Campylobacter coli

Introduction

Symptoms of an infection are: watery diarrhea with possible blood cells, abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting, inflamed digestive tract, and general weakness. Most cases of campylobacter infections do not show symptoms, however, complications can occur, like a urinary tract infection or an abortion.

Hosts

Pigs are the main host, humans, animals that fly, and a wide range of animals like cattle and sheep.

Transmission / Exposure Route

Oral ingestion of C. coli from contaminated food or contaminated drinking water. Contact with animals and their feces can also transmit the bacteria.

Case Fatality Ratio

Campylobacter coli infections do not normally cause death, but approximately 500 people may die each year.

Incubation Period

Approximately 1 to 10 days

Microbiology

a Gram negative bacterium that requires some oxygen to survive. It does not form spores. They form motile, spiral shaped rods that are 0.2-0.9 micrometers and 0.5-5 micrometers long. They move like a corkscrew. A flagellum is present at the end of the bacteria that gives it an “S” shape.

Enviromental Survival

It grows slowly in culture and have an optimum temperature of 42 degrees Celsius. Old cultures or ones exposed to air tend to become spherical, instead of rod shaped.