Clinical and serological manifestations in patients during a waterborne epidemic due to Campylobacter jejuni

J Infect. 1990 Nov;21(3):309-16. doi: 10.1016/0163-4453(90)94125-j.

Abstract

A clinical and serological investigation of an epidemic due to Campylobacter jejuni in a community with a population of 1026 is presented. Altogether, 22 faecal samples from 27 patients were positive, with serotypes O 2 (n = 21) and O 6, 7 (n = 1) being identified. Serotype O 19, 21 was isolated from drinking water which had been consumed by 89.5% households answering a questionnaire, thereby indicating an attack rate of 66.5% (i.e. 680 persons). Mean duration of illness was 6.5 +/- 4.6 days. Diarrhoea (82.3%), abdominal pains (62.8%) and fever (41.8%) were the most common symptoms. Acute stage samples of serum from Campylobacter-positive patients had lower concentrations of IgG antibodies against the most common serotype (O 2) than against serotype O 6, 7 (P = 0.05), which had previously been implicated in epidemics in the region. More than 80% samples drawn after 1-2 weeks of illness were positive for either IgA, IgM or IgG antibodies to serotype O 2 with a dominance of IgA. In the convalescent group (n = 24), serum from only one patient who developed a long-lasting reactive arthritis had antibodies to all serotypes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Campylobacter Infections / complications
  • Campylobacter Infections / epidemiology*
  • Campylobacter jejuni / classification
  • Campylobacter jejuni / isolation & purification*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Serotyping
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Water Microbiology*
  • Water Supply / analysis