title: pVir and bloody diarrhea in Campylobacter jejuni enteritis.
abstract: The plasmid pVir may play a role in the virulence of Campylobacter jejuni, a leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis. The pVir plasmid was identified in 17% of 104 C. jejuni clinical isolates studied and was significantly associated with the occurrence of blood in patient stool, a marker of invasive infection. The pVir plasmid was not associated with greater occurrence of diarrhea, fever, pain, vomiting, or need for patient hospitalization. Isolates containing pVir were also associated with the presence of a tetracycline-resistance plasmid, but pVir did not transfer with tetracycline-resistance plasmids to recipient strains of C. jejuni. The association of pVir and bloody stool suggests that pVir may be clinically relevant in C. jejuni infections.
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Dobryan M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Tracz
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keelan
authors.forename: Jasmine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahmed-Bentley
authors.forename: Amera
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gibreel
authors.forename: Kinga
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kowalewska-Grochowska
authors.forename: Diane E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C083139:Tet O resistance protein, Bacteria; D037521:Virulence Factors