title: Foodborne Campylobacter: infections, metabolism, pathogenesis and reservoirs.
abstract: Campylobacter species are a leading cause of bacterial-derived foodborne illnesses worldwide. The emergence of this bacterial group as a significant causative agent of human disease and their propensity to carry antibiotic resistance elements that allows them to resist antibacterial therapy make them a serious public health threat. Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are considered to be the most important enteropathogens of this genus and their ability to colonize and survive in a wide variety of animal species and habitats make them extremely difficult to control. This article reviews the historical and emerging importance of this bacterial group and addresses aspects of the human infections they cause, their metabolism and pathogenesis, and their natural reservoirs in order to address the need for appropriate food safety regulations and interventions.
authors.affiliation: Food & Feed Safety Research Unit, Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 2881 F&B Road, College Station, TX 77845, USA. robin.anderson@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Sharon V R
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Epps
authors.forename: Roger B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hume
authors.forename: Timothy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Robin C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Nisbet
mesh_terms: D002167:Campylobacter / Q000502:physiology*; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000382:microbiology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans