Clinical and serological manifestations in patients during a waterborne epidemic due to Campylobacter jejuni.
A clinical and serological investigation of an epidemic due to Campylobacter jejuni in a community with a population of 1026 is presented. Altogether, 22 faecal samples from 27 patients were positive, with serotypes O 2 (n = 21) and O 6, 7 (n = 1) being identified. Serotype O 19, 21 was isolated from drinking water which had been consumed by 89.5% households answering a questionnaire, thereby indicating an attack rate of 66.5% (i.e. 680 persons). Mean duration of illness was 6.5 +/- 4.6 days. Diarrhoea (82.3%), abdominal pains (62.8%) and fever (41.8%) were the most common symptoms. Acute stage samples of serum from Campylobacter-positive patients had lower concentrations of IgG antibodies against the most common serotype (O 2) than against serotype O 6, 7 (P = 0.05), which had previously been implicated in epidemics in the region. More than 80% samples drawn after 1-2 weeks of illness were positive for either IgA, IgM or IgG antibodies to serotype O 2 with a dominance of IgA. In the convalescent group (n = 24), serum from only one patient who developed a long-lasting reactive arthritis had antibodies to all serotypes.
Melby
K
K
Department of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital, Tromso, Norway.
Dahl
O P
OP
Crisp
L
L
Penner
J L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012703:Serotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis