title: Isolation and characterization of the emerging foodborn pathogen Arcobacter from human stool.
abstract: At present, isolation of arcobacters from human specimens is performed by slightly of not modified Campylobacter, Yersinia or Leptospira isolation techniques, and knowledge if arcobacters are part of the human commensal flora is lacking. Therefore, an Arcobacter selective isolation procedure was validated for the examination of human fecal specimens, and the presence and characteristics of Arcobacter in feces of asymptomatic humans was examined in order to assess the clinical relevance of arcobacters in diarrheal stool. With this method, Arcobacter was isolated from seven of 500 (1.4%) stool samples of healthy people with Arcobacter cryaerophilus as the only species present. Seven A. cryaerophilus genotypes were detected and only one genotype was found per person. Neither A. butzleri nor A. skirrowii were isolated, therefore the presence of those latter species in clinical samples requires further attention. Though the pathogenic role and potential virulence factors of arcobacters have to be further examined, the current status of arcobacters as emerging pathogens remains justified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. kurt.houf@UGent.be
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Houf
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stephan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D020640:Arcobacter / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008462:Meat-Packing Industry; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial