title: Molecular diagnosis of Arcobacter and Campylobacter in diarrhoeal samples among Portuguese patients.
abstract: The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and diversity of Arcobacter and Campylobacter spp. in 298 stool samples of patients with diarrhoea, collected from 22 Portuguese hospitals, between September and November 2012. Detection of Arcobacter and Campylobacter spp. was performed using molecular-based detection techniques, such as real-time fluorescence resonance energy transfer PCR, species-specific PCR, and sequencing of amplified PCR products. Overall, 1.3% of the samples were positive for Arcobacter butzleri and 0.3% for Arcobacter cryaerophilus. Campylobacter spp. were found in 31.9% of diarrhoeic faeces. Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter concisus were the most prevalent species (13.7% and 8.0%, respectively). The prevalence of Arcobacter and Campylobacter spp. was significantly different between children and adults (39.7% versus 22.8%, P = 0.003). We underline the high prevalence of these pathogens in diarrhoeal samples among Portuguese patients, with particular relevance in the paediatric age group.
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Reference Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Infections, Av. Padre Cruz, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Júlio
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
authors.forename: João A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Avenida Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal. Electronic address: fdomingues@ubi.pt.
authors.forename: Fernanda C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Domingues
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Reference Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Infections, Av. Padre Cruz, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oleastro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020640:Arcobacter / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011174:Portugal; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial
keywords: Arcobacter; Campylobacter; Diarrhoea; Molecular detection; Portugal