Epidemiologic features of Campylobacter infection among cats in the upper midwestern United States.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the epidemiologic features of Campylobacter infection among cats in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area.


METHODS
Prevalence survey.


METHODS
152 cats examined at 3 private veterinary clinics and an animal humane society.


METHODS
Fecal samples were submitted for bacterial culture for Campylobacter spp. To determine the duration of Campylobacter carriage, follow-up fecal samples were collected from cats with positive Campylobacter culture results.


RESULTS
Campylobacter organisms were cultured from 37 of the 152 (24%) fecal samples. Campylobacter isolates were identified as Campylobacter upsaliensis (29 cats), Campylobacter jejuni (2), and Campylobacter coli (1); species of the remaining 5 isolates could not be determined. Campylobacter organisms were isolated from 36 of the 122 (30%) cats that were < or = 1 year old but from only 1 of the 30 (3%) cats that were > 1 year old, and shedding was more common during the summer and fall months. No association between Campylobacter shedding and clinical signs of disease was identified. For 4 of 13 cats from which follow-up fecal samples were obtained, duration of Campylobacter carriage could not be determined because Campylobacter organisms were isolated from all follow-up samples. For the remaining 9 cats, median duration of Campylobacter carriage was 44 days.


CONCLUSIONS
C. upsaliensis can commonly be isolated from the feces of overtly healthy kittens in the Midwest United States. Because carriage may be prolonged, veterinarians should encourage good hand hygiene among owners of cats, especially among owners with new kittens in their household.
Bender
Jeffrey B
JB
Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA.
Shulman
Stephanie A
SA
Averbeck
Gary A
GA
Pantlin
Gayle C
GC
Stromberg
Bert E
BE
D000818:Animals; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000662:veterinary; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002415:Cats; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary; D015981:Epidemiologic Factors; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons