic effect of HIV itself . Various opportunistic pathogens, including cytomegalovirus, Cryptosporidium, Campylobacter fetus, and Candida albicans, have been implicated as causes of HIV-associated cholangitis . We report an unusual case of polymicrobial cholangitis and liver abscess in a patient with HIV infection.

J Neuroimmunol, 1999 Dec, 100(1-2), 74 - 97
Pathogenesis of Guillain-Barré syndrome; Hughes RA et al.; Recent neurophysiological and pathological studies have led to a reclassification of the diseases that underlie Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) into acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP), acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) and acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) . The Fisher syndrome of ophthalmoplegia, ataxia and areflexia is the most striking of several related conditions . Significant antecedent events include Campylobacter jejuni (4-66%), cytomegalovirus (5-15%), Epstein-Barr virus (2-10%), and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (1-5%) infections . These infections are not uniquely associated with any clinical subtype but severe axonal degeneration is more common following C . jejuni and severe sensory impairment following cytomegalovirus . Strong evidence supports an important role for antibodies to gangliosides in pathogenesis . In particular antibodies to ganglioside GM1 are present in 14-50% of patients with GBS, and are more common in cases with severe axonal degeneration associated with any subtype . Antibodies to ganglioside GQ1b are very closely associated with Fisher syndrome, its formes frustes and related syndromes . Ganglioside-like epitopes exist in the bacterial wall of C . jejuni . Infection by this and other organisms triggers an antibody response in patients with GBS but not in those with uncomplicated enteritis . The development of GBS is likely to be a consequence of special properties of the infecting organism, since some strains such as Penner 0:19 and 0:41 are particularly associated with GBS but not with enteritis . It is also likely to be a consequence of the immunogenetic background of the patient since few patients develop GBS after infection even with one of these strains . Attempts to match the subtypes of GBS to the fine specificity of anti-ganglioside antibodies and to functional effects in experimental models continue but have not yet fully explained the pathogenesis . T cells are also involved in the pathogenesis of most or perhaps all forms of GBS . T cell responses to any of three myelin proteins, P2, PO and PMP22, are sufficient to induce experimental autoimmune neuritis . Activated T cells are present in the circulation in the acute stage, up-regulate matrix metalloproteinases, cross the blood-nerve barrier and encounter their cognate antigens . Identification of the specificity of these T cell responses is still at a preliminary stage . The invasion of intact myelin sheaths by activated macrophages is difficult to explain according to a purely T cell mediated mechanism . The different patterns of GBS are probably due to the diverse interplay between antibodies and T cells of differing specificities.

J Neuroimmunol, 1999 Dec, 100(1-2), 3 - 12
The immunopathogenesis of Miller Fisher syndrome; Willison HJ et al.; Over the past decade, remarkable progress has been made in our understanding of the pathogenesis of Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS), a clinical variant of Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS) . MFS comprises the clinical triad of ataxia, areflexia and ophthalmoplegia . It is associated with acute-phase IgG antibodies to GQ1b and GT1a gangliosides in over 90% of cases which are highly disease specific . Like GBS, MFS is a post-infectious syndrome following diverse infections, but particular attention has been paid to its association with Campylobacter jejuni enteritis . Serostrains of C . jejuni isolated from infected patients bear ganglioside-like epitopes in their lipopolysaccharide core oligosaccharides, which elicit humoral immune responses exhibiting molecular mimicry with GQ1b/GT1a gangliosides . These antibodies are believed to be the principal cause of the syndrome and physiological studies aimed at proving this have focused on the motor-nerve terminal as a potential site of pathogenic action . This review describes these findings and formulates a pathogenesis model based on our current state of knowledge.

Clin Exp Immunol, 2000 Mar, 119(3), 464 - 71
Expression of HLA-DR, costimulatory molecules B7-1, B7-2, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and Fas ligand (FasL) on gastric epithelial cells in Helicobacter pylori gastritis; influence of H . pylori eradication; Archimandritis A et al.; There is evidence that Helicobacter pylori infection up-regulates the expression of HLA class II molecules by gastric epithelial cells (GEC) . In this study we evaluated whether GEC are capable of expression of costimulatory molecules in H . pylori gastritis . The expression of FasL by GEC, before and after eradication of H . pylori, was also studied . Thirty patients (23 men) aged 27-81 years (53.67 +/- 13.99 years (mean +/- s.d.)) with dyspepsia were studied . Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed and six biopsies were obtained (antrum, n = 3; corpus, n = 3) for Campylobacter-Like Organisms (CLO) test and histology; 23 (16 men) were H . pylori+ and seven (all men) were H . pylori- by both methods and served as controls . Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy was given to H . pylori+ patients and all patients were re-endoscoped after 116 +/- 9 days . Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections were stained by the ABC immunoalkaline phosphatase method . In H . pylori gastritis HLA-DR was expressed and correlated with disease activity (P < 0.01) . No HLA-DR was observed in controls . In H . pylori-eradicated patients significant decrease of HLA-DR was found (antrum, P < 0 . 001) . ICAM-1 was expressed by GEC in 80% of H . pylori+ patients; ICAM-1 expression did not correlate with gastritis parameters and decreased significantly after eradication (antrum, P < 0.01) . B7-1 and B7-2 were expressed on H . pylori+ samples and their expression decreased after eradication, albeit not significantly . Weak epithelial expression of both B7 molecules was observed in all the controls . FasL was steadily expressed by GEC in both H . pylori+ and H . pylori- patients and remained almost unchanged after eradication . These findings suggest that GEC may acquire antigen-presenting cell properties in H . pylori infection through de novo expression of HLA-DR and costimulatory molecules . This seems to be attenuated after eradication and resolution of mucosal inflammation . The same cells exhibit the capacity to control the inflammatory process, probably by inducing apoptotic cell death to Fas-bearing infiltrating lymphocytes.

J Clin Pathol, 1999 Nov, 52(11), 812 - 4
Drug resistance in Campylobacter jejuni, C coli, and C lari isolated from humans in north west England and Wales, 1997; Thwaites RT et al.; AIMS: To test the sensitivity of strains of Campylobacter species isolated from humans in England and Wales against a range of antimicrobial agents for the purpose of monitoring therapeutic efficacy and as an epidemiological marker . METHODS: An agar dilution breakpoint technique was used to screen isolates against ampicillin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin, tetracycline, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, and erythromycin . Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were also determined for a sample of quinolone resistant strains . RESULTS: Approximately 50% of strains tested were resistant to at least one drug . Strains which were resistant to four or more of the drugs tested were classified as multiresistant; this occurred in 11.3% of C jejuni, 19.9% of C coli, and 63.6% of C lari . Resistance to erythromycin occurred in 1.0% of C jejuni and 12.8% of C coli . Resistance to quinolones occurred in 12% of strains, with a ciprofloxacin MIC of > 8 mg/l and a nalidixic acid MIC of > 256 mg/l; a further 4% of strains had intermediate resistance with a ciprofloxacin MIC of between 0.5 and 2 mg/l (fully sensitive strains, 0.25 mg/l or less) and a nalidixic acid MIC of between 32 and 64 mg/l (fully sensitive strains, 8 mg/l or less) . CONCLUSIONS: Resistance to quinolones in campylobacters from human infection may relate to clinical overuse or use of fluoroquinolones in animal husbandry . Both veterinary and clinical use should be reconsidered and fluoroquinolone drugs used only as a treatment for serious infections requiring hospital admission . Erythromycin resistance is still rare in C jejuni but much more common in C coli.

Infect Immun, 2000 Mar, 68(3), 1687 - 91
Roles of the surface layer proteins of Campylobacter fetus subsp . fetus in ovine abortion; Grogono-Thomas R et al.; The role of the surface (S)-layer proteins of Campylobacter fetus subsp . fetus has been investigated using an ovine model of abortion . Wild-type strain 23D induced abortion in up to 90% of pregnant ewes challenged subcutaneously . Isolates recovered from both dams and fetuses expressed S-layer proteins with variable molecular masses . The spontaneous S-layer-negative variant, strain 23B, neither colonized nor caused abortions in pregnant ewes . A series of isogenic sapA and recA mutants, derived from 23D, also were investigated in this model . A mutant (501 {sapA recA(+)}) caused abortion in one of five challenged animals and was recovered from the placenta of a second animal . Another mutant (502 {sapA recA}) with no S-layer protein expression caused no colonization or abortions in challenged animals but caused abortion when administered intraplacentally . Mutants 600(2) and 600(4), both recA, had fixed expression of 97- and 127-kDa S-layer proteins, respectively . Two of the six animals challenged with mutant 600(4) were colonized, but there were no abortions . As expected, all five strains recovered expressed a 127-kDa S-layer protein . In contrast, mutant 600(2) was recovered from the placentas of all five challenged animals and caused abortion in two . Unexpectedly, one of the 16 isolates expressed a 127-kDa rather than a 97-kDa S-layer protein . Thus, these studies indicate that S-layer proteins appear essential for colonization and/or translocation to the placenta but are not required to mediate fetal injury and that S-layer variation may occur in a recA strain.

Infect Immun, 2000 Mar, 68(3), 1465 - 73
Use of defined mutants to assess the role of the Campylobacter rectus S-layer in bacterium-epithelial cell interactions; Wang B et al.; Campylobacter rectus is a periodontal pathogen with a 150-kDa protein on its cell surface . This protein forms a paracrystalline lattice, called the S-layer, surrounding the outer membrane of this gram-negative bacterium . To initiate a genetic analysis of the possible role of the S-layer in the initial interaction of C . rectus with host epithelial cells, C . rectus strains lacking the S-layer protein gene (crsA) were constructed by allelic exchange mutagenesis . Surprisingly, the lack of the S-layer had only a minor effect on the interaction of C . rectus with HEp-2 epithelial cells; CrsA(+) cells were 30 to 50% more adherent than were CrsA(-) bacteria . Since the host cell expression of cytokines appears to play an important role in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases, the effect of the S-layer on the epithelial cell cytokine response was also examined by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . Although there were no changes in the mRNA levels for the anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 receptor agonist (IL-1ra), IL-13, and transforming growth factor beta, the expression and secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were significantly induced by both wild-type C . rectus and CrsA(-) bacteria . Interestingly, the kinetics of cytokine induction differed for the CrsA(+) and CrsA(-) bacteria . At early time points, the HEp-2 cells challenged with CrsA(-) bacteria produced higher levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha mRNA and protein than did cells challenged with CrsA(+) bacteria . We conclude that C . rectus may help initiate periodontitis by increasing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and that the S-layer may temper this response to facilitate the survival of C . rectus at the site of infection.

Nature, 2000 Feb 10, 403(6770), 665 - 8
The genome sequence of the food-borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni reveals hypervariable sequences; Parkhill J et al.; Campylobacter jejuni, from the delta-epsilon group of proteobacteria, is a microaerophilic, Gram-negative, flagellate, spiral bacterium-properties it shares with the related gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori . It is the leading cause of bacterial food-borne diarrhoeal disease throughout the world . In addition, infection with C . jejuni is the most frequent antecedent to a form of neuromuscular paralysis known as Guillain-Barre syndrome . Here we report the genome sequence of C . jejuni NCTC11168 . C . jejuni has a circular chromosome of 1,641,481 base pairs (30.6% G+C) which is predicted to encode 1,654 proteins and 54 stable RNA species . The genome is unusual in that there are virtually no insertion sequences or phage-associated sequences and very few repeat sequences . One of the most striking findings in the genome was the presence of hypervariable sequences . These short homopolymeric runs of nucleotides were commonly found in genes encoding the biosynthesis or modification of surface structures, or in closely linked genes of unknown function . The apparently high rate of variation of these homopolymeric tracts may be important in the survival strategy of C . jejuni.

Res Vet Sci, 2000 Feb, 68(1), 75 - 8
Enteric colonisation following natural exposure to Campylobacter in pigs; Young CR et al.; A survey was conducted to establish the prevalence of Campylobacter in pigs from an integrated commercial hog farm . This study was carried out in four different groups of pigs: 1) adult gilts (50); 2) pregnant sows (9); 3) piglets at day-of-birth (73); 4) weaned piglets (20) . Rectal and/or caecal samples were collected from each pig . Campylobacter was cultured and enumerated from such samples using Bolton enrichment broth and Campy-Cephex agar plates . Both biochemical and serological tests were used to determine Campylobacter species . Gilts had a 76 per cent incidence of Campylobacter with a mean of 76.3 per cent for C . jejuni, 21 per cent for C . coli and 2.6 per cent for C . lari . Pregnant sows had a 100 per cent incidence of Campylobacter with a mean of 87 per cent for C . jejuni and 13 per cent for C . coli . Newborn piglets had a 57 . 8 per cent incidence of Campylobacter, rising to 100 per cent by the time of weaning . Thus it appears that pigs, from the day of birth, are highly susceptible to colonisation by Campylobacter .

FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol, 2000 Mar, 27(3), 263 - 8
Immunogens of interest for the diagnosis of Campylobacter jejuni infections; Janvier B et al.; In order to identify the C . jejuni immunogens of interest for the diagnosis of Campylobacter infections, we analyzed the humoral response of 153 patients by using complement fixation (CF) and western blot assays . A first group of 79 sera was from C . jejuni infected patients suffering from enteritis (n=16), Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) (n=40) and arthritis (n=23) . A second group of 49 sera was from healthy blood donors and a third group consisted of 25 sera from children under 4 years old . Using the CF test, 88.6% of the C . jejuni infected patients were seropositive versus 28.5% of the healthy blood donors and none of the children . The Western blot assay allowed detection of antibodies directed against seven selected antigens ranging from 14 to 67 kDa . Three of these antigens with a molecular size of 29, 37 and 43 kDa were detected by 86.0%, 84.8% and 91.1% of the C . jejuni infected patients, respectively . These three antigens seem to be good candidates for the development of assays suitable for direct and indirect diagnosis of Campylobacter infections.

Rinsho Biseibutshu Jinsoku Shindan Kenkyukai Shi, 1999 Dec, 10(2), 111 - 6
{Detection of pyrazinamidase activity for differentiation of Campylobacter, Arcobacter, and Helicobacter spp . by using a high-performance liquid chromatography method}; Shingaki M et al.; A high-performance liquid chromatography method was investigated for the detection pyrazinamidase activity by Campylobacter, Arcobacter, and Helicobacter spp . Pyrazine carboxilic acid, one of the end products of pyrazinamide hydrolysis by microorganisms, was detected by using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) . A loopful of organism colonies was emulsified in 0.5 ml of a 0.5% pyrazinamide solution . The suspens on was incubated in a 37 degrees C water bath for 18-20 hr . After centrifugation, the supernatant was analyzed by HPLC . This HPLC method does not require microaerobic incubation and was easy to interpret for strains with weak enzymatic activity . By this method, we tested 111 clinical isolates, type and reference strains of Campylobacter spp., Arcobacter spp., and Helicobacter spp . , C . jejuni, C . jejuni subsp . doylei, C . coli, C . upsaliensis, C . lari, C . lari (urease+), C . helveticus, C . hyolei, C . sputorum subsp . fecalis, C . gracilis, C . concisus, C . curvus were positive for pyrazinamidase . C . fetus subsp . fetus, C . hyointestinalis, C . sputorum subsp . sputorum, C . sputorum subsp . bubulus, C . mucosalis, A . butzleri, A . skirrowii, A . cryaerophilus, H . pylori, H . cinaedi, H . fennelliae, H . mustelae, H . felis, H . muridarum, H . canis, H . nemestrinae, H . pamentensis, H . pullourum were negative.

Neurology, 2000 Feb 8, 54(3), 620 - 5
Mild forms of Guillain-Barré syndrome in an epidemiologic survey in The Netherlands; Van Koningsveld R et al.; OBJECTIVE: Assessment of incidence rates of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in the Netherlands over a 10-year period; investigation of a relationship between possible seasonality in GBS and the occurrence of preceding infections; and determination of distinctive characteristics in patients with GBS who are only mildly affected (able to walk unaided at nadir) . METHOD: Records of patients with GBS admitted between 1987 and 1996 from all 45 hospitals in the southwest Netherlands were evaluated, covering a population of 4.2 million inhabitants . RESULTS: A total of 476 patients met National Institute for Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke criteria for GBS . This resulted in a crude incidence rate (IR) of 1.18/100,000 inhabitants . This IR increased linearly with age (p < 0.001) . Men were more frequently affected than women (p < 0.001) . No seasonal preponderance for GBS, nor for any of the preceding infections, was found . Patients under 50 years of age (p < 0.001) and men (p = 0.01) were more frequently found in the mildly affected group . In both groups a preceding infection was reported in 70% of the cases . In the severely affected group, serologic evidence for infection with Campylobacter jejuni, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, or Mycoplasma pneumoniae was found more frequently than in the mildly affected group (41% versus 16%, p = 0.001) . CONCLUSIONS: Overall IR in the Netherlands are similar to those found in other studies . The incidence increases linearly with age and men are more frequently affected than women . Distinctive characteristics for mildly and severely affected patients were found regarding age, sex, and preceding infections . This suggests that other infectious agents or host factors may be involved in mild forms of GBS.

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1999 Dec, 61(6), 904 - 8
Norwalk-like virus and bacterial pathogens associated with cases of gastroenteritis onboard a US Navy ship; Oyofo BA et al.; Acute gastroenteritis is a potential cause of substantial morbidity in U.S . military personnel during deployment . This study investigated the microbial causes of diarrhea in U.S . troops on exercises in Southeast Asia aboard the U.S.S . Germantown from March through May 1996 . A total of 49 (7%) patients with diarrhea reported to sick call during a 3-month deployment involving 721 personnel . Diarrheal samples from 49 patients were subjected to bacterial and parasitologic examination, but sufficient samples from only 47 of 49 were available for analysis of the presence of Norwalk-like virus (NLV) . Of the 49 diarrhea cases, 10 (20.4%) appeared to be due to bacterial etiology alone, 10 (20.4%) due to bacteria and the prototype Taunton agent (TNA), 11 (22.4%) due to TNA only, and 4 (8.0%) due to parasites . Norwalk-like virus RNA was present in 21 (45%) of 47 stool samples from the diarrhea cases, 10 with bacterial etiologies and 11 without bacterial or parasitic etiologies . No pathogen was detected in 14 (29%) of the cases . Four of the controls showed the presence of parasitic organisms . Of the 11 cases in which enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli was isolated, 8 were positive for colonization factor antigen (CFA/IV), and 3 were CFA-negative . The bacterial pathogens tested were all susceptible to gentamicin, and furadantin, but were resistant to ceftriaxone and norfloxacin, including 75% of the Campylobacter spp . These data support the view that the major cause of diarrhea for troops deployed in this geographic area is most likely NLVs.

Mol Microbiol, 2000 Feb, 35(3), 529 - 41
Genetic and biochemical evidence of a Campylobacter jejuni capsular polysaccharide that accounts for Penner serotype specificity; Karlyshev AV et al.; Campylobacter jejuni, a Gram-negative spiral bacterium, is the most common bacterial cause of acute human gastroenteritis and is increasingly recognized for its association with the serious post-infection neurological complications of the Miller-Fisher and Guillain-Barre syndromes . C . jejuni lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of both uncomplicated infection and more serious sequelae, yet the LPS remains poorly characterized . Current studies on C . jejuni suggest that all strains produce lipooligosaccharide (LOS), with about one-third of strains also producing high-molecular-weight LPS (referred to as O-antigen) . In this report, we demonstrate the presence of the high-molecular-weight LPS in all C . jejuni strains tested . Furthermore, we show that this LPS is biochemically and genetically unrelated to LOS and is similar to group II and group III capsular polysaccharides . All tested kpsM, kpsS and kpsC mutants of C . jejuni lost the ability to produce O-antigen . Moreover, this correlated with serotype changes . We demonstrate for the first time that the previously described O-antigen of C . jejuni is a capsular polysaccharide and a common component of the thermostable antigen used for serotyping of C . jejuni.

Br Poult Sci, 1999 Dec, 40(5), 619 - 21
Efficacy of a commercial competitive exclusion product against Campylobacter jejuni; Hakkinen M et al.; 1 . Newly-hatched broiler chicks were treated orally with a commercial competitive exclusion product (Broilact) in 3 replicate trials 2 . After 24 h the treated chicks and untreated control chicks were challenged orally with approximately 10(4) cfu of Campylobacter jejuni . 3 . The caeca of the birds were examined quantitatively for campylobacter 12 d after the challenge . 4 . In 3 separate trials, the treatment prevented or reduced colonisation of the challenge organisms in the caeca . The percentage of colonised birds varied from 0% to 62% in the treated groups and was 100% in the control groups . The average number of campylobacter was considerably lower in the treated groups than in the control groups.

Lett Appl Microbiol, 1999 Dec, 29(6), 370 - 4
Molecular characterization of the diversity of Campylobacter spp . isolates collected from a poultry slaughterhouse: analysis of cross-contamination; Rivoal K et al.; Investigations of a free-range broiler flock during the rearing period and at the slaughterhouse by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of the flagellin (flaA) gene (flaA typing) have shown that poultry carcasses are contaminated by Campylobacter spp . strains which were previously present in the poultry faces . Moreover, the investigation of the previous and the following batches in the processing plant using flaA typing have shown that cross-contamination between batches coming from different flocks occurs and is also a risk factor for the presence of Campylobacter spp . on poultry carcasses.

Lett Appl Microbiol, 1999 Nov, 29(5), 354 - 8
The effectiveness of hygiene procedures for prevention of cross-contamination from chicken carcases in the domestic kitchen; Cogan TA et al.; Thirteen sites in each of 60 domestic kitchens were examined for Salmonella and Campylobacter spp . following the preparation of a chicken for cooking and the application of different hygiene regimes . During food preparation bacteria became widely disseminated to hand and food contact surfaces . Where cleaning was carried out with detergent and hot water using a prescribed routine there was no significant decrease in the frequency of contaminated surfaces . Where hypochlorite was used in addition, a significant reduction in the number of contaminated sites was observed . The study suggests that there is a need to better understand and promote effective hygiene procedures for the domestic kitchen.

J Biol Chem, 2000 Feb 11, 275(6), 3896 - 906
Biosynthesis of ganglioside mimics in Campylobacter jejuni OH4384 . Identification of the glycosyltransferase genes, enzymatic synthesis of model compounds, and characterization of nanomole amounts by 600-mhz (1)h and (13)c NMR analysis; Gilbert M et al.; We have applied two strategies for the cloning of four genes responsible for the biosynthesis of the GT1a ganglioside mimic in the lipooligosaccharide (LOS) of a bacterial pathogen, Campylobacter jejuni OH4384, which has been associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome . We first cloned a gene encoding an alpha-2, 3-sialyltransferase (cst-I) using an activity screening strategy . We then used nucleotide sequence information from the recently completed sequence from C . jejuni NCTC 11168 to amplify a region involved in LOS biosynthesis from C . jejuni OH4384 . The LOS biosynthesis locus from C . jejuni OH4384 is 11.47 kilobase pairs and encodes 13 partial or complete open reading frames, while the corresponding locus in C . jejuni NCTC 11168 spans 13.49 kilobase pairs and contains 15 open reading frames, indicating a different organization between these two strains . Potential glycosyltransferase genes were cloned individually, expressed in Escherichia coli, and assayed using synthetic fluorescent oligosaccharides as acceptors . We identified genes encoding a beta-1, 4-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-transferase (cgtA), a beta-1, 3-galactosyltransferase (cgtB), and a bifunctional sialyltransferase (cst-II), which transfers sialic acid to O-3 of galactose and to O-8 of a sialic acid that is linked alpha-2,3- to a galactose . The linkage specificity of each identified glycosyltransferase was confirmed by NMR analysis at 600 MHz on nanomole amounts of model compounds synthesized in vitro . Using a gradient inverse broadband nano-NMR probe, sequence information could be obtained by detection of (3)J(C,H) correlations across the glycosidic bond . The role of cgtA and cst-II in the synthesis of the GT1a mimic in C . jejuni OH4384 were confirmed by comparing their sequence and activity with corresponding homologues in two related C . jejuni strains that express shorter ganglioside mimics in their LOS.

Adv Exp Med Biol, 1999, 473, 237 - 9
Prevalence of Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Arcobacter species at slaughter in market age pigs; Harvey RB et al.; A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Arcobacter species in market age pigs from an integrated swine operation in Texas . Our findings indicate that farms from this commercial operation were heavily contaminated with Campylobacter and Salmonella, that the isolation rates of C . jejuni were higher than predicted, and that there was a low prevalence of Arcobacter.

Adv Exp Med Biol, 1999, 473, 231 - 5
Codon usage in the A/T-rich bacterium Campylobacter jejuni; Gray SA et al.; Campylobacter jejuni is a Gram negative, microaerophilic pathogen that causes gastroenteritis in humans . The genome of C . jejuni is AT-rich, with a mol% G + C of 30.4 . This high AT content was hypothesized to result in unique codon usage . In the present study, we analyzed the codon usage of sixty-seven C . jejuni genes and generated a codon frequency table . As predicted, the codon usage of C . jejuni revealed a strong bias towards codons ending in A or U . In addition to determining codon usage frequencies, the relative synonymous codon usage values were calculated to identify rare and optimal codons . Seventeen codons were identified as optimal and twelve codons as rare . Thirty-two codons exhibited little or no bias . A plot of the effective number of codons versus the third position %G + C values for the sixty-seven genes revealed that C . jejuni uses an average of 39 of the 61 codons to encode proteins . These data will be useful for various molecular analyses including selection of degenerate primers to screen C . jejuni-genomic DNA libraries.

Adv Exp Med Biol, 1999, 473, 225 - 9
Secretion of Campylobacter jejuni Cia proteins is contact dependent; Rivera-Amill V et al.; Campylobacter jejuni is a common cause of human gastrointestinal disease worldwide . Despite the prevalence of C . jejuni infections, the mechanisms of C . jejuni pathogenesis remain ill-defined . Invasion of the cells lining the intestinal tract is hypothesized to be essential for the development of C . jejuni-mediated enteritis . Recent studies in our laboratory have revealed that C . jejuni secrete proteins, termed Cia for Campylobacter invasion antigens, upon incubation with human intestinal cells . A mutation in one of the genes encoding a secreted protein resulted in an invasion-deficient phenotype . The purpose of this study was to identify a component capable of stimulating the synthesis and secretion of the Cia proteins from C . jejuni . Here, we report that these processes can be induced upon incubating C . jejuni in medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum . The synthesis and secretion of the Cia proteins were not affected by heat-treatment of the fetal bovine serum, indicating that the stimulating molecule in serum is heat stable . The stimulatory molecule was not unique to fetal bovine serum as sera from other sources including human, pig, sheep, goat, rabbit, mouse, and chicken also induced the synthesis and release of the Cia proteins . These findings indicate that the synthesis and secretion of the Cia proteins can be induced in a cell-free system by incubating C . jejuni in serum-supplemented tissue culture medium.

Adv Exp Med Biol, 1999, 473, 215 - 24
Identification of proteins required for the internalization of Campylobacter jejuni into cultured mammalian cells; Konkel ME et al.; Clinical and in vitro experimental data suggest that invasion of intestinal epithelial cells is an essential step in the pathogenesis of Campylobacter jejuni-mediated enteritis . However, the molecular mechanism of C . jejuni internalization remains poorly defined . The goal of this study was to identify a gene that encodes a protein required for the internalization of C . jejuni into host cells . A C . jejuni gene, designated ciaB, was identified upon immunoscreening C . jejuni genomic DNA-phage libraries with an antiserum generated against C . jejuni co-cultivated with INT 407 cells . The C . jejuni ciaB gene encodes a protein of 610 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 73,154 Da . The deduced amino acid sequence of the CiaB protein shares similarity with type III secreted proteins, associated with invasion of host cells, from other more extensively characterized bacterial pathogens . In vitro binding and internalization assays revealed that the binding of C . jejuni ciaB null mutants was indistinguishable from that of the parental isolate, whereas a significant reduction was noted in internalization . Immunoblot analysis using an anti-CiaB specific antibody revealed that CiaB is secreted into the supernatant fluids upon co-cultivation of C . jejuni with INT 407 cell conditioned medium . Metabolic labeling experiments revealed that at least eight C . jejuni proteins, ranging in size from 12.8 to 108 kDa, are secreted into the culture medium . C . jejuni ciaB null mutants were deficient in the secretion of all proteins, indicating that CiaB is required for the secretion process . Identification of the C . jejuni ciaB gene represents a significant advance in understanding the molecular mechanism of C . jejuni internalization.

J Clin Microbiol, 2000 Feb, 38(2), 874 - 6
Genetic characterization of Campylobacter jejuni O:41 isolates in relation with Guillain-Barré syndrome; Wassenaar TM et al.; Campylobacter jejuni O:41 strains are found in association with Guillain-Barre syndrome in South Africa . Strains of this serotype collected over 17 years were characterized by amplified fragment length polymorphism and flagellin typing to determine their clonal nature . Despite minor variation in GM1 expression, all of the strains were genetically indistinguishable, indicating that they are representative of a genetically stable clone.

J Clin Microbiol, 2000 Feb, 38(2), 499 - 507
Evaluation of the oxyrase OxyPlate anaerobe incubation system; Wiggs LS et al.; The Oxyrase OxyPlate anaerobe incubation system was evaluated for its ability to support the growth of clinically significant anaerobic bacteria previously identified by the Anaerobe Reference Laboratory at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . The results were compared with those obtained with conventional anaerobe blood agar plates incubated in an anaerobe chamber . We tested 251 anaerobic bacterial strains . Plates were read at 24, 48, and 72 h; growth was scored by a numerical coding system that combines the degree of growth and the colony size . Organisms (number of strains tested) used in this study were Actinomyces (32), Anaerobiospirillum (8), Bacteroides (39), Campylobacter (8), Clostridium (96), Fusobacterium (12), Leptotrichia (8), Mobiluncus (8), Peptostreptococcus (16), and Propionibacterium (24) . At 24 h, 101 (40.2%) of the 251 strains tested showed better growth with the anaerobe chamber than with the OxyPlate system, 10 (4.1%) showed better growth with the OxyPlate system, and the remaining 140 (55 . 8%) showed equal growth with both systems . At 48 h, 173 (68.9%) showed equal growth with both systems, while 78 (31.1%) showed better growth with the anaerobe chamber . At 72 h, 176 (70.1%) showed equal growth with both systems, while 75 (29.9%) showed better growth with the anaerobe chamber . The OxyPlate system performed well for the most commonly isolated anaerobes but was inadequate for some strains . These results indicate that the Oxyrase OxyPlate system was effective in creating an anaerobic atmosphere and supporting the growth of anaerobic bacteria within 72 h . OxyPlates would be a useful addition to the clinical microbiology laboratory lacking resources for traditional anaerobic culturing techniques.

Emerg Infect Dis, 2000 Jan-Feb, 6(1), 50 - 5
Integronlike structures in Campylobacter spp . of human and animal origin; Lucey B et al.; Resistance to antimicrobial agents used to treat severe Campylobacter spp . gastroenteritis is increasing worldwide . We assessed the antimicrobial resistance patterns of Campylobacter spp . isolates of human and animal origin . More than half (n = 32) were resistant to sulphonamide, a feature known to be associated with the presence of integrons . Analysis of these integrons will further our understanding of Campylobacter spp . epidemiology.

J Food Prot, 2000 Jan, 63(1), 120 - 2
Fate of Campylobacter jejuni in butter; Zhao T et al.; An outbreak of Campylobacter enteritis was associated with a restaurant in Louisiana during the summer of 1995 . Thirty cases were identified, and four required hospitalization . Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from the patients, and epidemiologic studies revealed illness associated with eating garlic butter served at the restaurant . Three batches of garlic butter prepared by the restaurant associated with the outbreak and a C . jejuni isolate obtained from a patient involved in the outbreak were used for studies to determine the fate of C . jejuni in garlic butter . Studies also were done to determine the efficacy of the heat treatment used by the restaurant to prepare garlic bread to kill C . jejuni . Garlic butter was inoculated with approximately 10(4) and 10(6) CFU/g of C . jejuni and held at 5 or 21 degrees C . Results revealed that the survival of C . jejuni differed greatly, depending on the presence or absence of garlic . At 5 degrees C, C . jejuni populations decreased to an undetectable level (<10 CFU/g) within 3 h for two batches and within 24 h for another batch . In contrast, C . jejuni could survive at 5 degrees C for 13 days in butter with no garlic . At 21 degrees C, C . jejuni populations decreased to an undetectable level within 5 h for two batches and to 50 CFU/g in 5 h for another batch . In contrast, C . jejuni was detected at 500 CFU/g at 28 h after inoculation but was undetectable at 3 days in butter with no garlic held at 21 degrees C . The heating procedure (135 degrees C, 4 min) used to make garlic bread by the implicated restaurant was determined not to be sufficient for killing C . jejuni, with the internal temperature of the buttered bread after heating ranging from 19 to 22 degrees C . This study revealed that C . jejuni can survive for many days in refrigerated butter, but large populations (10(3) to 10(5) CFU/g) are killed within a few hours in butter that contains garlic . Furthermore, the heat treatment used by the restaurant to melt garlic butter in making garlic bread was not adequate to kill C . jejuni.

J Food Prot, 2000 Jan, 63(1), 117 - 9
Frequency of isolation of Campylobacter from roasted chicken samples from Mexico City; Quinones-Ramirez EI et al.; The presence of Campylobacter spp . was investigated in 100 samples of roasted chicken tacos sold in well-established commercial outlets and semisettled street stands in Mexico City . From 600 colonies displaying Campylobacter morphology only 123 isolates were positive . From these isolates, 51 (41%) were identified as C . jejuni, 23 (19%) as C . coli, and 49 (40%) as other species of this genus . All of the 27 positive samples came from one location where handling practices allowed cross-contamination of the cooked product . The results indicate that these ready-to-consume products are contaminated with these bacteria, representing a potential risk for consumers, especially in establishments lacking adequate sanitary measures to prevent cross-contamination.

Commun Dis Intell, 1999 Oct 28, 23(11), 277 - 305
Australia's notifiable diseases status, 1998 . Annual report of the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System; Thomson J et al.; In 1998 there were 85,096 notifications to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System; slightly lower than in 1997 (89,579) . The number of measles cases remained low, and well below the number reported in the outbreak years of 1993 and 1994 . Rubella notifications further decreased and remained low in 1998 . The Measles Control Campaign from August to November 1998, did not impact significantly on the number of measles or rubella cases reported for 1998 . Notifications of Haemophilus influenzae type b reached a record low since surveillance began in 1991, and appeared to have stabilised at a low rate since the introduction of the conjugated vaccine in 1992 . The previously reported outbreak of pertussis in 1997 tapered off in early 1998 . Food-borne disease, or detection of disease, appeared to be on the rise with an increase in notification rates of campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis . Notifications of hepatitis A decreased, correcting the previous high number of notifications in 1997 . Sexually transmissible diseases (STDs) increased . Notifications for chlamydial infection were the highest for all sexually transmitted diseases and third highest for all notifiable diseases . Notifications of gonococcal infection also continued to rise and have doubled since 1991, whilst notifications for syphilis increased slightly after falling steadily over recent years . Arbovirus infections of concern in 1998 were dengue outbreaks in Far North Queensland and the first case of Japanese Encephalitis for mainland Australia, highlighting the importance of surveillance of arboviruses and vectors for their detection and management.

Microbes Infect . 1999 Dec;1(14):1239.
'Infectious web'; Kotra LP et al.; The infection-related web-sites discussed in this issue include sites on the Campylobacter jejuni genome, Toxoplasma-expressed sequence tags (ESTs), Salmonella infections, the history and biology of tuberculosis, both DNA and RNA vaccines, and interactions between cytomegalovirus and antibodies.

J Periodontol, 1999 Dec, 70(12), 1449 - 56
Periodontal findings and systemic antibody responses to oral microorganisms in Behçet's disease; Celenligil-Nazliel H et al.; BACKGROUND: Behcet's disease is a multisystem disorder of unknown etiology, affecting predominantly the oral mucosa, skin, and eyes . Recurrent and painful episodes of oral ulcerations interfere with regular oral hygiene leading to rapid bacterial plaque accumulation . The aims of this study were to evaluate the periodontal status of patients with Behcet's disease and determine serum antibody responses to selected oral microorganisms, including major periodontopathogens in these patients . METHODS: Thirty-three patients with Behcet's disease and 15 healthy subjects were included in the study . Plaque, sulcular bleeding, periodontal index scores, probing depths, and total number of teeth were recorded . Serum IgG antibody levels to a panel of 13 oral microorganisms were determined . RESULTS: Significantly higher values for each of the clinical measures were observed in patients with Behcet's disease compared to healthy subjects (P <0.0001) . Antibody levels to selected members of plaque, including Actinomyces viscosus, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus oralis, Eikenella corrodens, Campylobacter rectus, and Prevotella intermedia were significantly lower in patients with Behcet's disease than in controls (P <0.001-0.05) . In contrast, these patients exhibited significantly elevated antibody levels to Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans Y4 compared to controls (P <0.01) . CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the patients with Behcet's disease generally exhibit clinical findings of established periodontal disease . Decreased antibody responses to early colonizers of both supra- and subgingival plaque were observed along with the elevation in antibody levels to A . actinomycetemcomitans . These results suggest that the bacterial plaque ecology and/or immune responses to these microorganisms may be affected in Behcet's disease which could lead to changes in the expression of periodontal disease.

J Food Prot, 2000 Dec, 63(12), 1654 - 9
Campylobacter contamination of raw meat and poultry at retail sale: identification of multiple types and comparison with isolates from human infection; Kramer JM et al.; Campylobacter species are the major cause of acute bacterial enteritis reported in the United Kingdom, nonetheless many aspects of campylobacteriosis epidemiology remain poorly understood . The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in fresh bovine, ovine, and porcine liver and chicken portions from retail outlets and compare strain subtype distributions with those associated with cases of human campylobacteriosis occurring within the same period and study area . Meat samples were examined by both enrichment culture and direct plating, and Campylobacter isolates were subjected to the same test procedures (identification, serotyping, phagetyping, resistotyping) applied to the clinical strains . Campylobacter species were isolated from 73.2% of 489 samples examined . Chicken exhibited the highest contamination rate (83.3%), followed by lamb (72.9%), pig (71.7%), and ox (54.2%) liver . C . jejuni predominated in chicken (77.3%), lamb (75.0%), and ox (49.0%) liver, and C . coli predominated in pigs' liver (42.4%) . Campylobacter fetus was identified in 12.5% of ox liver samples and also in pig and lamb . Of the human isolates, 89.3% were C . jejuni and 10.7% C . coli . The greatest variation in C . jeuni subtypes was observed among the chicken isolates (57 sero/phage-types), followed by human (48 types) and lamb (30 types) . A significant proportion of the chicken and lamb isolates shared identical subtypes with the human strains, indicative of their role as potential sources of infection . Almost 30% of samples yielded multiple strains of Campylobacter, a finding that reinforces the epidemiological importance of selecting and testing more than one presumptive isolate per sample.

Z Naturforsch {C}, 1999 Nov, 54(11), 946 - 51
Flagellin gene polymorphism analysis of Campylobacter compared with antigen serotyping; Smith SI et al.; Flagellin gene sequence polymorphisms were used to discriminate amongst 53 strains of Campylobacter jejuni and C . coli . The Campylobacter strains were made up of forty-three strains of Campylobacter jejuni and 10 strains of Campylobacter coli . The results were analysed in relation to Penner serotyping . Twenty DNA PCR-RFLP patterns (genotypes) were identified by analysis of Dde I fragment length polymorphisms in flagellin gene (fla A and fla B) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products . Flagellin gene 13 genotype was a feature of 15% of strains, followed by flagellin gene 8 (9%) . Differences in fragment patterns were observed not only between members of two species, but also between individual strains of the same species . The strains that were non-typable by the Penner serotype were distributed into 6 flagellin gene types . In conclusion, Ddc I fla typing is reproducible and offers high typability . However, when the scheme is used in combination with the Penner serotype it provides improved discrimination for the characterizing and subtyping of isolates.

J Neuroimmunol, 2000 Jan 3, 102(1), 85 - 8
Ganglioside-induced antiganglioside antibodies from a neuropathy patient cross-react with lipopolysaccharides of Campylobacter jejuni associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome; Neisser A et al.; Antiganglioside serum antibodies from a patient treated with gangliosides were examined for cross-reactivity with lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of Campylobacter jejuni strains associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) . The patient had no preceding infection with C . jejuni and developed chronic progressive motor polyneuropathy following parenteral ganglioside treatment . Serum IgG antibodies recognised GM1 and GD1b gangliosides as well as asialo-GM1, and cross-reactivity was observed with LPSs from C . jejuni O:2, O:4, O:19 and O:41 . The results give a clear indication that gangliosides and LPSs from C . jejuni serotypes associated with GBS share common epitopes.

J Clin Microbiol, 2000 Jan, 38(1), 13 - 7
The efficacy of laboratory diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infections in gastric biopsy specimens is related to bacterial density and vacA, cagA, and iceA genotypes; van Doorn LJ et al.; A total of 500 consecutive patients undergoing upper endoscopy were biopsied and tested for H . pylori infection by the Campylobacter-like organism (CLO) test, culture, histology, and PCR . Serum samples were tested by two different serological assays . Patients were considered H . pylori positive if at least two of the four biopsy specimen-based methods yielded positive results . PCR had the highest diagnostic sensitivity (99.4%), followed by histology (92.2%), culture (89.5%), and the CLO test (89.0%) . The specificities of all methods were higher than 98% . Of the organisms from the 181 PCR-positive patients, the vacA (s and m regions), cagA, and iceA genotypes were determined by reverse hybridization (line probe assay) or an allele-specific PCR . Organisms that were detected by PCR but that remained undetected by the CLO test were significantly more often vacA s1 (P = 0.006), m1 (P = 0.028), and cagA positive (P = 0.029) than vacA s2, m2, and cagA negative, respectively . Organisms that were detected by PCR but that remained undetected by culture or histology more often contained iceA1 (P = 0 . 034 and P = 0.029, respectively) than iceA2 . Higher H . pylori density was associated with vacA s2 (P = 0.024), vacA m2 (P = 0.050), and cagA-negative (P = 0.035) genotypes . Also, the diagnostic results of the CLO test (P = 0.001) and culture (P = 0.031) but not those of the PCR (P = 0.130) were significantly associated with the H . pylori density . The rate of detection by the four biopsy specimen-based tests was lower for patients who used proton pump inhibitors, but this was independent of the H . pylori genotypes . These observations may be explained by different bacterial densities, as established by the distinct genotypes of H . pylori, and confirm that the biologies of strains with such genotypes are considerably different.

Microbes Infect, 1999 Oct, 1(12), 1023 - 33
Pathophysiology of Campylobacter jejuni infections of humans; Wassenaar TM et al.; Campylobacter jejuni and closely related organisms are major causes of human bacterial enteritis . These infections can lead to extraintestinal disease and severe long-term complications . Of these, neurological damage, apparently due to the immune response of the host, is the most striking . This review examines current knowledge of the pathophysiology of the organism . Diversity of C . jejuni isolates in genotypic and phenotypic characteristics now is recognized and clinically relevant examples are presented . Expected future directions are outlined.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 2000 Jan, 66(1), 449 - 52
Isolation and characterization of Campylobacter jejuni subsp . jejuni from macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) in the subantarctic region; Broman T et al.; On Bird Island, South Georgia, albatrosses (n = 140), penguins (n = 100), and fur seals (n = 206) were sampled for Campylobacter jejuni . C . jejuni subsp . jejuni was recovered from three macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) . These isolates, the first reported for the subantarctic region, showed low genetic diversity and high similarity to Northern Hemisphere C . jejuni isolates, possibly suggesting recent introduction to the area.

J Bacteriol, 2000 Jan, 182(1), 207 - 10
Localized reversible frameshift mutation in the flhA gene confers phase variability to flagellin gene expression in Campylobacter coli; Park SF et al.; Phase variation of flagellin gene expression in Campylobacter coli UA585 was correlated with high-frequency, reversible insertion and deletion frameshift mutations in a short homopolymeric tract of thymine residues located in the N-terminal coding region of the flhA gene . Mutation-based phase variation in flhA may generate functional diversity in the host and environment.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2000 Jan 1, 182(1), 87 - 91
Inhibition of colonisation of the alimentary tract in young chickens with Campylobacter jejuni by pre-colonisation with strains of C . jejuni; Barrow PA et al.; Strains of Campylobacter jejuni, isolated from human gastro-intestinal infection and inoculated orally into 1-day-old chicks, colonised the alimentary tract (caecum) well . There was evidence of invasion from the intestine to the spleen . Oral inoculation with some but not all strains of C . jejuni 24 h earlier (within 12 h of hatching) prevented establishment by challenge strains administered orally 1 day later . One strain which was less able to colonise the gut was less inhibitory than other strains . Precolonisation of newly hatched chicks with a strain of Salmonella typhimurium had no inhibitory effect on establishment by the challenge strain of C . jejuni and may even have exacerbated it . Inhibition of multiplication of a nalidixic acid-resistant mutant of a C . jejuni strain was prevented when it was added to a stationary-phase broth culture of the antibiotic-sensitive parent strain and the mixed culture re-incubated.

Microbes Infect, 1999 Jul, 1(8), 639 - 44
The effects of antibiotic usage in food animals on the development of antimicrobial resistance of importance for humans in Campylobacter and Escherichia coli; Aarestrup FM et al.; Modern food animal production depends on use of large amounts of antibiotics for disease control . This provides favourable conditions for the spread and persistence of antimicrobial-resistant zoonotic bacteria such as Campylobacter and E . coli O157 . The occurrence of antimicrobial resistance to antimicrobials used in human therapy is increasing in human pathogenic Campylobacter and E . coli from animals . There is an urgent need to implement strategies for prudent use of antibiotics in food animal production to prevent further increases in the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in food-borne human pathogenic bacteria such as Campylobacter and E . coli.

Avian Dis, 1999 Oct-Dec, 43(4), 763 - 7
Dose response and organ invasion of day-of-hatch Leghorn chicks by different isolates of Campylobacter jejuni; Young CR et al.; Colonization of the ceca and organ invasion by different isolates of Campylobacter jejuni were investigated in day-of-hatch leghorn chicks . This model of Campylobacter colonization of the ceca demonstrates that 1) day-of-hatch birds do not naturally contain cecal Campylobacter, 2) ceca can be colonized with C . jejuni by oral gavage and not by cloacal inoculation; 3) C . jejuni can be recovered from the ceca up until at least 7 days postinoculation, 4) cecal colonization occurs when as little as 10(2) colony-forming units is orally inoculated into chicks, and 5) different C . jejuni isolates vary both in their ability to colonize the ceca and in their ability to invade the liver . These studies demonstrate that we have a working animal model for Campylobacter colonization for day-of-hatch chicks . This animal model is being used to examine intervention strategies such as vaccines by which Campylobacter can be reduced or removed from the food animal.

Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1999 Oct, 289(4), 429 - 44
Detection of antibodies against Campylobacter jejuni serogroup PEN O:19 purified flagellar protein in a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome; Lange D et al.; C . jejuni serogroup PEN O:19 was isolated from a stool specimen from a patient with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) . Flagellar protein was isolated and purified from reference strain C . jejuni PEN O:19, ATCC 43,446, as well as from a homologous patient strain . Antibodies against flagellar protein were detected by means of immunoblotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and tube agglutination test . The antibody titres were found to be directly correlated at the beginning and in the recovery phase of GBS . Antibodies of IgG and IgA classes were present from the very onset of the disease as well as 5 months later, but with a lower titre population . However, antibodies of the IgM class were persistent only at the onset of the infection and disappeared during the following 5 months . Our results strongly support the hypothesis that in GBS patients, antiflagellar antibodies are induced during C . jejuni infection and can be used in the diagnosis of C . jejuni-associated GBS.

Infect Immun, 2000 Jan, 68(1), 184 - 91
Cytolethal distending toxin sequence and activity in the enterohepatic pathogen Helicobacter hepaticus; Young VB et al.; Little is known about the molecular pathogenesis of hepatitis and enterocolitis caused by enterohepatic Helicobacter species . Sonicates of the murine pathogen Helicobacter hepaticus were found to cause progressive cell distension, accumulation of filamentous actin, and G(2)/M cell cycle arrest in HeLa cell monolayers . The genes encoding this cytotoxic activity were cloned from H . hepaticus . Three open reading frames with closest homology to cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC from Campylobacter jejuni were identified . Sonicates of a laboratory strain of Escherichia coli carrying the cloned cdtABC gene cluster from H . hepaticus reproduced the cytotoxic activities seen with sonicates of H . hepaticus . Cytolethal distending toxin activity is a potential virulence determinant of H . hepaticus that may play a role in the pathogenesis of Helicobacter-associated hepatitis and enterocolitis.

J Clin Periodontol, 1999 Dec, 26(12), 822 - 32
Pre- and post-implantation microbiota of the tongue, teeth, and newly placed implants; Lee KH et al.; OBJECTIVES: This investigation sought intra-oral sources of species colonizing dental implants . MATERIALS AND METHODS: Plaque samples were taken pre- and post-successful osseointegration from implants, teeth, and from tongues of 10 edentulous and 11 partially dentate subjects . Samples were assayed using whole genomic DNA probes in a checkerboard assay to 42 subgingival species . RESULTS: Similar prevalences and mean levels (10(3) to 10(4)) of microorganisms colonized implants and teeth . Species levels from tongue samples were higher than those of teeth and implants, although species prevalence was similar, suggesting that larger samples were obtained from the tongue . No significant differences were observed between the microbiota from the tongue of edentulous and partially dentate subjects . Most implant species were detected on tongue pre-implantation . In individual edentulous subjects, there were positive associations between Capnocytophaga ochracea and Campylobacter rectus from tongue and implant samples . In individual partially dentate subjects, there were positive associations between Fusobacterium nucleatum subsp . vincentii from tongue and implant samples, and Treponema denticola from implant and tooth samples taken at the same visit . CONCLUSION: This study indicated that the tongue, in addition to teeth, can be a source for species colonizing new implants.

Neurology, 1999 Dec 10, 53(9), 2122 - 7
Rapidly progressive, predominantly motor Guillain-Barré syndrome with anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibodies; Ang CW et al.; OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibodies in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and to determine the relation of anti-ganglioside antibodies with clinical features . BACKGROUND: The GBS is heterogeneous with regard to clinical manifestations, antecedent infections, and the presence and specificity of anti-ganglioside antibodies . Recently, antibodies to minor gangliosides have been identified in serum from GBS patients . METHODS: The authors used ELISA to detect anti-ganglioside antibodies in 132 GBS patients and then correlated results with a database containing information on antecedent infections and clinical parameters . RESULTS: Anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibodies could be detected in 19 (14%) GBS patients . The presence of anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibodies was related to antecedent Campylobacter jejuni infection (p<0.001) . GBS patients with anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibodies had a rapidly progressive, more severe, and predominantly distal weakness . Furthermore, they had less sensory loss, paresthesia, and cranial nerve involvement . In most patients, this reactivity was independent of reactivity to GM1 . Dividing patients into separate groups based on their reactivity to GalNAc-GD1a and GM1 enabled the authors to delineate more homogeneous subgroups with regard to clinical features . CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further evidence for the hypothesis that antecedent infections and the specificity of subsequent anti-neural antibody responses determine the clinical manifestations in GBS patients.

Clin Exp Pathol, 1999, 47(5), 207 - 13
{The hypothesis of infectious etiology for idiopathic nervous system diseases: from the postulates of Koch to the criteria of Hill}; Belec L; The evaluation of the hypothesis of an infectious etiology to some neurological diseases comprises four different situations . First, numerous neurological diseases have an obvious infectious etiology (encephilitis, meningoencephilitis) . Second, some neurological disorders were primarily suspected to be have an infectious etiology, but the causative microorganism was discovered either longtime after the princeps description of the disease (neurologic Whipple disease, due to Tropheryma whippelii), or at the same time (tropical spastic para-paresis secondary to HTLV-I infection) . Third, for other neurological diseases, an infectious etiology that was not suspected at time of their anatomoclinic descriptions, was further demonstrated in the context of a generally complex physiopathology (Guillain-Barre syndrome and infection by Campylobacter jejuni) . Finally, some idiopathic neurological diseases could be related to well known or yet unknown microorganisms, in association with some environmental factors, and with a particular genetic or acquired susceptibility of the host . The evaluation of an infectious etiology to these idiopathic neurological disorders must be envisioned according to 3 possibilities: 1) generally, the neurological disease is well defined, but its etiology remains unknown and an infectious hypothesis could be relevant (multiple sclerosis, post-polio syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis); 2) sometimes, a microorganism that is not associated with a known disease, and then qualified as "orphelin", could be associated with neurological disorders (spumaretrovirus); 3) finally, a new neurological disease could be associated with a known or yet unknown microorganism, directly or indirectly . In conclusion, some idiopathic neurological diseases could have an infectious etiology, with physiopathologic, diagnostic, prophylactic (vaccination) and therapeutic (use of anti-infectious drugs) consequences.

Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr, 1999 Oct-Nov, 112(10-11), 380 - 4
{Increase of bacterial resistance in human medicine by resistance genes of bacteria from meat supplying animals}; Wagner J et al.; Two different groups of bacteria carrying genes encoding for resistance to antibiotics may be transmitted from animals to humans via food products: a.) obligate infectious agents (enteric pathogens, e.g . Salmonella enterica spp., Campylobacter spp., EHEC) and b) facultative pathogenic species (e.g . E . coli, enterococci) . Thus far, it is unknown whether genes encoding for resistance to antibiotics from these bacteria may be transferred to bacteria in normal flora of the host . The transfers of genes encoding for resistance to vancomycin from animal sources to the mucosa of humans has been suggested . Thus, there is a threat that these plasmid-encoded resistance genes may also be transferred to other gram-positive organisms present in the human flora . Vancomycin is the antibiotic in reserve for treatment of infections caused by oxacillin (methicillin) resistant strains of S . aureus and by strains of pneumococcus resistant to penicillin.

J Med Microbiol, 1999 Dec, 48(12), 1123 - 5
A novel serotype of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) as a major pathogen in an outbreak of infantile diarrhoea; Barlow RS et al.; An outbreak of infantile diarrhoea was investigated in 32 children, all <2 years old, in the tropical north of Australia . Rotavirus (63%) and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) (59%) were the most common pathogens identified . Of the 19 EPEC isolates, 14 (74%) were of serotype O126:H12, hitherto unreported as an EPEC serotype . Other pathogens isolated included Salmonella spp . (16%), Campylobacter spp . (3%), Giardia (3%) and Shigella spp . (3%) . EPEC-related gastro-enteritis is an uncommon but recognised cause of diarrhoeal outbreaks in Australia and clinicians need to be aware of the possibility of this serotype being implicated . This report highlights the disadvantages of relying on serotyping alone for the recognition of EPEC.

Can J Microbiol, 1999 Nov, 45(11), 959 - 69
Arginine biosynthesis in Campylobacter jejuni TGH9011: determination of the argCOBD cluster; Hani EK et al.; Arginine biosynthetic genes from Campylobacter jejuni TGH9011 were cloned by functional complementation of the respective Escherichia coli arginine biosynthetic mutants . Complementation of argA, argB, argC, argD, argE, argF, and argH auxotrophs was accomplished using a pBR322-based C . jejuni TGH9011 plasmid library . By cross-complementation analyses, the first four steps of arginine biosynthesis were shown to be closely linked on the genome . Two additional clones complementing the first (ArgA) and fifth (ArgE) steps in arginine biosynthesis were obtained . Neither recombinant showed linkage to the arg cluster, to each other, nor to other arginine biosynthetic functions by cross-complementation . Genes argF and argH were not linked to other arginine biosynthetic genes by cross-complementation analysis . Restriction enzyme patterns of recombinant plasmids fell into five groups . Group I contained the arg(ABCD) complementing locus . Group II and Group III were the two genetic loci corresponding to the argA and argE complementing genes . Group II contains the hipO gene encoding N-benzoylglycine-amino-acid amidohydrolase, also known as hippurate hydrolase . Group III contains the hipO homolog of C . jejuni . Group IV represents the argF gene . Group V is the argH gene . Functional complementation of mutations in the first four steps of the arginine biosynthetic pathway was obtained on recombinant plasmid pARGC2 . The predicted order of gene complementation was argCargA(argBargD) . The sequence of the insert in plasmid pARGC2 revealed direct homologs for argC, argB, and argD . However, sequence analysis of the gene complementing ArgA function in two separate E . coli argA mutants determined that the C . jejuni gene was not a canonical argA gene . The gene complementing the argA defect, which we call argO, showed limited homology to the streptothricin acetyltransferase gene (sat) of Escherichia coli . The flanking open reading frames in pARGC2 showed no homologies to arginine biosynthetic genes . The structure of the argCOBD gene arrangement is discussed with reference to the presence and location of other arginine biosynthetic genes on the genome of C . jejuni and other bacterial organisms.

Int J Food Microbiol, 1999 Oct 15, 51(2-3), 187 - 90
Prevalence of Campylobacter spp . in poultry and poultry meat in Germany; Atanassova V et al.; Of 509 samples from poultry flocks, 209 isolates (41.1%) were Campylobacter positive . The number of positive cases in broiler carcasses was 45.9% . Of 52 pheasants investigated, 25.9% were Campylobacter positive . Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 86 (42.0%) poultry flock samples, 47 (43%) broiler samples and 15 (28%) wild pheasant samples . C . coli was found at a rate of 1.2% in poultry flocks, 13% in broilers and 21% in pheasants.

Rev Med Interne, 1999 Oct, 20(10), 888 - 901
{Infections associated with pets}; Geffray L; INTRODUCTION: Domestic pets can transmit numerous infections, including bacterial, parasitic, fungal, and viral diseases . This paper reports the epidemiologic, clinical, therapeutic and prophylactic data of these zoonoses . CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS: The routes of transmission are various . Bites and scratches are the most common health hazards and result in localized infections . Pasteurellosis, various aerobic and anaerobic infections, and cat-scratch disease are predominant . Bites are treated by cleaning the wound, rabies and tetanus prophylaxis, and the appropriate use of antibiotics . Other infections are transmitted through cutaneous, mucous, digestive or respiratory routes, by direct contact with the pets, excreta, or by arthropods . The most common are gastrointestinal (campylobacter, salmonella, yersinia, parasites, etc), dermatologic (dermatophytoses, scabies, cutaneous larva migraines, etc.), respiratory (psittacosis, etc.), and multisystemic (toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis, leishmaniosis) . Certain people are at high risk for diverse diseases: small children (toxocariasis, helminthiasis), pregnant women (toxoplasmosis), and immunodeficient patients (cryptosporidiosis, salmonellosis, systemic pasteurellosis) . These infectious diseases can be partly prevented by avoiding contact with diseased animals, and by washing the hands following exposure to pets or pet-derived excreta . Specific vaccines for humans and pets, as well as worming pets regularly, form an important part of the prevention . Veterinarians must discourage the keeping of wild or exotic animals as pets . FUTURE PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS: National health survey institutions and new communication systems can improve our knowledge about the real epidemiology of pet-transmitted zoonoses.

Int J Food Microbiol, 1999 Nov 1, 52(1-2), 39 - 45
Improved PCR detection of Campylobacter jejuni from chicken rinses by a simple sample preparation procedure; Wang H et al.; Many food samples and enrichment media are inhibitory to the PCR, thereby lowering its detection capacity . A simple sample preparation method based on buoyant density centrifugation was examined for its application in PCR detection of Campylobacter jejuni from chicken rinse samples . Bacterial cells were spiked at different levels in a mixture of Preston broth and chicken rinse (4:1 ratio) and 0.9 ml of these mixtures were layered over 0.6 ml of gradient medium made from Percoll . PCR sensitivity for bacterial samples treated with this procedure was approximately 10-100 times higher than for samples without treatment . This sample preparation method allowed for the detection of C . jejuni from 26 of 31 naturally contaminated chicken samples after a 20-24-h enrichment period in Preston broth, compared with only 14 positives for untreated samples . In addition, the effect of Oxyrase on the growth and PCR detection of C . jejuni was examined . While Oxyrase significantly enhanced the growth and the PCR signals of C . jejuni in pure culture, it appeared not to improve the PCR detection of C . jejuni in naturally contaminated chickens.

Nippon Rinsho, 1999 Nov, 57(11), 2461 - 5
{Differential diagnosis of ulcerative colitis}; Matsumoto T et al.; Important points during differential diagnosis of ulcerative colitis from other inflammatory disorders are endoscopic examination and microbial studies of stools . In acute phase of enterocolitis in which waterly diarrhea with bloody stool and abdominal pain appeared, infectious enterocolitis by Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Yersinia, which sometimes causes mucosal edema, hyperemia, erosions and ulceration should be distinguished carefully . Microbial studies of stool would bring helpful information in such situation . In chronic phase of inflammatory diseases of bowel, they often showed chronic diarrhea associated with mucobloody stools and abdominal pain . They often revealed mucosal inflammation mimicking ulcerative colitis during endoscopic evaluation . Among them, most important diseases are amebic colitis, ischemic colitis, radiation colitis and antibiotics associated hemorrhagic colitis.

Pediatr Infect Dis J, 1999 Nov, 18(11), 988 - 92
Campylobacter upsaliensis gastroenteritis in childhood; Jimenez SG et al.; BACKGROUND: Campylobacter upsaliensis can cause gastroenteritis and bacteremia . Data on its epidemiology and role in pediatric gastroenteritis are limited . OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence and clinical features of enteric C . upsaliensis infection in children and to compare these with similar data for Campylobacter jejuni . DESIGN AND METHODS: Medical records of all patients with enteric C . upsaliensis infection between 1992 and 1999 at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, were reviewed . A case-control study (age-matched 1:2) was performed to compare the severity of clinical disease and associated risk factors for infection with C . upsaliensis and C . jejuni . RESULTS: Of 18,516 specimens 666 (3.6%) were positive for C . jejuni and 19 (0.1%) were positive for C . upsaliensis . Records were available for 18 patients with C . upsaliensis gastroenteritis (mean age, 1.6 years; median age, 1.3 years; range, 3 months to 7 years; 14 male) . Eleven patients (61%) presented with acute and 7 (39%) with chronic or intermittent diarrhea . The case-control study showed that fever (P = 0.03), acute diarrhea (P = 0.05) and rectal bleeding (P = 0.0006) were significantly less common in C . upsaliensis than in C . jejuni infection . CONCLUSION: C . upsaliensis is a rare cause of gastroenteritis in young children and, compared with C . jejuni infection, is associated with significantly lower rates of fever, acute diarrhea and rectal bleeding.

J Food Prot, 1999 Nov, 62(11), 1278 - 84
Microbiological quality and safety of ready-to-eat street-vended foods in Johannesburg, South Africa; Mosupye FM et al.; Fifty-one ready-to-eat street foods, 18 dishwater, and 18 surface swab samples were collected from six vendors in Johannesburg, South Africa . Food temperatures were recorded at the time of sampling . Standard methods were used to determine aerobic plate counts (APCs), spore counts (SCs), and Enterobacteriaceae counts (ECs) for food samples as well as coliform counts (CCs) for water and swab samples . In addition, Petrifilm Escherichia coli count (PC) plates were used for the enumeration of coliforms in food, water, and swab samples . The presence of selected foodborne pathogens in the food samples as well as the presence of nonpathogenic E . coli 1 (in food and water samples) was also tested for . Predominant colonies isolated from APC plates were characterized to the genus level . Holding temperatures for cooked meats and gravies ranged from 42.0 to 94.0 degrees C, and those for uncooked salads ranged from 29.0 to 39.0 degrees C . Mean APC values of 3.4 (+/-0.4) log CFU/g, 4.0 (+/-1.2) log CFU/ml, and 2.1 (+/-0.4) log CFU/25 cm2 were obtained for food, water, and swab samples, respectively . Mean SC values of 1.6 (+/-0.2) log CFU/g and 1.5 (+/-0.3) log CFU/25 cm2 were obtained for food and swab samples, respectively . A mean EC value of 2.0 (+/-0.4) log CFU/g for food samples and mean CC values of 2.5 (+/-0.3) log CFU/ml and 1.3 (+/-0.3) log CFU/25 cm2 for water and swab samples, respectively, were determined . Mean PC values of 1.6 (+/-0.1) log CFU/g, 1.9 (+/-0.6) log CFU/ml, and 1.4 (+/-0.4) log CFU/25 cm2 were determined for food, water, and swab samples, respectively . Bacillus cereus was detected in 22%, Clostridium perfringens in 16%, Salmonella spp . in 2%, and E . coli (non-O157:H+) in 2% of the 51 food samples . E . coli was found in 14 water samples (78%) and in 3 food samples (6%) . Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, and Yersinia enterocolitica were also tested for in the food samples, but they were not detected . The 340 isolates obtained from APC plates for food, water, and swab samples were predominantly Bacillus spp., Micrococcus spp., and Staphylococcus spp . for all three sample types . It was concluded that the foods analyzed in this study were of acceptable quality and safety.

J Periodontal Res, 1999 Jul, 34(5), 251 - 60
Enhancement of LPS-stimulated plasminogen activator production in aged gingival fibroblasts; Mochizuki K et al.; Plasminogen activator (PA) converts plasminogen to plasmin, and plasmin activates the kinin cascade and latent methalloproteases . It is known that the alteration of the PA-plasmin system affects the progression of periodontal disease . We have reported previously that LPS from Campylobacter rectus, which is associated with adult periodontitis, increased PA production in human gingival fibroblasts (hGF) . The effects of in vitro- and in vivo-cellular ageing on PA production from human and rat gingival fibroblasts (rGF) were studied . In vitro cellular aged hGF were prepared by subcultivations of hGF, and in vivo aged rGF was cultured primarily from the gingival tissue of aged rats . The cells were challenged with LPS and PA released into the cultured medium was measured as PA activity . Both in vitro and in vivo cellular aged GFs produced a significantly higher PA activity by LPS compared with young GFs cell . In RT-PCR experiments, tissue type PA (tPA) mRNA levels in both aged hGF and rGF were higher than in young cells, whereas plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) mRNA remained unchanged and urotype PA (uPA) mRNA was not detected . Since LPS-stimulated PA activity from gingival fibroblasts was stimulated in aged cells using both in vitro- and in vivo-experimental models, the ageing of gingival fibroblasts may have an effect on the severity of inflammation and degradation of the extracellular matrix of gingival tissues by producing a large amount of PA in response to LPS.

J Clin Microbiol, 1999 Dec, 37(12), 4158 - 60
Rapid identification of Campylobacter, Arcobacter, and Helicobacter isolates by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the 16S rRNA gene; Marshall SM et al.; A rapid two-step identification scheme based on PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of the 16S rRNA gene was developed in order to differentiate isolates belonging to the Campylobacter, Arcobacter, and Helicobacter genera . For 158 isolates (26 reference cultures and 132 clinical isolates), specific RFLP patterns were obtained and species were successfully identified by this assay.

Klin Med (Mosk), 1999, 77(8), 29 - 32
{Population-based study of antibodies to certain potential infectious triggers of spondylarthropathies: a study of Ugro-Finnish population of Russia}; Guseva IA et al.; A study was made of antibodies to some enterobacteria--potential triggers of spondyloarthropathies in population of mordva characterized by higher frequency of HLA-B27 . 141 and 148 plasm samples were taken from erzya and moksha subpopulations, respectively . Enzyme immunoassay has detected specific antibodies IgA, IgM, IgG to Salmonella, Yersinia, Campylobacter and Klebsiella . Specific immune response in the mordva population appeared to depend on gender, age and nationality but not HLA-B27 . In the study population the role of Klebsiella infection in development of ankylosing spondylarthritis was not confirmed though the number of the patients was not sufficient to reject this suggestion.

Med Res Rev, 1999 Nov, 19(6), 497 - 520
Recent progress in novel macrolides, quinolones, and 2-pyridones to overcome bacterial resistance; Chu DT; Macrolides, such as clarithromycin and azithromycin, having good activity against pathogens such as Legionella, Chlamydia, Campylobacter spp, Branhamella spp, Pasteurella multocida and streptococci, have gained wide acceptance for the treatment of both upper and lower respiratory tracts, as well as cutaneous infections . Emergence of bacterial resistance, particularly in gram-positive bacteria, has been observed . Macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and S . pyogenes are found in France and many other countries, resulting in failure of therapy for pneumonia, pharyngitis, and skin infection . RU 004, HMR 3647, and TE 802 were reported to be active against these resistant strains . Research at Abbott produced several macrolide derivatives in the anhydrolide, tricyclic and tetracyclic ketolides as well as 6-O-alkyl ketolides series having potent activity against macrolide resistant S . pyogenes and S . pneumoniae . Research on streptogramins to overcome bacterial resistance in gram-positive bacteria has produced interesting compounds . Another class of antibacterial agent called quinolones is useful for the treatment of bacterial infections of respiratory tract, urinary tract, skin and soft tissues, as well as sexually transmitted diseases . Ciprofloxacin, the market leader, however, has low potency against anaerobes . Bacterial resistance ( such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus ) to ciprofloxacin is increasing rapidly . Many quinolone compounds are being synthesized to address these drawbacks . The new quinolones currently under development are characterized by enhanced activities against streptococci, staphylococci, enterococci, and anaerobes . This presentation reviews the current research in the identification of agents to overcome the macrolide and quinolone resistance .

Clin Lab Med, 1999 Sep, 19(3), 489 - 504, v
Campylobacter jejuni; Fields PI et al.; Campylobacter jejuni is the most frequently diagnosed bacterial cause of human gastroenteritis in the United States . The emergence of antimicrobial-resistant and, in particular, of fluoroquinolone-resistant C . jejuni infections in Europe and the United States, temporally associated with the approval of use of fluoroquinolones in veterinary medicine, is an important public health concern . Recent research has provided strong evidence for an association between Campylobacter infection and Guillain-Barr Syndrome (GBS), and Campylobacter is the most frequent antecedent infection in GBS . The consumption of undercooked poultry and cross-contamination of other foods with uncooked meat products are leading risk factors for human campylobacteriosis . Reinforcing hygienic practices at each link in the food chain, from producer to consumer, is critical in preventing the disease.

P R Health Sci J, 1999 Sep, 18(3), 273 - 6
Campylobacter jejuni among patients with gastroenteritis: incidence at a reference microbiology laboratory in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Lopez Ortiz W et al.; OBJECTIVE: A study designed to evaluate the incidence of Campylobacter jejuni infection among patients with gastroenteritis referred to a Microbiology Laboratory in San Juan was conducted from December 1998 through May 1999 . BACKGROUND: Campylobacter jejuni is recognized around the world as one of the principal causes of gastroenteritis . A specific serotype of this organism has been recently mentioned as a major pathogen preceding Guillain-Barre syndrome . Establishing incidence of Campylobacter jejuni infection is important in order to develop uniform guidelines for clinical laboratories; whether to attempt isolation of this pathogen from all stool samples, or to perform the special procedures only when it is specifically requested by the attending physician . METHODS: In this study, stool samples received at the Microbiology Department of a Reference Laboratory in San Juan, with clear signs of gastroenteritis (i.e . bloody and/or liquid stools) were selected for Campylobacter culture . Samples were fresh rectal swabs, liquid stools or previously inoculated Campylobacter thioglycollate broth . Stools were inoculated directly to the agar, either by using a swab or alternately 1-2 drops of liquid stools, or of the previously inoculated Campylobacter thioglycollate broth . Plates were incubated for 72 hrs . at 42 degrees C in a microaerophilic atmosphere (Beckton Dickinson, BBL Campy Pouch) . RESULTS: Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 3/98 (3.0%) of the samples tested; two of which were cultured as specifically requested by the patient's physician . One isolate was obtained from a sample with no specific request for Campylobacter culture . Enteropathogens other than Campylobacter jejuni were isolated from 18/380 (4.7%) of routinely cultured samples . CONCLUSIONS: The study showed a small increment in Campylobacter jejuni isolation when testing samples with no specific request for Campylobacter culture . Campylobacter jejuni incidence was second to Salmonella species.

Rev Neurol (Paris), 1999 Oct, 155(10), 849 - 56
Eighty three years of the Guillain-Barré syndrome: clinical and immunopathologic aspects, current and future treatments; Toyka KV; It is now 83 years that Guillain, Barre and Strohl described the first two cases of an acute paralytic illness with the typical "dissociation albumino-cytologique" in the cerebrospinal fluid . Since then, the full spectrum of GBS has been documented in hundreds of cases ranging from acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy to the pure motor variants and the Miller Fisher syndrome . During the last 10 years, detailed immunopathologic features have been described and new triggering and possibly causative agents identified, the most prominent being the enteritic bacterium Campylobacter jejuni . Besides the pathogenic role of cell-mediated immunity, IgG antibodies have now been discovered which block neuromuscular transmission . Established treatments include plasma exchange therapy and intravenous immunoglobulin G . Together with sophisticated intensive care measures, mortality has now been reduced to below 5p . 100 with these treatment modalities . Several treatment strategies that proved effective in the animal model of GBS need to be studied in future clinical trials.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1999 Nov, 65(11), 5154 - 7
Recovery in embryonated eggs of viable but nonculturable Campylobacter jejuni cells and maintenance of ability to adhere to HeLa cells after resuscitation; Cappelier JM et al.; The existence of a viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state has been described for Campylobacter jejuni as it had been for a number pathogenic bacteria . Three C . jejuni human isolates were suspended in surface water and subsequently entered the VBNC state . After starvation for 30 days, VBNC cells were inoculated in the yolk sacs of embryonated eggs . Culturable cells were detected in a large proportion of the embryonated eggs inoculated with VBNC C . jejuni cells . Recovered cells kept their adhesion properties.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1999 Nov, 43(11), 2801 - 5
Activities of telithromycin (HMR 3647, RU 66647) compared to those of erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin, and other antimicrobial agents against unusual anaerobes; Goldstein EJ et al.; The comparative activity of telithromycin (HMR 3647) against 419 human anaerobic isolates was determined by the agar dilution method . At concentrations of </=0.5 microgram/ml, telithromycin was active against Actinomyces israelii, Actinomyces odontolyticus, Bacteroides tectum, Bacteroides ureolyticus, Bacteroides gracilis (now Campylobacter gracilis), Porphyromonas spp . (including Porphyromonas gingivalis and Porphyromonas macacae), Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella heparinolytica, and almost all Peptostreptococcus species . Clostridia showed species and strain variability, often with a biphasic pattern . Fusobacterium species, except Fusobacterium russii, were relatively resistant.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1999 Nov, 43(11), 2726 - 30
Activities of gemifloxacin (SB 265805, LB20304) compared to those of other oral antimicrobial agents against unusual anaerobes; Goldstein EJ et al.; The activities of gemifloxacin (SB 265805, LB20304) and comparator agents were determined by an agar dilution method against 419 clinical strains of less-commonly identified species of anaerobes . Gemifloxacin was generally more active than trovafloxacin against gram-positive strains by one to two dilutions . Peptostreptococci (Peptostreptococcus asaccharolyticus, Peptostreptococcus magnus, Peptostreptococcus micros, and Peptostreptococcus prevotii) and Porphyromonas spp . (Porphyromonas asaccharolytica, Porphyromonas canoris, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Porphyromonas macacae) were all susceptible to </=0.25 microgram of gemifloxacin per ml . The MICs of gemifloxacin at which 90% of the following strains were inhibited (MIC(90)s) were </=2 microgram/ml: Actinomyces israelii, Actinomyces odontolyticus, Clostridium innocuum, Clostridium clostridioforme, Anaerobiospirillum spp., Bacteroides tectum, Bacteroides ureolyticus, Bacteroides gracilis (now Campylobacter gracilis), Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella heparinolytica, and the Prevotella oris-buccae group . Fusobacterium naviforme and Fusobacterium necrophorum were also susceptible to </=2 microgram of gemifloxacin per ml, while Fusobacterium varium strains exhibited a bimodal pattern; the other Fusobacterium species, such as Fusobacterium ulcerans and Fusobacterium russii, as well as Veillonella spp., the Prevotella melaninogenica group, Prevotella bivia, Clostridium difficile, and Bilophila wadsworthia were relatively resistant to gemifloxacin (MIC(90)s, >/=4 microgram/ml).

Infect Immun, 1999 Nov, 67(11), 5799 - 805
Evaluation of a truncated recombinant flagellin subunit vaccine against Campylobacter jejuni; Lee LH et al.; A recombinant protein comprising the maltose-binding protein (MBP) of Escherichia coli fused to amino acids 5 to 337 of the FlaA flagellin of Campylobacter coli VC167 was evaluated for immunogenicity and protective efficacy against challenge by a heterologous strain of campylobacter, Campylobacter jejuni 81-176, in two murine models . The sequence of the flaA gene of strain 81-176 revealed a predicted protein which was 98.1% similar to that of VC167 FlaA over the region expressed in the fusion protein . Mice were immunized intranasally with two doses of 3 to 50 microgram of MBP-FlaA, given 8 days apart, with or without 5 microgram of the mutant E . coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LT(R192G)) as a mucosal adjuvant . The full range of MBP-FlaA doses were effective in eliciting antigen-specific serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses, and these responses were enhanced by adjuvant use, except in the highest dosing group . Stimulation of FlaA-specific intestinal secretory IgA (sIgA) responses required immunization with higher doses of MBP-FlaA (>/=25 microgram) or coadministration of lower doses with the adjuvant . When vaccinated mice were challenged intranasally 26 days after immunization, the best protection was seen in animals given 50 microgram of MBP-FlaA plus LT(R192G) . The protective efficacies of this dose against disease symptoms and intestinal colonization were 81.1 and 84%, respectively . When mice which had been immunized with 50 microgram of MBP-FlaA plus LT(R192G) intranasally were challenged orally with 8 x 10(10), 8 x 10(9), or 8 x 10(8) cells of strain 81-176, the protective efficacies against intestinal colonization at 7 days postinfection were 71.4, 71.4, and 100%, respectively.

Int J Biochem Cell Biol, 1999 Sep, 31(9), 961 - 75
Fumarate metabolism and the microaerophily of Campylobacter species; Smith MA et al.; (1) The role of fumarate metabolism in the microaerophily of the Campylobacter genus and the effects of therapeutic agents against it were investigated . (2) NMR spectroscopy was employed to determine the properties of Campylobacter fumarase (Fum) and fumarate reductase (Frd) . Radiotracer analysis was used to determine the production of carbon dioxide by Campylobacter cells . Standard microbiological techniques were used to measure the effects of environmental conditions and inhibitors on bacterial growth . (3) All Campylobacter species tested showed both Fum and Frd activities . Frd activity was observed with or without the addition of an exogenous electron donor in the particulate fractions obtained from lysates . Fumarate was oxidized to carbon dioxide via the acetyl-CoA cleavage pathway . The genes encoding proteins involved in fumarate metabolism were identified in the Campylobacter jejuni genome . Cells grew better in atmospheres with 5 and 10% oxygen levels . Fum activity was the same in cultures grown under different oxygen tensions and did not vary with the age of cultures . Frd activity was higher in cultures which grew at faster rates and decreased with the age of cultures . Four Frd inhibitors showed bactericidal effects against Campylobacter spp . with different potencies . The relative strengths of inhibition of the compounds followed the same order as the bactericidal effects . (4) The results suggested that Frd and Fum are constitutive and play a fundamental role in these microaerophiles which show characteristics of anaerobic metabolism, and that the Frd inhibitors tested would not be of therapeutic use.

Clin Infect Dis, 1999 Sep, 29(3), 613 - 6
Persistent high risk of diarrhea among foreigners in Nepal during the first 2 years of residence; Shlim DR et al.; Although numerous studies have shown that diarrhea is the most common illness occurring during the first few weeks of travel, systematic studies of the incidence of diarrhea during long-term residence in developing countries have not been performed . We conducted a cohort study of the incidence and etiology of diarrhea among 77 expatriate adults who had lived in Nepal for <2 years . Persons were followed prospectively for up to 1 year (mean, 9 months) . The incidence of diarrhea during the surveillance period was 3.3 episodes of diarrhea per person per year, or 0.27 episodes per person per month . The annual attack rate of specific pathogens was 42% for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, 32% for Cyclospora species, 16% for Giardia lamblia, 16% for Shigella species, 10% for Campylobacter species, > or =10% for rotavirus, and 6% for Entamoeba histolytica . This study suggests that adult persons from developed countries who move to developing countries such as Nepal remain at high risk for diarrhea during their first 2 years of residence.

J Clin Microbiol, 1999 Nov, 37(11), 3458 - 64
Case-control study of enteropathogens associated with childhood diarrhea in Dhaka, Bangladesh; Albert MJ et al.; The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, is a major center for research into diarrheal diseases . The center treats more than 100,000 patients a year . To obtain useful information representative of all patients, a surveillance system in which a 4% systematic sample of all patients is studied in detail, including etiological agents of diarrhea, was installed in October 1979 . The first paper on etiology for the surveillance patients was published in 1982, which identified a potential enteric pathogen in 66% of patients . In subsequent years, several new agents of diarrhea have been identified . To assess the importance of a broader spectrum of diarrheal agents including the ones identified relatively recently, we studied 814 children with diarrhea . The children were up to 5 years of age and were part of the surveillance system . They were matched with an equal number of community controls without diarrhea . The study was conducted from February 1993 to June 1994 . A potential enteric pathogen was isolated from 74.8% of diarrheal children and 43.9% of control children (P = 0.0001) . Even though the first study was not a case-control study, it identified rotavirus, Campylobacter jejuni, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Shigella spp . , and Vibrio cholerae O1 as major pathogens . The present study identified these pathogens as being significantly associated with diarrhea . In addition, the study also identified six additional agents, including enteropathogenic E . coli, Aeromonas spp., V . cholerae O139, enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis, Clostridium difficile, and Cryptosporidium parvum, as being significantly associated with diarrhea . Plesiomonas shigelloides, Salmonella spp., diffusely adherent E . coli, enteroaggregative E . coli, Entamoeba histolytica, and Giardia lamblia were not significantly associated with diarrhea . Enteroinvasive E . coli, enterohemorrhagic E . coli, and Cyclospora cayetanensis were not detected in any of the children . The major burden of diseases due to most pathogens occurred in the first year of life . As in the previous study, seasonal patterns were seen for diarrhea associated with rotavirus, V . cholerae, and enterotoxigenic E . coli, and infections with multiple pathogens were common . With a few exceptions, these findings are in agreement with those from other developing countries . This knowledge of a broader spectrum of etiological agents of diarrhea in the surveillance patients will help us plan studies into various aspects of diarrheal diseases in this population.

Carbohydr Res, 1999 Jun 30, 319(1-4), 124 - 32
Chemical structure of a polysaccharide from Campylobacter jejuni 176.83 (serotype O:41) containing only furanose sugars; Hanniffy OM et al.; A neutral polysaccharide was obtained by hot phenol-water extraction of biomass from Campylobacter jejuni 176.83 and subsequently separated from acid-liberated core oligosaccharide of lipopolysaccharide by sequential GPC on Bio-Gel P6 and TSK-40 columns . All sugar components of the trisaccharide repeating unit of the polysaccharide were found to be of the furanose ring form . The major trisaccharide contained beta-L-arabinose, 6-deoxy-beta-D-altro-heptose (beta-D-6d-altHep) and 6-deoxy-beta-L-altrose (beta-L-6d-Alt), whereas in the minor trisaccharide the beta-L-6d-Alt is replaced by its C-5 epimer alpha-D-Fuc . On the basis of 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic studies, including 2D ROESY, HMQC and HMQC-TOCSY experiments, the following structures of the repeating units were established: {formula: see text}

Carbohydr Res, 1999 Jun 30, 319(1-4), 1 - 16
Synthesis of a disialylated hexasaccharide of type VIII group B Streptococcus capsular polysaccharide; Eichler E et al.; As part of our program to design, develop and prepare protective vaccines against the bacterial pathogens Group B Streptococcus, we report the synthesis of a disialylated hexasaccharide . This hexasaccharide represents a portion of the serotype-specific capsular polysaccharide of Type VIII that has the tetrasaccharide repeat unit {beta-L-Rhap-(1-->4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-{alpha-Neu5Ac-(2--> 3)}-beta-D- Galp-(1-->4)}n . A tetrasaccharide corresponding to this repeat unit has been synthesized by us {E . Eichler, H.J . Jennings, D.M . Whitfield, J . Carbohydr . Chem., 16 (1997) 385-411} . Since the protective epitopes are believed to involve several repeat units, methods to extend this tetrasaccharide were examined . This objective requires a glycosylation of the unreactive OH-4 of the beta-L-Rhap, which was accomplished by coupling a D-Galp glycosyl trichloroacetimidate donor with a beta-L-Rhap-(1-->4)-D-Glcp acceptor . Subsequent coupling of this trisaccharide as a donor to an alpha-Neu5Ac-(2-->3)-D-Galp disaccharide acceptor gave a pentasaccharide . The pentasaccharide was deprotected and enzymatically sialylated using an alpha-(2-->3)-sialyltransferase from Campylobacter jejuni to give the title hexasaccahride alpha-Neu5Ac-(2-->3)- beta-D-Galp-(1-->4)-beta-L-Rhap-(1-->4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-{alpha -Neu5Ac- (2-->3)}-beta-D-Galp-(1-->O)-(CH2)3N3.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1999 Oct 15, 179(2), 227 - 32
Routine identification of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli from human stool samples; Steinbrueckner B et al.; Correct identification of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolates to the species or subspecies level is a cumbersome but nevertheless important task for a routine diagnostic laboratory . The widely used biochemical tests might be often misleading while more sophisticated phenotypic or genotypic methods are not generally available . This investigation was performed to assess the performance of common biochemical identification in comparison with species-specific PCR and gas liquid chromatography of whole cell fatty acid extracts (GLC) . A total of 150 consecutive isolates from human stool samples were investigated (134 C . jejuni ssp . jejuni, 14 C . coli, two Helicobacter pullorum) . From these 144, 145 and 149 isolates were correctly identified by biochemistry, GLC and PCR, respectively . Biochemical identification of all C . jejuni isolates was confirmed by PCR . GLC detected both H . pullorum strains but misidentified two C . coli strains as C . jejuni and one C . jejuni strain as C . coli . No single method can be defined as 'gold standard' for identification of C . jejuni and C . coli but a combination of techniques is needed . Therefore a stepwise identification scheme starting with biochemical reactions is suggested . All results other than C . jejuni should be confirmed by further methods . For indoxyl acetate-positive isolates species-specific PCR is recommended while GLC seems to be advantageous in indoxyl acetate-negative isolates.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1999 Oct 15, 179(2), 209 - 15
Transcellular translocation of Campylobacter jejuni across human polarised epithelial monolayers; Bras AM et al.; The mechanisms whereby Campylobacter jejuni translocates across the host intestinal epithelium are not yet understood and the transepithelial route remains undefined . During C . jejuni translocation, the transmonolayer electrical resistance (TER) across polarised monolayers of Caco-2 cells is not affected and the penetration of {(14)C}inulin across the monolayers does not increase . Over 24 h, however, bacteria damage the monolayer integrity, causing a decrease in the TER . These results support C . jejuni translocation through the cytoplasm of invaded cells (transcellular) rather than via intercellular spaces (paracellular).

Ann Biol Clin (Paris), 1999 Sep-Oct, 57(5), 579 - 88
{Measurement of antiganglioside autoantibodies by immunodot-blot assay: clinical importance in peripheral neuropathies}; Caudie C et al.; We retrospectively evaluated measurement data and clinical relevance of autoantibodies to gangliosides in peripheral neuropathies (PN) . The IgG and IgM antiganglioside autoantibodies were determined by our own immunodot-blot assay on membrane and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa) in sera of 1,342 patients with peripheral neuropathies . Anti-GM1 and anti-GD1b autoantibodies formed a part of the normal autoantibody repertoire and were common place in 12% of normal subjects and in 14% of disease control groups . Polyclonal IgM antiganglioside autoantibodies were detected in chronic PN, polyclonal IgG antiganglioside autoantibodies were detected in acute PN . Polyclonal IgM anti-GM1 and anti-GD1b autoantibodies were detected in 35 patients out of 48 with treatable multifocal motor neuropathy with persistent conduction blocks . These autoantibodies well discriminated between suspected motor peripheral neuropathies and motor neuron diseases (sensitivity 73%, specificity 83%, positive predictive value 60%, negative predictive value 91%) . Monoclonal IgM autoantibodies reacted strongly with gangliosides in 15 patients out of 77 with M-IgM neuropathy (19%) . M-IgM autoantibodies differed in their fine specificities with different principal target antigens as demonstrated with cross-reactivity . Such findings provide further evidence for a relationship between neurological syndromes and antiganglioside antibody profiles and also suggest that different gangliosides could be principal target antigens such as GM1, GD1b, GT1b, GD1a or GM2 . Polyclonal IgG anti-GM1 and anti-GD1b autoantibodies were detected in 21 patients out of 22 with acute motor axonal Guillain-Barre syndrome with antecedent of infection by Campylobacter jejuni, polyclonal IgG anti-GQ1b autoantibodies in 9 patients out of 10 with Miller-Fisher syndrome . Detection of antiganglioside autoantibodies by immunodot-blot assay which is simple and quick in testing a large panel of gangliosides has become very important in the diagnosis and in the choose of expensive therapeutic strategies in chronic or acute autoimmune neuropathies.

Rev Panam Salud Publica, 1999 Sep, 6(3), 149 - 56
{Etiologic, clinical and socio-democratic characteristics of acute diarrhea in Venezuela}; Urrestarazu MI et al.; In four cities of Venezuela a study was carried out to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical, and etiological characteristics of acute diarrhea in children under 5 years of age . The study was done between June 1993 and May 1995 and involved children who were seen in a hospital, 2,552 with diarrhea and 793 controls . The Fisher exact test was used for the statistical analysis of the results . Rotaviruses were the most important agents, both in terms of their frequency (30%) and their association with dehydration (58%) . Following in importance were Campylobacter spp . (13%) and Escherichia coli classical O serogroups (9%), but their association with diarrhea was only statistically significant among children less than 3 months old, a fact that is particularly important from the standpoint of treatment . The importance of age was confirmed as a determining factor in the prevalence and severity of diarrhea.

J Bacteriol, 1999 Oct, 181(20), 6371 - 6
Campylobacter jejuni contains two fur homologs: characterization of iron-responsive regulation of peroxide stress defense genes by the PerR repressor; van Vliet AH et al.; Expression of the peroxide stress genes alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (ahpC) and catalase (katA) of the microaerophile Campylobacter jejuni is repressed by iron . Whereas iron repression in gram-negative bacteria is usually carried out by the Fur protein, previous work showed that this is not the case in C . jejuni, as these genes are still iron repressed in a C . jejuni fur mutant . An open reading frame encoding a Fur homolog (designated PerR for "peroxide stress regulator") was identified in the genome sequence of C . jejuni . The perR gene was disrupted by a kanamycin resistance cassette in C . jejuni wild-type and fur mutant strains . Subsequent characterization of the C . jejuni perR mutants showed derepressed expression of both AhpC and KatA at a much higher level than that obtained by iron limitation, suggesting that expression of these genes is controlled by other regulatory factors in addition to the iron level . Other iron-regulated proteins were not affected by the perR mutation . The fur perR double mutant showed derepressed expression of known iron-repressed genes . Further phenotypic analysis of the perR mutant, fur mutant, and the fur perR double mutant showed that the perR mutation made C . jejuni hyperresistant to peroxide stress caused by hydrogen peroxide and cumene hydroperoxide, a finding consistent with the high levels of KatA and AhpC expression, and showed that these enzymes were functional . Quantitative analysis of KatA expression showed that both the perR mutation and the fur mutation had profound effects on catalase activity, suggesting additional non-iron-dependent regulation of KatA and, by inference, AhpC . The PerR protein is a functional but nonhomologous substitution for the OxyR protein, which regulates peroxide stress genes in other gram-negative bacteria . Regulation of peroxide stress genes by a Fur homolog has recently been described for the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis . C . jejuni is the first gram-negative bacterium where non-OxyR regulation of peroxide stress genes has been described and characterized.

Arq Gastroenterol, 1999 Jan-Mar, 36(1), 54 - 60
{Association of patterns of Escherichia coli adherence to HEp-2 cells with acute and persistent diarrhea}; Scaletsky IC et al.; In Brazil diarrhea is the cause of approximately 15% of death among infants . Enteropathogenic E coli is the most important bacterial agent causing acute diarrhea, which is defined as less than 14 days of duration . About 30% of these cases may evolve to persistent diarrhea, defined as lasting more than 14 days . In this work it was carried out a case-control study including 34 children under 2 years of age, and admitted to hospital facilities in Sao Paulo for rehydration therapy . Thirty-four age matched children hospitalized in the same facilities, and presenting no gastrointestinal symptoms were included as controls . Stool samples were analyzed for the presence of bacterial pathogens (diarrheagenic E coli, Shigella, Salmonella, Yersinia, and Campylobacter), protoparasytes, rotavirus, and enteric adenovirus . The E coli strains isolated were analyzed for their ability to adhere to HEp-2 cultured cells, in a 3 h adhesion assay . Search for homology with DNA probes for localized adherence (EAF, eaeA probes), AA (enteroagregative adherence) (AA probe), and diffuse adherence (F1845, AIDA-I probes) was carried out by the colony hybridization method . Twenty-four of the cases were acute diarrhea and 10 persistent diarrhea . Strains with localized adherence were associated with acute and persistent diarrhea . About 23.5% of E coli were associated with typical Enteropathogenic E coli strains (EAF+, eaeA+) . Enteroaggregative E coli (EAggEC) (AA+) was isolated only from cases and in similar frequency for acute and persistent diarrhea . Diffusely adherent E coli (DAEC) which did not hybridize with the diffuse adherence probes were isolated among cases and controls . E coli eaeA+ with localized-like adherence was isolated from cases in a frequency three times higher than in controls, suggesting that it may really have a pathogenic potential.

Rinsho Byori, 1999 Aug, 47(8), 713 - 8
{Campylobacter jejuni enteritis and Guillain-Barré syndrome}; Yuki N; Some patients developed Guillain-Barre syndrome after the administration of bovine brain ganglioside . Patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome subsequent to Campylobacter jejuni enteritis frequently have IgG antibody to GM1 ganglioside . Miller Fisher syndrome, a variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome, is associated with IgG antibody to GQ1b ganglioside . My colleagues and I showed the existence of molecular mimicry between GM1 and lipopolysaccharide of C . jejuni isolated from a patient with Guillain-Barre syndrome, and that between GQ1b and C . jejuni lipopolysaccharides from patients with Miller Fisher syndrome . The glycotope mimicry between infectious agents and gangliosides may function in the production of antiganglioside antibodies and the development of Guillain-Barre syndrome and Miller Fisher syndrome.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1999 Oct, 65(10), 4677 - 81
Viability and DNA maintenance in nonculturable spiral Campylobacter jejuni cells after long-term exposure to low temperatures; Lazaro B et al.; Survival of Campylobacter jejuni at 4 and 20 degrees C was investigated by using cellular integrity, respiratory activity, two-dimensional (2D) protein profile, and intact DNA content as indicators of potential viability of nonculturable cells . Intact DNA content after 116 days, along with cellular integrity and respiring cells, was detected for up to 7 months at 4 degrees C by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis . Most changes in 2D protein profiles involved up- or down-regulation.

Jpn J Infect Dis, 1999 Jun, 52(3), 99 - 105
Pathogenesis of Guillain-Barré and Miller Fisher syndromes subsequent to Campylobacter jejuni enteritis; Yuki N; Some patients developed Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) after the administration of bovine gangliosides . Patients with GBS subsequent to Campylobacter jejuni enteritis frequently have IgG antibody to GM1 ganglioside . Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS), a variant of GBS, is associated with IgG antibody to GQ1b ganglioside . We showed the existence of molecular mimicry between GM1 and lipopolysaccharide of C . jejuni isolated from patients with GBS, and that between GQ1b and C . jejuni lipopolysaccharides from patients with MFS . The molecular mimicry between infectious agents and gangliosides may function in the production of anti-ganglioside antibodies . This sugar mimicry is one possible cause for GBS and MFS, and unidentified host factor may contribute to the development of these syndromes.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 1999 Sep 17, 48(36), 803 - 5
Outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter among attendees of the Washington County Fair-New York, 1999; The isolation of certain pathogen microorganisms from raw milk; Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Gazi, Ankara, TurkeyIn this research, a total of 211 raw milk samples in different areas of Ankara were collected from various dairy plants . Each of these samples was tested for the presence of Yersinia enterocolitica, Listeria monocytogenes and Campylobacter spp . From a total of 14 (6.63%) Y . enterocolitica and Y . enterocolitica-like organisms were isolated . 8 (3.79%) of the total isolation were identified as Y . enterocolitica whereas 6 (2.84%) of these were found to be Y . enterocolitica-like organisms . In addition L . monocytogenes and Campylobacter were detected in 2 (0.94%) and 17 (8.05%) same raw milk samples . Distribution of these patogenic microorganisms was evaluated according to the season . 6 of a total 14 Yersinia spp . were isolated in winter, eight in spring and summer . One of the L . monocytogenes was isolated in winter whereas the other one was isolated in spring 7 of a total of 17 Campylobacter were isolated in the summer months.

J Clin Invest, 1999 Sep, 104(6), 697 - 708
Monoclonal antibodies raised against Guillain-Barré syndrome-associated Campylobacter jejuni lipopolysaccharides react with neuronal gangliosides and paralyze muscle-nerve preparations; Goodyear CS et al.; Guillain-Barre syndrome and its variant, Miller-Fisher syndrome, are acute, postinfectious, autoimmune neuropathies that frequently follow Campylobacter jejuni enteritis . The pathogenesis is believed to involve molecular mimicry between sialylated epitopes on C . jejuni LPSs and neural gangliosides . More than 90% of Miller-Fisher syndrome cases have serum anti-GQ1b and anti-GT1a ganglioside antibodies that may also react with other disialylated gangliosides including GD3 and GD1b . Structural studies on LPS from neuropathy-associated C . jejuni strains have revealed GT1a-like and GD3-like core oligosaccharides . To determine whether this structural mimicry results in pathogenic autoantibodies, we immunized mice with GT1a/GD3-like C . jejuni LPS and then cloned mAb's that reacted with both the immunizing LPS and GQ1b/GT1a/GD3 gangliosides . Immunohistology demonstrated antibody binding to ganglioside-rich sites including motor nerve terminals . In ex vivo electrophysiological studies of nerve terminal function, application of antibodies either ex vivo or in vivo via passive immunization induced massive quantal release of acetylcholine, followed by neurotransmission block . This effect was complement-dependent and associated with extensive deposits of IgM and C3c at nerve terminals . These data provide strong support for the molecular mimicry hypothesis as a mechanism for the induction of cross-reactive pathogenic anti-ganglioside/LPS antibodies in postinfectious neuropathies.

Avian Dis, 1999 Jul-Sep, 43(3), 586 - 9
The absence of cecal colonization of chicks by a mutant of Campylobacter jejuni not expressing bacterial fibronectin-binding protein; Ziprin RL et al.; Campylobacter jejuni is a common cause of human gastrointestinal illness throughout the world . Infections with C . jejuni and Campylobacter coli are frequently acquired by eating undercooked chicken . The ability of C . jejuni to become established in the gastrointestinal tract of chickens is believed to involve binding of the bacterium to the gastrointestinal surface . A 37-kD outer membrane protein, termed CadF, has been described that facilitates the binding of Campylobacter to fibronectin . This study was conducted to determine whether the CadF protein is required for C . jejuni to colonize the cecum of newly hatched chicks . Day-of-hatch chicks were orally challenged with C . jejuni F38011, a human clinical isolate, or challenged with a mutant in which the cadF gene was disrupted via homologous recombination with a suicide vector . This method of mutagenesis targets a predetermined DNA sequence and does not produce random mutations in unrelated genes . The parental C . jejuni F38011 readily colonized the cecum of newly hatched chicks . In contrast, the cadF mutant was not recovered from any of 60 chicks challenged, indicating that disruption of the cadF gene renders C . jejuni incapable of colonizing the cecum . CadF protein appears to be required for the colonization of newly hatched leghorn chickens.

Br J Biomed Sci, 1999, 56(1), 2 - 5
Isolation of sublethally injured campylobacters from poultry and water sources; Mason MJ et al.; Campylobacters are the most common cause of bacterial food poisoning in the UK and are prominent in many other countries worldwide . Sources that have acted as vehicles of infection in many outbreaks include milk, water and poultry, and these may contain campylobacter cells that are sublethally injured and not detected by routine laboratory techniques . Current culture media contain antibiotics to suppress competing flora, and injured campylobacter cells are more sensitive to the antibiotics used and may not grow in these selective media . Therefore, the use of selective broth as the primary culture medium may reduce the isolation rate from samples containing injured cells . To examine this, various experiments were carried out using naturally contaminated river water and fresh chicken samples . In these samples, campylobacter cells showed varying degrees of sublethal injury, with the greatest found in water . A delay of four to eight hours before adding antibiotics to broth significantly increased isolation rate, compared with direct culture in selective broth . With chicken, however, significantly better results were obtained with selective broth as the primary medium.

J Clin Microbiol, 1999 Oct, 37(10), 3276 - 80
Ciprofloxacin resistance in Campylobacter jejuni isolates: detection of gyrA resistance mutations by mismatch amplification mutation assay PCR and DNA sequence analysis; Zirnstein G et al.; The gyrA quinolone resistance determining region was sequenced from 13 ciprofloxacin-resistant and 20 ciprofloxacin-susceptible Campylobacter jejuni isolates . All isolates resistant to ciprofloxacin had Thr-86-to-Ile mutations, a mutation frequently associated with the acquisition of resistance to fluoroquinolones . A mismatch amplification mutation assay (MAMA) PCR protocol was developed that detects this gyrA mutation in quinolone-resistant isolates . The MAMA PCR provides a means for routine detection of the gyrA mutation without the need for sequencing the gyrA gene.

J Clin Microbiol, 1999 Oct, 37(10), 3271 - 5
Isolation of Helicobacter canis from a colony of bengal cats with endemic diarrhea; Foley JE et al.; On the basis of biochemical, phenotypic, and 16S rRNA analyses, Helicobacter canis was isolated from Bengal cats with and without chronic diarrhea . Because the cats were coinfected with other potential pathogens, including Campylobacter helveticus, and because H . canis was isolated from nondiarrheic cats, the causal role of H . canis in producing the diarrhea could not be proven . Histologically, the colons of the four affected cats were characterized by mild to moderate neutrophilic, plasmacytic, and histocytic infiltrates in the lamina propria . Rare crypt abscesses were also noted for three cats but were a more prominent feature of the colonic lesions noted for the fourth cat . This is the first observation of H . canis in cats and raises the possibility that H . canis, like H . hepaticus and H . bilis in mice, can cause inflammation of the colon, particularly in hosts with immune dysregulation . Further studies are needed to determine the importance of H . canis as a primary enteric pathogen in cats and the role of cats in the possible zoonotic spread of H . canis to humans.

Epidemiol Infect, 1999 Aug, 123(1), 47 - 55
Phage typing of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli and its use as an adjunct to serotyping; Frost JA et al.; Campylobacter is the most commonly reported cause of gastro-intestinal infection in England and Wales, with over 50,000 reported cases in 1997 . The majority of human campylobacter isolates in England and Wales are C . jejuni (c . 90%) with most of the remainder being C . coli . We describe the use of phage typing as an extension to serotyping for more detailed characterization within these two species . The scheme was piloted during a study of 2407 C . jejuni and 182 C . coli strains isolated in Wales between April 1996 and March 1997 . Fifty-seven C . jejuni phage types were identified, with the ten most prevalent phage types accounting for 60% of isolates tested; 16% of isolates were untypable . The most common phage type was PT 1 which represented c . 20% of isolates . A further 7% of isolates reacted with the phages but did not conform to a designated type (RDNC) . Only 12 phage types were identified among C . coli, with the two most common types, PT 2 and PT 7 accounting for 75.2% of isolates . When used in conjunction with serotyping, the ability of phage typing to identify between 6 and 29 subtypes within each of the predominant HS types has enabled a further level of discrimination to be achieved that enhances the epidemiological typing of C . jejuni and C . coli.

Rev Neurol (Paris), 1999 Sep, 155(8), 596 - 7
{Acute demyelinating motor neuropathy: an atypical form of the Guillain-Barre syndrome?}; Corcia P et al.; A 33-year-old man presented an acute motor demyelinating neuropathy following Campylobacter jejuni enteritis . The patient was improved with an IgIV treatment . Clinical features and course time were compatible with the diagnosis of a Guillain-Barre syndrome . The electrophysiologic studies were in favor of multifocal motor neuropathy with conduction blocks . We discuss the nosologic group of this neuropathy.

J Immunol Methods, 1999 Jul 30, 227(1-2), 177 - 85
Recombinant single-chain Fv antibody fragment-alkaline phosphatase conjugate for one-step immunodetection in molecular hybridization; Muller BH et al.; Using phage-display technology, a recombinant single-chain Fv antibody fragment (scFv) was rapidly generated from the K16-16 hybridoma secreting mouse monoclonal antibody (MAb) that binds to acetylaminofluorene-labeled DNA (AAF-DNA) . The selected A4 phage-scFv specifically bound to AAF-DNA . The anti-AAF scFv gene was then recloned into a fusion vector for the production of a hybrid protein comprising the antibody fragment fused to a potent bacterial alkaline phosphatase variant (PhoAv) . The anti-AAF scFv-PhoAv hybrid protein was bifunctional and possessed both antigen binding capacity and PhoA activity . The recombinant conjugate was directly used, without further purification, for one-step immunodetection in dot-blot hybridization . The detection limit was identical and the test was quicker than the conventional two-step procedure with the purified anti-AAF MAb revealed with a secondary enzyme-labeled antibody . To assess the value of this new reagent for the immunodetection of genomic nucleic acids, genomic DNAs of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli were then one-step immunodetected with non-purified recombinant scFv-PhoAv conjugate in a Southern-blot hybridization experiment . The present study shows that the genetic fusion with PhoAv provides a new tool for immunodetection which presents easier and quicker production and use with the same sensitivity and specificity as classical reagents . The recombinant anti-AAF scFv-PhoAv conjugate is a promising alternative reagent for applications involving the immunodetection of specific DNA or RNA sequences, such as the detection and characterization of microorganisms.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1999 Jul, 18(7), 496 - 8
Campylobacter bacteremia and pneumonia in two splenectomized patients; Sakran W et al.; Two patients with beta thalassemia who had undergone splenectomy for hypersplenism were admitted to the hospital with high fever and lobar pneumonia . Neither patient had gastrointestinal symptoms . Campylobacter bacteremia was diagnosed in both patients . Campylobacter jejuni was identified in the first patient and Campylobacter fetus in the second . Both patients were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and recovered fully.

Dis Mon, 1999 Jul, 45(7), 268 - 99
Infectious diarrhea; Goodman L et al.; Infectious diarrhea is an extremely common illness that affects millions of Americans annually . For most patients, the illness is a self-limited one . Its major risk is dehydration . However, for some patients, diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration or be associated with bacteremia and metastatic infection . Patients with these conditions require prompt treatment . A large number of organisms have been associated with diarrhea in humans, and most laboratories routinely screen for Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter . Other bacteria, parasites, and viruses account for a significant percentage of diarrhea cases and frequently go undetected . This article summarizes many of these pathogens and describes the settings in which they can be acquired . Food distribution networks have made the delivery of previously rare foods to remote areas a commonplace occurrence; this has also led to new challenges in the diagnosis and prevention of food-borne illnesses . Outbreaks of diarrhea now frequently extend across many states . The identification of a rare strain of a bacterial pathogen or changes in the isolation rate of common pathogens may be early clues to the cause of such an ongoing outbreak . Most enteric pathogens cause disease by either stimulating the secretion of fluids at the level of the small bowel or by irritating and invading the colon . Organisms that cause disease by the latter mechanism have the potential to invade the blood stream and spread to other parts of the body, including the bones and the central nervous system . Several organisms have been associated with specific postinfectious syndromes that are responsible for additional morbidity and mortality . The antibiotic resistance of bacterial pathogens has been increasing, and this has a limiting effect on the empiric treatment choices available for suspected bacterial diarrhea . Careful attention to local sensitivity patterns and appropriate testing of the patient's isolate are among the important factors that lead to successful treatment decisions.

Intern Med, 1999 Sep, 38(9), 729 - 32
Systemic lupus erythematosus demonstrating serum anti-GM1 antibody, with sudden onset of drop foot as the initial presentation; Matsuki Y et al.; In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), peripheral neuropathies are relatively uncommon and rarely present as the initial symptom . We herein describe a 61-year-old woman who developed a sudden onset of drop foot, which was indistinguishable from Guillain-Barre syndrome based on the clinical symptoms alone . Antibodies against ganglioside GM1 were detected in the serum, while no antibodies to Campylobacter jejuni were observed . An electrophysiological study showed axonal impairment rather than demyelination . A pathological examination of a sural nerve biopsy specimen and further laboratory examinations suggested the observed peripheral neuropathies to have arisen due to lupus vasculitis . The serological activities of SLE responded well to treatment with corticosteroids, mizoribine and immunoadsorption therapies, however, the drop foot symptoms did not change remarkably.

J Clin Gastroenterol, 1999 Sep, 29(2), 183 - 7
Does acid suppression by antacids and H2 receptor antagonists increase the incidence of atrophic gastritis in patients with or without H . pylori gastritis?
Carter M, Katz DL, Haque S, DeLuca VA Jr.
Currently there is controversial evidence that suggests that the accepted incidence of atrophic gastritis of 1.2 to 3.3% in patients with Helicobacter pylori gastritis may be increased by the long-term suppression of acid by a proton pump inhibitor (omeprazole) . The purpose of this study is to show whether lesser forms of acid suppression by antacids or H2 receptor antagonists may have an influence on the development of atrophic gastritis . The authors recently reported a study in which a cohort of 36 patients with symptoms of dyspepsia were followed clinically for a period of 7 to 19 years . In that report all subjects underwent upper endoscopy with two biopsy specimens each from the antrum and fundus, on at least two occasions, 7 to 19 years apart . A diagnosis of atrophic gastritis was based on the interpretation of these biopsies by two gastrointestinal pathologists . The presence of H . pylori colonization was determined by tissue sampling and by a campylobacter-like organisms test of the antrum . Of the 36 patients in the authors' previous report, 33 had adequate baseline and follow-up data on medications consumed throughout the period of the study . In their current report they now present the findings of a retrospective review in which they correlate the presence of atrophic gastritis with the sole use of antacids and H2 receptor antagonists throughout the period of the study . In the cohort of 33 patients evaluated from the previous report, the authors found that atrophic gastritis had developed in all 28 patients positive for H . pylori, and in none of the 5 patients negative for H . pylori (p < 0.0001) . A retrospective analysis of this previously studied cohort of 33 patients revealed that the use of antacids and H2 receptor antagonists did not predict the development of atrophic gastritis in either H . pylori-negative or -positive subjects . In a retrospective analysis of a cohort of 33 patients followed for an average of 11.7 years, atrophic gastritis developed in H . pylori-positive but not in H . pylori-negative subjects, irrespective of the use and duration of antacids or H2 receptor antagonists.

Int J Food Microbiol, 1999 Aug 1, 49(1-2), 43 - 8
Occurrence of Vibrio and other pathogenic bacteria in Mytilus galloprovincialis (mussels) harvested from Adriatic Sea, Italy; Ripabelli G et al.; Sixty-two samples of Mytilus galloprovincialis (mussels) harvested from approved shellfish waters in the Adriatic Sea were examined for the presence of Vibrio, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and verocytotoxin producing Escherichia coli . Vibrio spp . were isolated from 48.4% of samples; the species most frequently found were V . alginolyticus (32.2%) and V . vulnificus (17.7%), followed by V . cincinnatiensis (3.2%), V . parahaemolyticus (1.6%), V . fluvialis (1.6%) and V . cholerae non-O1 (1.6%) . V . parahaemolyticus resulted negative to Kanagawa-phenomenon and to PCR amplification of tdh gene . V . cholerae resulted negative to PCR amplification of sto gene . No Salmonella, Campylobacter, or E . coli verocytotoxin-producing strains were isolated . The results of this study suggest the potential risk of ingesting raw or undercooked mussels due to the frequent presence of potentially pathogenic Vibrio species.

Clin Infect Dis, 1999 Aug, 29(2), 356 - 60
Comparative value of colonic biopsy and intraluminal fluid culture for diagnosis of bacterial acute colitis in immunocompetent patients . Infectious Colitis Study Group; Barbut F et al.; We compared the yield of intraluminal fluid culture to that of biopsy specimens obtained during colonoscopy for the diagnosis of bacterial colitis in 93 immunocompetent patients with a recent episode of diarrhea and macroscopic lesions of colitis . Stool culture findings were also available for 68 patients . At least one bacterial pathogen was isolated from the biopsy specimen, intraluminal fluid, or stool from 48 patients (51.6%) . Salmonella species, Clostridium difficile, Klebsiella oxytoca, Shigella species, and Campylobacter species were recovered from 16 (17.2%), 15 (16.1%), 8 (8.6%), 7 (7.5%), and 4 (4.3%) of the patients, respectively . One Shigella species and one K . oxytoca strain were isolated from biopsy specimens but not from intraluminal fluid, and intraluminal fluid was the only positive specimen in 12 cases (yielding 1 Salmonella species, 2 Shigella species, 2 K . oxytoca, and 7 C . difficile isolates) . In nine cases out of 10, toxin B was detected only in intraluminal fluid . A correlation of 91.2% was observed between stool and intraluminal fluid cultures for Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter species isolations . Culture of biopsy specimens adds little to the diagnosis of infectious colitis, and stools and intraluminal fluids appear to have comparable value.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1999 Sep, 43(9), 2156 - 60
Sulfonamide resistance in clinical isolates of Campylobacter jejuni: mutational changes in the chromosomal dihydropteroate synthase; Gibreel A et al.; The characterization of the genetic basis of sulfonamide resistance in Campylobacter jejuni was attempted . The resistance determinant from a sulfonamide-resistant strain of C . jejuni was cloned and was found to show 42% identity with the folP gene (which codes for dihydropteroate synthase, the target of sulfonamides) of the related bacterium Helicobacter pylori . The sequences of the areas surrounding the folP gene in C . jejuni showed similarity to those of the areas surrounding the corresponding gene in H . pylori . The folP gene of C . jejuni, which mediates the resistance, was observed to show particular features when it was compared to other known folP genes . One of these features is the presence of two pairs of direct repeats (15 and 27 bp) within the coding sequence of the gene . Comparison of the C . jejuni folP genes that mediate susceptibility and resistance revealed the occurrence of mutations that changed four amino acid residues . Resistance of C . jejuni to sulfonamides could be associated with one or several of these four mutational substitutions, which all occurred in the five different resistant isolates studied . The codon for one of these changed amino acids was found to be located in the second direct repeat within the coding sequence of the gene . The change made the repeat perfect . The transformation of both the resistance and the susceptibility variants of the gene into an Escherichia coli folP knockout mutant was found to complement the dihydropteroate synthase deficiency, confirming that the characterized sulfonamide resistance determinant codes for the C . jejuni dihydropteroate synthase enzyme . Kinetic measurements established different affinities of sulfonamide for the dihydropteroate synthase enzyme isolated from the resistant and susceptible strains . In conclusion, sulfonamide resistance in C . jejuni was shown to be associated with mutational changes in the chromosomally located gene for dihydropteroate synthase, the target of sulfonamides.

Microbios, 1999, 98(391), 133 - 40
Phylogenetic characterization of Centipeda periodontii, Selenomonas sputigena and Selenomonas species by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis; Sawada S et al.; The nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequences for oral Gram-negative anaerobic motile bacteria, Centipeda periodontii, Selenomonas sputigena and Selenomonas species (formerly S . sputigena type strain), were determined in order to unveil their relationship to other oral motile bacteria . To determine the phylogenetic characterization of these bacteria, their 16S rRNA gene sequences were obtained and compared with those from the ribosomal sequence databases previously reported . The 16S rRNA gene sequences of these bacteria were similar to those of Selenomonas ruminantium and Schwartzia succinivorans isolated from rumens, and to Pectinatus cerevisiiphilus isolated from spoiled beer . Among oral bacteria, the nucleotide sequence analysis of these bacteria revealed high nucleotide similarity to Veillonella species, whereas low similarity to oral motile bacteria such as Campylobacter species . Phylogenetic analysis clearly confirmed that C . periodontii and two Selenomonas species were classified as relatives of a group besides Selenomonas, Schwartzia, and Pectinatus species, and not as close relatives to oral motile bacteria, such as Campylobacter species . These results suggest that such oral Gram-negative anaerobic motile bacteria are close relatives of oral bacteria.

Anal Chem, 1999 Aug 15, 71(16), 3416 - 9
Direct analysis and identification of Helicobacter and Campylobacter species by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry; Winkler MA et al.; Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter fetus, and Campylobacter coli were compared with Helicobacter pylori and Helicobacter mustelae by direct analysis of individual cultured colonies in 50% methanol-water with a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF MS) . H . pylori and Campylobacter species from blood agar culture produced unique, complex spectra with over 25 different ions in mass/charge (m/z) range from 2,000 to 62,000 . A biomarker for H . pylori was centered around m/z 58,268, and H . mustelae was distinguished from H . pylori by its ions at m/z 49,608 and 57,231 . Campylobacters could be distinguished from Helicobacters by their lack of ions around m/z 58,000 and 61,000 as well as distinguishing biomarkers of lower m/z: 10,074 and 25,478 for C . coli; m/z 10,285 and 12,901 for C . jejuni; m/z 10,726 and 11,289 for C . fetus . MALDI-TOF MS is a rapid and direct method for detection of these potentially pathogenic bacteria from culture.

Microbiology, 1999 Aug, 145 ( Pt 8), 2145 - 51
A novel approach for the construction of a Campylobacter mutant library; Bleumink-Pluym NM et al.; Given the lack of functional transposons for use in Campylobacter spp., an alternative method of insertional mutagenesis using natural transformation was developed . High efficiencies of transformation were only obtained with species-specific DNA . This feature was a key element in the construction of mutant libraries of this bacterium . A chromosomal library of Campylobacter jejuni 81116 DNA was made in shuttle vector pUOA18 . Next, a kanamycin-resistance (KmR) cassette was ligated into the inserts of the plasmids . C . jejuni 81116 was then transformed with the resulting products to allow homologous recombination between genomic fragments present in the shuttle vector and the chromosome . Transformants were pooled and chromosomal DNA from these transformants was used to retransform C . jejuni 81116 . This resulted in transformants containing the KmR cassette in the chromosome but lacking the vector . In order to evaluate this approach for the construction of a mutant bank, the KmR insertional mutants were screened for loss of motility . Partial characterization of 11 non-motile mutants indicated that the inserted genes are involved in motility . Four mutants had the KmR cassette inserted in genes involved in flagella biosynthesis, namely flaA/B, neuB and flgK, and produced incomplete or no flagella . Four mutants had the KmR cassette inserted in genes possibly involved in flagella motor function: pflA, fliM and orf1 downstream of the fliN gene . Three mutants had the KmR cassette inserted in genes that are homologous to genes encoding hypothetical proteins of Helicobacter pylori.

Commun Dis Public Health, 1999 Jan, 2(1), 39 - 42
An outbreak of campylobacter food poisoning at a university campus; Gent RN et al.; Twelve cases of Campylobacter jejuni infection were identified on a university campus in the first 12 days of November 1997 . Consumption of food from a single outlet, where poor food handling practices were identified, was statistically associated with infection . The epidemiological evidence suggested that what presented as a point source outbreak was a series of small cross contamination incidents associated with multiple strain types . The nature of this outbreak suggests that current surveillance systems are inadequate for the identification of campylobacter outbreaks . Enhanced surveillance should be introduced to identify case clusters of campylobacter infections and public health professionals should remember the risks of cross contamination associated with ubiquitously contaminated foodstuffs, especially raw meats and poultry . The role of strain typing in campylobacter epidemiology is as yet undefined.

Epidemiol Infect, 1999 Jun, 122(3), 403 - 8
Health risks associated with unpasteurized goats' and ewes' milk on retail sale in England and Wales . A PHLS Dairy Products Working Group Study; Little CL et al.; A pilot study to determine the microbiological quality of unpasteurized milk from goats and ewes sampled from farm shops, health food shops, and other retail premises found that 47%, (47/100) of goats' and 50% (13/26) of ewes' milk samples failed the standards prescribed by the Dairy Products (Hygiene) Regulations 1995 . In addition, Staphylococcus aureus, haemolytic streptococci or enterococci, were present in excess of 10(2) c.f.u./ml in 9 (7 %) 2 (2 %) and 19 (15%) samples, respectively . Salmonella, campylobacter, verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes were not detected in the samples . At the time of purchase approximately half of the milk samples (58 %) were frozen, the rest were liquid . Farm outlets sold predominantly liquid milk, other retail premises sold a frozen product . The microbiological quality of goats' and ewes' milk, whether frozen or liquid, was not significantly different . Milk sold from farm shops was of lower quality than that from health food shops and other retail premises . In this pilot study most producers (92 %) supplied, and most retailers (76 %) sold unpasteurized goats' and ewes' milk that contained unacceptable levels of indicator organisms . The study was carried out during the winter when goats' milk production is reduced . The results indicate the need for a full representative study of unpasteurized goats' and ewes' milk on retail sale throughout the year.

Epidemiol Infect, 1999 Jun, 122(3), 367 - 75
Molecular epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni identifies a dominant clonal line within Scottish serotype HS55 populations; Harrington CS et al.; Three molecular typing methods, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), ribotyping, and flagellin (flaA) gene typing, were used to discriminate within a group of 28 Campylobacter jejuni, heat-stable serotype 55 (HS55) isolates derived from cases of campylobacter enteritis occurring throughout Scotland, including 9 isolates associated with an outbreak . PFGE was found to be most discriminatory, identifying 6 distinct profiles, followed by ribotyping (5 profiles), and then flagellin gene typing (4 profiles) . The coincidence of all three genotypic markers identified a dominant clonal line within the HS55 group, accounting for each of the outbreak strains, and for 9 of the 19 sporadic strains . A second, closely related, clonal line accounted for a further 5 of the sporadic strains, and also included the HS55 reference strain . Identification and monitoring of such clonal lines should facilitate more effective future epidemiological surveillance of C . jejuni.

FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol, 1999 Aug 15, 25(3), 245 - 54
Cloning and characterization of a gene encoding an antigenic membrane protein from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae with homology to ABC transporters; Martin PR et al.; Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is a pathogenic bacterium responsible for a highly contagious and often fatal form of bronchopneumonia in swine . Survival from a natural infection generally results in immunity from further infection by all 12 common serotypes, suggesting the presence of common protective antigens . We have identified one of the antigenic membrane proteins from A . pleuropneumoniae serotype 5, and cloned the gene which encodes it . This gene is found in all 12 serotypes, and encodes a protein with a predicted molecular mass of 30 kDa . Sequence analysis revealed that this antigen has a typical signal sequence characteristic of lipoproteins, and is likely to be secreted and inserted into the periplasmic side of the inner membrane . The gene shows high homology to the surface antigen CjaA of Campylobacter jejuni and to solute binding proteins of the ABC transporter family . The probable role of this protein in substrate binding and transport was supported by the presence of an upstream gene with significant homology to ATP binding proteins of the same family . In Escherichia coli, the cloned gene produced a protein which reacted strongly with convalescent sera from swine infected with A . pleuropneumoniae serotype 5, and weakly with sera from swine infected with serotype 1A or from swine vaccinated with a killed bacterin of serotype 1A or 5 . It thus appears that this antigen displays some crossreactivity between serotypes, and may be less exposed in bacterins than in live cells . This protein, designated ApaA, may have an important role in nutrient acquisition and in the pathogenesis of infections caused by A . pleuropneumoniae.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1999 Aug, 34(4), 329 - 32
Comparison of two selective media for the isolation of Campylobacter species from a pediatric population in Mexico; Arzate Barbosa P et al.; Two selective media for the isolation of Campylobacter species, a blood containing medium (CampyBAP) and blood-free, charcoal based formulation (CCDA) were compared for the ability to isolate Campylobacter species during a 1-year period . Of the 1,132 stool samples cultured during the study, 42 Campylobacter species were recovered using both media (3.7% yield) . CCDA was better than CampyBAP for isolating C . jejuni subsp jejuni (18/20 vs 8/20, P = 0.002) and for all isolates, CCDA was superior over CampyBAP (39/42 vs 13/42, P < 0.0001) . Overall, CCDA is a superior medium compared with CampyBAP for isolating Campylobacter species in our study population.

Nutr Rev, 1999 Jul, 57(7), 224 - 7
Food-borne antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter infections; Evaluation of cytokine production and phagocytic activity in mice infected with Campylobacter jejuni; University of Jaen, Department of Health Sciences, Unit of Microbiology, 23071 Jaen, SpainThe effect of several Campylobacter jejuni strains on the immune response was analyzed in mice after intraperitoneal inoculation with 10(10) colony forming units (CFU) . Three C . jejuni strains were assayed: CCUG 6968 (enterotoxigenic), CCUG 7580 (enterotoxigenic), and CCUG 7440 (non-enterotoxigenic) . These C . jejuni strains induced a peritoneal inflammatory response and an important increase in the peritoneal phagocyte oxidative activity measured by chemiluminescence assay, as well as an increase in the number of peritoneal cells . Both interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) production by peritoneal cells were not modified . However, C . jejuni 7440 caused a statistically significant increase in TNFalpha production . These results have demonstrated that different strains of C . jejuni induce an increase of the inflammatory response without a significant cytokine release . However, these infectious microorganisms may be eliminated efficiently by murine macrophages after phagocytosis.

J Bacteriol, 1999 Aug, 181(16), 4798 - 804
An iron-regulated alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AhpC) confers aerotolerance and oxidative stress resistance to the microaerophilic pathogen Campylobacter jejuni; Baillon ML et al.; Microaerophiles like Campylobacter jejuni must resist oxidative stresses during transmission or infection . Growth of C . jejuni 81116 under iron limitation greatly increased the expression of two polypeptides of 26 and 55 kDa . The identification of these proteins by N-terminal amino acid sequencing showed both to be involved in the defense against oxidative stress . The 55-kDa polypeptide was identical to C . jejuni catalase (KatA), whereas the N terminus of the 26-kDa polypeptide was homologous to a 26-kDa Helicobacter pylori protein . The gene encoding the C . jejuni 26-kDa protein was cloned, and the encoded protein showed significant homology to the small subunit of alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AhpC) . The upstream region of ahpC encoded a divergent ferredoxin (fdxA) homolog, whereas downstream sequences contained flhB and motB homologs, which are involved in flagellar motility . There was no evidence for an adjacent homolog of ahpF, encoding the large subunit of alkyl hydroperoxide reductase . Reporter gene studies showed that iron regulation of ahpC and katA is achieved at the transcriptional level . Insertional mutagenesis of the ahpC gene resulted in an increased sensitivity to oxidative stresses caused by cumene hydroperoxide and exposure to atmospheric oxygen, while resistance to hydrogen peroxide was not affected . The C . jejuni AhpC protein is an important determinant of the ability of this microaerophilic pathogen to survive oxidative and aerobic stress.

Exp Gerontol, 1999 Jun, 34(3), 379 - 92
Enhancement of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated PGE2 and IL-1beta production in gingival fibroblast cells from old rats; Okamura H et al.; The effect of aging on gingival fibroblasts in response to bacterial infection was studied . Rat gingival fibroblast (rGF) cells were cultured from gingival tissue removed from young (6 weeks old) and old (20 months old) rats . Both types of rGF cells were challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the periodontal pathogen Campylobacter rectus . The levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) released into the cultured medium were measured by a specific radioimmunoassay . LPS stimulated PGE2 and IL-1beta production in a dose-and time-dependent manner in rGF cells from both young and old rats was seen . Production of PGE2 and IL-1beta by rGF cells from the old rats was higher than those from the young in response to LPS . This greater ability from the older rGF cells to produce PGE2 and IL-1beta was due to higher mRNA levels of cyclooxygenase 2 and IL-1beta, respectively . In contrast, cyclooxygenase-1 and IL-1beta converting enzyme gene mRNA levels remained unchanged . Because LPS-stimulated PGE2 and IL-1beta production was enhanced by in vivo cellular aging, aging of GF may affect the severity of inflammation and bone resorption by producing a large amount of PGE2 and IL-1beta in response to bacterial infection.

J Appl Microbiol, 1999 Jul, 87(1), 115 - 24
Seasonal variation of Campylobacter types from human cases, veterinary cases, raw chicken, milk and water; Hudson JA et al.; During August 1996 (winter) and February 1997 (summer), a total of 180 Campylobacter isolates from a restricted geographical area were obtained from human and veterinary cases, raw milk and chicken, and untreated water . Isolates were typed by Penner serotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of restriction enzyme-produced DNA fragments . Differences were noted between the August and February serotypes with the most, and fourth most frequently isolated serotypes in February being completely absent in August . Two other serotypes were more frequently found in the February isolates, while the reverse was true for two others . In contrast to the serotyping data, one PFGE restriction profile type was dominant in both seasons, and the pattern of distribution of isolates among the other restriction patterns was similar . Five groups of isolates in each month were indistinguishable by both typing methods . Only one group was common to both months . Another group, which was absent in August, dominated the February isolates . Marked differences in the types isolated in the two seasons were therefore evident . Some isolates from human cases were indistinguishable from others isolated from water and raw chicken, indicating possible routes of infection for humans.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1999 Jul 15, 176(2), 345 - 50
Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the flaA gene of Campylobacter jejuni for subtyping human, animal and poultry isolates; Owen RJ et al.; 233 strains of Campylobacter jejuni were subtyped by PCR-RFLP analysis of the flagellin (flaA) gene by double digestion with EcoRI and PstI (EP flaA-profiling) . The strains represented a variety of common Penner heat stable (HS) serotypes and comprised isolates of human, bovine, ovine, chicken and canine origin . FlaA amplicons were obtained directly from DNA in cell lysates of most strains . RFLP analysis showed considerable allelic variation and nine EP flaA-types were identified of which the most common were type 2 (32%), type 3 (20%), type 4 (12%) and type 6 (12%) . Other flaA-profiles each represented less than 10% of strains . C . jejuni strains of each serotype generally had one or two specifically associated flaA-types although some were features of several serotypes . Strains with the same flaA-type were found in different hosts . EP flaA-profiles were reproducible, clear and simple to record, and laboratory protocols were rapid and low cost with high throughput capacity . The EP flaA-profiling scheme provided an excellent molecular subtyping method to supplement HS serotyping, and reference strains are recommended to facilitate its use in future epidemiological investigations.

Int J Syst Bacteriol, 1999 Jul, 49 Pt 3, 1171 - 5
Extensive 16S rRNA gene sequence diversity in Campylobacter hyointestinalis strains: taxonomic and applied implications; Harrington CS et al.; Phylogenetic relationships of Campylobacter hyointestinalis subspecies were examined by means of 16S rRNA gene sequencing . Sequence similarities among C . hyointestinalis subsp . lawsonii strains exceeded 99.0%, but values among C . hyointestinalis subsp . hyointestinalis strains ranged from 96.4 to 100% . Sequence similarities between strains representing the two different subspecies ranged from 95.7 to 99.0% . An intervening sequence was identified in certain of the C . hyointestinalis subsp . lawsonii strains . C . hyointestinalis strains occupied two distinct branches in a phylogenetic analysis of the genus Campylobacter, emphasizing the need for multiple strain analysis when using 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons for taxonomic investigations.

Eur J Oral Sci, 1999 Jun, 107(3), 225 - 8
Periodontitis associated bacteria in supragingival plaque of dental hygienists: stability of carrier state and clinical development; Gmur R et al.; The purpose of this study was the clinical and microbiological re-examination of dental hygienists, who, 30 months before, had shown remarkably high supragingival levels of periodontitis-associated micro-organisms . Interdental plaque was collected from the same molar sites and investigated by the same immunofluorescence assay with taxa-specific monoclonal antibodies as at the initial examination . On average, the 15 re-examined subjects showed slightly increased plaque levels but unchanged bleeding on probing scores (0.3-1.4) . Pocket formation was restricted to a single subject . Prevotella intermedia/P . nigrescens and Peptostreptococcus micros were present in every plaque sample . Prevalences of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Bacteroides forsythus and Campylobacter rectus were again between 20-40%, but some fluctuation within subjects was noted . The data confirm supragingival plaque as a natural habitat for periodontitis-associated bacteria in periodontially healthy persons, and indicate that colonization with A . actinomycetemcomitans, B . forsythus or C . rectus is mostly stable in spite of better than average personal plaque control.

New Microbiol, 1999 Jul, 22(3), 209 - 18
Porphyromonas gingivalis prevalence related to other micro-organisms in adult refractory periodontitis; Lo Bue AM et al.; Forty-six adult periodontal patients, selected on the basis of clinical examination, and 46 adult healthy subjects were examined . The subgingival plaque samples from one inflammatory and one non-inflammatory site of each periodontal patient were studied to determine Porphyromonas gingivalis prevalence related to other periodontal micro-organisms and to periodontal tissue destruction . The results showed Porphyromonas gingivalis as the main pathogenic micro-organism isolated in the inflammatory sites together with Bacteroides forsythus . Peptostreptococcus sp., Actinomyces sp . and Prevotella sp . were found as a normal oral flora in the healthy subjects . Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, Campylobacter rectus and Eikenella corrodens were detected both in inflammatory and in non-inflammatory sites of periodontal patients as well as in the healthy subjects.

J Food Prot, 1999 Jul, 62(7), 735 - 40
Incidence of Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Listeria monocytogenes in poultry carcasses and different types of poultry products for sale on the Belgian retail market; Uyttendaele M et al.; From January 1997 to May 1998, 772 samples of poultry carcasses and poultry products for sale on the retail market in Belgium were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella spp., Salmonella Enteritidis, Campylobacter jejuni, C . coli, and Listeria monocytogenes per 100 cm2 or 25 g . Poultry samples were contaminated with Salmonella (36.5%), C . jejuni and C . coli (28.5%), and L . monocytogenes (38.2%) . In about 12.3% of the poultry samples, the L . monocytogenes contamination level exceeded 1 CFU per g or cm2 . Significant differences in pathogen contamination rates of poultry products were noticed between the poultry products originating from Belgian, French, and U.K . abattoirs . Poultry products derived from broiler chickens running free in pine woods until slaughtering age (12 to 13 weeks) had a significantly (P < 0.05) lower contamination rate of Salmonella than poultry products from enclosed broilers slaughtered at the age of 6 to 8 weeks . A significantly (P < 0.05) lower pathogen contamination rate was noted for Salmonella, C . jejuni, and C . coli for poultry cuts without skin compared to poultry cuts with skin on . An increase in pathogen contamination rate was noticed during cutting and further processing . To diminish C . jejuni, C . coli, Salmonella, and L . monocytogenes contamination rates, hygienic rules of slaughter and meat processing must be rigorously observed . At the moment, zero tolerance for these pathogens is not feasible, and there is a need to establish criteria allowing these pathogens to be present at reasonable levels in the examined poultry samples.

Acta Paediatr, 1999 Jun, 88(6), 592 - 4
Interferon-alpha in viral and bacterial gastroenteritis: a comparison with C-reactive protein and interleukin-6; Mangiarotti P et al.; The aim of the study was to identify serum markers able to differentiate bacterial and viral origin in acute diarrhoea . Interferon-alpha (INF-alpha), C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 were determined on admission in the sera of 119 children aged between 1 mo and 14 y who were hospitalized for rotavirus (n = 60) or bacterial diarrhoea (Salmonella spp . 39 cases, Shigella spp . 15 cases, Campylobacter jejuni 5 cases) . CRP concentration was >10 mg/l in 48.3% of children with viral gastroenteritis and 86.4% of children with bacterial gastroenteritis . IL6 concentration was >100 pg/ml in 11.7% and 26.3% of cases, respectively . INF-alpha was detected in 79.1% of children with rotavirus (sens 79%) and in 3.5% (spec 93%) with bacterial gastroenteritis . However the INF-alpha assay takes 48 h and pathogens are often identified from stools before interferon results are available . We found that serum markers are not discriminating enough to differentiate between viral and bacterial gastroenteritis in emergency cases.

J Food Prot, 1999 Apr, 62(4), 380 - 5
Microbiological status of Australian sheep meat; Vanderlinde PB et al.; Two studies were undertaken to determine the microbiological status of sheep carcass meat and frozen, bulk-packed sheep meat produced in Australia . Samples were collected from 470 sheep carcasses and 415 cartons of frozen sheep trimmings over a period of approximately 12 months . Samples were collected from plants processing sheep carcasses for domestic or export markets . On carcasses, where bacterial counts were obtained, the mean of the log10 aerobic plate count (APC) was 3.92/cm2, the geometric mean of the most probable number (MPN) per square centimeter of Escherichia coli (biotype I) was 23, and the geometric mean of the coliform count was 38 MPN per cm2 . A high percentage (75%) of samples was positive for E . coli (biotype I), 81% were positive for coliforms, 5.74% were positive for Salmonella spp., and 1.29% were positive for Campylobacter . Bacterial counts were higher on carcasses chilled over a weekend than on carcasses chilled for 24 h . The total number of bacteria on carcasses processed for domestic markets was similar to that on carcasses processed for export markets . E . coli O157 was not isolated from any of the 465 samples tested . Of the frozen export samples that tested positive, the mean of the log10 APC was 3.47/g, the geometric mean of the E . coli (biotype I) count was 9 MPN per g, and the geometric mean of the coliform count was 19 MPN per g . Of the frozen export samples tested, 48% were positive for E . coli (biotype I), 58% were positive for coliforms, and 6.5% were positive for Salmonella spp . E . coli O157 was recovered from 1 of 343 frozen sheep meat samples tested (0.29%) . Bacterial counts were higher on samples of domestic product than on samples of export product . Results from both surveys are compared with data from similar studies conducted in other countries.

Infect Immun, 1999 Aug, 67(8), 4237 - 42
Helicobacter pylori induces gastric epithelial cell apoptosis in association with increased Fas receptor expression; Jones NL et al.; The mechanisms involved in mediating the enhanced gastric epithelial cell apoptosis observed during infection with Helicobacter pylori in vivo are unknown . To determine whether H . pylori directly induces apoptosis of gastric epithelial cells in vitro and to define the role of the Fas-Fas ligand signal transduction cascade, human gastric epithelial cells were infected with H . pylori for up to 72 h under microaerophilic conditions . As assessed by both transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy, incubation with a cagA-positive, cagE-positive, VacA-positive clinical H . pylori isolate stimulated an increase in apoptosis compared to the apoptosis of untreated AGS cells (16.0% +/- 2.8% versus 5.9% +/- 1 . 4%, P < 0.05) after 72 h . In contrast, apoptosis was not detected following infection with cagA-negative, cagE-negative, VacA-negative clinical isolates or a Campylobacter jejuni strain . In addition to stimulating apoptosis, infection with H . pylori enhanced Fas receptor expression in AGS cells to a degree comparable to that of treatment with a positive control, gamma interferon (12.5 ng/ml) (148% +/- 24% and 167% +/- 24% of control, respectively) . The enhanced Fas receptor expression was associated with increased sensitivity to Fas-mediated cell death . Ligation of the Fas receptor with an agonistic monoclonal antibody resulted in an increase in apoptosis compared to the apoptosis of cells infected with the bacterium alone (38.5% +/- 7.1% versus 16.0% +/- 2.8%, P < 0.05) . Incubation with neutralizing anti-Fas antibody did not prevent apoptosis of H . pylori-infected cells . Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the gastric pathogen H . pylori stimulates apoptosis of gastric epithelial cells in vitro in association with the enhanced expression of the Fas receptor . These data indicate a role for Fas-mediated signaling in the programmed cell death that occurs in response to H . pylori infection.

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