Campylobacters are Gram-negative, nonsporeforming, (mainly) spiral- or curved rod-shaped bacteria. Most species prefer a microaerobic (containing 3-10% oxygen) atmosphere for growth. A few species tend to favour an anaerobic environment, although these will grow under microaerobic conditions also. There are presently 16 species and six subspecies assigned to the genus Campylobacter. You can read more about these taxa by clicking here.

 

Most campylobacters are pathogenic and may cause a wide range of diseases in humans and/or animals. Their clinical and economic importance should not be underestimated. They are generally regarded as the most common bacterial cause of gastroenteritis in humans and are widely distributed among different food animals. Poultry, cattle, pigs, sheep, and even shellfish are all known reservoirs of infection. Campylobacters can also be found in dogs and cats. Campylobacters are therefore considered as zoonoses - infectious agents transmitted to humans from animals. The main route of transmission is generally believed to be foodborne.

The Campynet project concerns the standardisation of genotyping methods for the two most commonly isolated campylobacters causing diarrhoea in humans: Campylobacter jejuni subsp. jejuni (hereafter C. jejuni) and C. coli. C. jejuni is generally estimated to cause approximately 95% of enteric campylobacter infections in the developed world, with C. coli considered responsible for 3-4%. However, in some areas C. coli accounts for 40-50% of campylobacter-mediated diarrhoeal cases. Other important enteropathogenic species include C. lari and C. upsaliensis. All these species share one characteristic - a tendency to thrive (or at least tolerate) temperatures of 42° C and thus these taxa are often collectively referred to as "the thermophilic campylobacters".

Several factors make the accurate identification of infectious sources and routes of transmission difficult (this is true for both humans and animals, where better information concerning infection control procedures is needed). The bacteria are widely distributed in animals and the environment, and most human cases are reported sporadically, with no obvious source of infection. There is a need to use effective, standardised typing methods for improving our understanding of campylobacter epidemiology. The Campynet project was initiated to respond to this need. Click here to read more about typing methods used for campylobacters.