Campylobacteriosis - Cattle
Encyclopedia
Gastrointestinal campylobacteriosis is caused by Campylobacter jejuni
or Campylobacter coli. Although it is a commensal in the gastrointestinal tract of many species, it can cause diarrhoea - mainly in young animals. It is most commonly seen in cattle
but may also infect many other species including humans
. Campylobacter is spread horizontally
via the fecal-oral route
.
Campylobacter fetus
subsp. venerealis and fetus can also cause venereal disease and abortion in cattle.
, tachypneic
and suffer weight loss. Adult cattle may show reproductive signs such as anoestrus, irregular oestrus patterns, agalactia
, abortion
and infertility
.
Campylobacter infection can be confirmed by rising antibody titres
, culture on a selective medium or histological examination. Specifically, C. fetus can be detected from cervicovaginal mucus using an agglutination
test or ELISA
.
and tetracycline. The disease can be prevented with good husbandry and hygiene measures.
Campylobacter jejuni
Campylobacter jejuni is a species of curved, helical-shaped, non-spore forming, Gram-negative, microaerophilic bacteria commonly found in animal feces. It is one of the most common causes of human gastroenteritis in the world. Food poisoning caused by Campylobacter species can be severely...
or Campylobacter coli. Although it is a commensal in the gastrointestinal tract of many species, it can cause diarrhoea - mainly in young animals. It is most commonly seen in cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
but may also infect many other species including humans
Campylobacteriosis
Campylobacteriosis is an infection by the Campylobacter bacterium, most commonly C. jejuni. It is among the most common bacterial infections of humans, often a foodborne illness. It produces an inflammatory, sometimes bloody, diarrhea or dysentery syndrome, mostly including cramps, fever and...
. Campylobacter is spread horizontally
Horizontal transmission
Horizontal transmission is the transmission of a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection between members of the same species that are not in a parent-child relationship....
via the fecal-oral route
Fecal-oral route
The fecal-oral route, or alternatively, the oral-fecal route or orofecal route is a route of transmission of diseases, in which they are passed when pathogens in fecal particles from one host are introduced into the oral cavity of another potential host.There are usually intermediate steps,...
.
Campylobacter fetus
Campylobacter fetus
Campylobacter fetus is a species of Gram-negative, motile bacteria with a characteristic "S-shaped" rod morphology similar to members of the genus Vibrio. Like other members of the Campylobacter genus, C. fetus is oxidase-positive....
subsp. venerealis and fetus can also cause venereal disease and abortion in cattle.
Clinical Signs & Diagnosis
Calves normally suffer from a blood-flecked thick, mucoid diarrhoea. They may be pyrexic, tachycardicTachycardia
Tachycardia comes from the Greek words tachys and kardia . Tachycardia typically refers to a heart rate that exceeds the normal range for a resting heart rate...
, tachypneic
Tachypnea
Tachypnea means rapid breathing. Any rate between 12-20 breaths per minute is normal. Tachypnea is a respiration rate greater than 20 breaths per minute. - Distinction from other breathing terms :...
and suffer weight loss. Adult cattle may show reproductive signs such as anoestrus, irregular oestrus patterns, agalactia
Agalactia
Agalactia is absence of or faulty secretion of breast milk following childbirth.It is commonly associated with Sheehan's syndrome, following post partum haemorrhage....
, abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
and infertility
Infertility
Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a person to contribute to conception. Infertility may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term...
.
Campylobacter infection can be confirmed by rising antibody titres
Antibody titer
An antibody titer is a measurement of how much antibody an organism has produced that recognizes a particular epitope, expressed as the greatest dilution that still gives a positive result. ELISA is a common means of determining antibody titers....
, culture on a selective medium or histological examination. Specifically, C. fetus can be detected from cervicovaginal mucus using an agglutination
Agglutination
In contemporary linguistics, agglutination usually refers to the kind of morphological derivation in which there is a one-to-one correspondence between affixes and syntactical categories. Languages that use agglutination widely are called agglutinative languages...
test or ELISA
ELISA
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay , is a popular format of a "wet-lab" type analytic biochemistry assay that uses one sub-type of heterogeneous, solid-phase enzyme immunoassay to detect the presence of a substance in a liquid sample."Wet lab" analytic biochemistry assays involves detection of an...
.
Treatment & Control
C. jejuni can be treated with the antibiotics erythromycinErythromycin
Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic that has an antimicrobial spectrum similar to or slightly wider than that of penicillin, and is often used for people who have an allergy to penicillins. For respiratory tract infections, it has better coverage of atypical organisms, including mycoplasma and...
and tetracycline. The disease can be prevented with good husbandry and hygiene measures.
See also
- CampylobacterCampylobacterCampylobacter is a genus of bacteria that are Gram-negative, spiral, and microaerophilic. Motile, with either unipolar or bipolar flagella, the organisms have a characteristic spiral/corkscrew appearance and are oxidase-positive. Campylobacter jejuni is now recognized as one of the main causes...
- CampylobacteriosisCampylobacteriosisCampylobacteriosis is an infection by the Campylobacter bacterium, most commonly C. jejuni. It is among the most common bacterial infections of humans, often a foodborne illness. It produces an inflammatory, sometimes bloody, diarrhea or dysentery syndrome, mostly including cramps, fever and...
- Campylobacter jejuniCampylobacter jejuniCampylobacter jejuni is a species of curved, helical-shaped, non-spore forming, Gram-negative, microaerophilic bacteria commonly found in animal feces. It is one of the most common causes of human gastroenteritis in the world. Food poisoning caused by Campylobacter species can be severely...
- Campylobacter fetusCampylobacter fetusCampylobacter fetus is a species of Gram-negative, motile bacteria with a characteristic "S-shaped" rod morphology similar to members of the genus Vibrio. Like other members of the Campylobacter genus, C. fetus is oxidase-positive....