title: Avian reservoirs and zoonotic potential of the emerging human pathogen Helicobacter canadensis.
abstract: A polyphasic identification approach was used to investigate the taxonomic position of Campylobacter-like isolates recovered from barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) and Canada geese (Branta candensis). Seven strains were selected from a collection of 21 isolates and analyzed by extensive phenotypic testing; four strains were characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The results clearly identified the bird isolates as Helicobacter canadensis, recently described as an emerging human pathogen. This is the first report of an animal reservoir for this organism and of its presence in Europe and confirms the zoonotic potential of H. canadensis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Ecology, Lund University, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waldenström
authors.forename: Stephen L W
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: On
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ottvall
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hasselquist
authors.forename: Clare S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000382:microbiology*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005777:Geese / Q000382:microbiology*; D016998:Helicobacter / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S