Isolation Of Campylobacter Fetus Research Articles

Time, temperature and media: the three keys to improve the recovery of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis from preputial bull samples

The isolation of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis (Cfv) from clinical samples is the gold standard for confirming cases of bovine genital campylobacteriosis, an important cause of infertility in cattle and a potential public health concern. Furthermore, isolation is also necessary for the development of autologous vaccines, characterization of strains for antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, etc. Nevertheless, the sensitivity of culture methods is usually low, and there is no standardized protocol to maximize the recovery of Cfv from clinical samples. The aim of the current study is to design a protocol for the culture of Cfv from preputial samples by evaluating the combination of different transport, enrichment and culture media considering the impact of certain factors (time between collection and enrichment, temperature, and use of filters). The use of modified Lander’s transport medium and storing the sample for 24 h at 21 ± 2 °C led to the highest recovery of Cfv CFUs. In contrast, the storage of the samples during 24–48 h in PBS and Thomann rarely allowed the recovery of Cfv regardless of the temperature. The enrichment medium yielding the best results was Preston (significantly higher recovery than Brucella medium), while Cfv could not be isolated with Bolton. Regarding our diagnostic assay (using Lander as transport medium and Preston as enrichment medium), the best protocol in terms of maximizing Cfv recovery as well as limiting contaminations is to culture the samples in i) solid media Preston or Skirrow, and ii) using 0.65 μm filters and incubating plates at 37 °C in microaerophilic conditions.

Isolation of Campylobacter fetus from a pet turtle.

During the course of a Salmonella agona case investigation, Campylobacter fetus was isolated from a pet turtle. This is the first reported isolation of C. fetus from a turtle and suggests that turtles, in addition to being reservoirs for Salmonella species, may also be reservoirs for C. fetus.

Comparative Studies on Competitive Exclusion of Three Isolates of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni in Chickens by Native Gut Microflora

Resistance of young chicks to Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni was substantially increased by early exposure to native gut microflora. Protection was demonstrated against two human isolates and a chicken isolate of C. fetus subsp. jejuni. Significant protection against the chicken isolate was observed throughout a 91-day test period. Infection reached 100% (25/25) in the untreated group at 56 days of age and only 4% (1/25) in the group treated with native gut microflora. Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni was isolated from the ceca and less frequently from the gall bladder and liver of chicks that actively shed the bacteria. Cultures of feces from chicks reared on wood-shavings litter were often negative, suggesting that culturing litter as an indicator of infection has limited value.

Isolation of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni from the common puffin (fratercula arctica) in Norway.

Isolation of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni from the common puffin (fratercula arctica) in Norway.