Pathogens

2024

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12 pages, 252 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Campylobacter coli Prosthetic Joint Infection: Case Report and a Review of the Literature

by Stijn Jonckheere, Celestin Mairesse, Patricia Vandecandelaere, Jens Vanbiervliet, Wim Terryn, Jan Somers, Benoit Prevost and Delphine Martiny

Pathogens 2024, 13(10), 838; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13100838 - 27 Sep 2024

Viewed by 640

Abstract

Prosthetic joint infections caused by Campylobacter are uncommon, with the majority of cases being attributed to C. fetus. This case report represents the third instance of a prosthetic hip infection caused by C. coli following an episode of gastroenteritis and, notably, in [...] Read more.

Prosthetic joint infections caused by Campylobacter are uncommon, with the majority of cases being attributed to C. fetus. This case report represents the third instance of a prosthetic hip infection caused by C. coli following an episode of gastroenteritis and, notably, in an immunocompetent patient. The infection was successfully managed by surgical debridement and lavage with retention of the prosthesis and 12 weeks of antibiotics. Furthermore, we present the first whole-genome sequence of a Campylobacter strain responsible for prosthetic joint infection and offer a comprehensive review of the literature on such infections. Full article

12 pages, 424 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genetic Diversity, Virulence, and Antibiotic Resistance Determinants of Campylobacter jejuni Isolates in Romania

by Madalina Baltoiu, Gratiela Gradisteanu Pircalabioru, Daniela Cristea, Marilena Sorokin, Cristiana Cerasella Dragomirescu and Ileana Stoica

Pathogens 2024, 13(9), 716; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13090716 - 23 Aug 2024

Viewed by 848

Abstract

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter jejuni, a leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide, presents a significant public health challenge requiring vigilant surveillance and disease control. This study aimed to characterize C. jejuni strains isolated in Romania from 2017 to 2020, focusing on genetic [...] Read more.

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter jejuni, a leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide, presents a significant public health challenge requiring vigilant surveillance and disease control. This study aimed to characterize C. jejuni strains isolated in Romania from 2017 to 2020, focusing on genetic diversity, virulence, and antibiotic resistance determinants. The isolates underwent phenotypical testing, PCR, and antibiotic resistance assessment using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method for ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, and tetracycline. Genetic analysis identified resistance and virulence genes, point mutations, and performed sequence typing (7-gene MLST) to determine genetic relatedness. Results indicated substitutions at position 86 in the amino acid sequence or position 257 in the nucleotide sequence of the gyrA gene in 47 fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates. Additionally, mutations in the rRNA 23S gene at positions 2074 and 2075, associated with macrolide resistance, were found in 12 of the 66 isolates. Allelic profiles generated 38 sequence types (STs), including three new STs not present in the reference database. The sequence data analysis revealed a genetically diverse C. jejuni population with a weak clonal structure. This study provides crucial insights into the genetic diversity and antibiotic resistance of C. jejuni strains in Romania, highlighting the need for ongoing surveillance and control measures. Full article

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16 pages, 2160 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Prevalence and Dynamics of Emerging Campylobacterales in Human Stool Samples in Brussels by Filtration Culture

by Emmanuelle Giraudon, V. Y. Miendje Deyi and Delphine Martiny

Pathogens 2024, 13(6), 475; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13060475 - 4 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1190

Abstract

Thermophilic C. jejuni/coli is reported to be the first bacterial cause of gastroenteritis worldwide and the most common zoonosis in Europe. Although non-jejuni/coli Campylobacter sp. are increasingly suspected to be responsible for diarrhoea or to be involved in [...] Read more.

Thermophilic C. jejuni/coli is reported to be the first bacterial cause of gastroenteritis worldwide and the most common zoonosis in Europe. Although non-jejuni/coli Campylobacter sp. are increasingly suspected to be responsible for diarrhoea or to be involved in inflammatory bowel disease, they remain poorly isolated due to their fastidious and non-thermophilic nature. Additionally, they are not targeted by commercial syndromic PCR assays. In this study, we present routine diagnostic results over 6 years (2017–2019 and 2021–2023) of Campylobacter sp. and related species, obtained by optimised culture from 51,065 stools by both 0.65 µm pore filtration on antibiotic-free agar, incubated in an H₂-enriched atmosphere at 37 °C (also known as the Cape Town protocol), and the use of selective inhibitory Butzler medium incubated at 42 °C. This allowed the isolation of 16 Campylobacter species, 2 Aliarcobacter species, and 2 Helicobacter species, providing a completely different view of the epidemiology of Campylobacterales, in which C. jejuni/coli represents only 30.0% of all isolates, while C. concisus represents 44.4%. C. ureolyticus, representing only 5.5% of all Campylobacterales pre-COVID-19, represented 20.6% of all strains post-COVID-19 (218% increase; p < 0.05). At the same time, the proportions of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. concisus decreased by 37, 53, and 28%, respectively (p < 0.05). Full article

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23 pages, 1563 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Responses of the Eukaryotic Cell Line INT407 on the Internalized Campylobacter jejuni—The Other Side of the Coin

by Anita Steinbach, József Kun, Péter Urbán, Tamás Palkovics, Beáta Polgár and György Schneider

Pathogens 2024, 13(5), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13050386 - 7 May 2024

Viewed by 1119

Abstract

Campylobacter jejuni is a zoonotic bacterium with the capacity to invade the epithelial cells during the pathogenic process. Several bacterial factors have been identified to contribute to this process, but our knowledge is still very limited about the response of the host. To [...] Read more.

Campylobacter jejuni is a zoonotic bacterium with the capacity to invade the epithelial cells during the pathogenic process. Several bacterial factors have been identified to contribute to this process, but our knowledge is still very limited about the response of the host. To reveal the major routes of this response, a whole-transcriptome analysis (WTA) was performed where gene expressions were compared between the 1st and the 3rd hours of internalization in INT407 epithelial cells. From the 41,769 human genes tested, altogether, 19,060 genes were shown through WTA to be influenced to different extents. The genes and regulation factors of transcription (296/1052; 28%), signal transduction (215/1052; 21%), apoptosis (153/1052; 15%), immune responses (97/1052; 9%), transmembrane transport (64/1052; 6%), cell–cell signaling (32/1052; 3%), cell–cell adhesions (29/1052; 3%), and carbohydrate metabolism (28/1052; 3%) were the most affected biological functions. A striking feature of the gene expression of this stage of the internalization process is the activation of both immune functions and apoptosis, which convincingly outlines that the invaded cell faces a choice between death and survival. The seemingly balanced status quo between the invader and the host is the result of a complex process that also affects genes known to be associated with postinfectious pathological conditions. The upregulation of TLR3 (3.79×) and CD36 (2.73×), two general tumor markers, and SERPINEB9 (11.37×), FNDC1 (7.58×), and TACR2 (8.84×), three factors of tumorigenesis, confirms the wider pathological significance of this bacterium. Full article

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2023

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11 pages, 627 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Campylobacter jejuni Response When Inoculated in Bovine In Vitro Fecal Microbial Consortia Incubations in the Presence of Metabolic Inhibitors

by Dana K. Dittoe, Robin C. Anderson, Nathan A. Krueger, Roger B. Harvey, Toni L. Poole, Tawni L. Crippen, Todd R. Callaway and Steven C. Ricke

Pathogens 2023, 12(12), 1391; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12121391 - 26 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1366

Abstract

Infection with the foodborne pathogen Campylobacter is the leading bacterial cause of human foodborne illness in the United States. The objectives of this experiment were to test the hypothesis that mixed microbial populations from the bovine rumen may be better at excluding Campylobacter [...] Read more.

Infection with the foodborne pathogen Campylobacter is the leading bacterial cause of human foodborne illness in the United States. The objectives of this experiment were to test the hypothesis that mixed microbial populations from the bovine rumen may be better at excluding Campylobacter than populations from freshly voided feces and to explore potential reasons as to why the rumen may be a less favorable environment for Campylobacter than feces. In an initial experiment, C. jejuni cultures inoculated without or with freshly collected bovine rumen fluid, bovine feces or their combination were cultured micro-aerobically for 48 h. Results revealed that C. jejuni grew at similar growth rates during the first 6 h of incubation regardless of whether inoculated with the rumen or fecal contents, with rates ranging from 0.178 to 0.222 h⁻¹. However, C. jejuni counts (log₁₀ colony-forming units/mL) at the end of the 48 h incubation were lowest in cultures inoculated with rumen fluid (5.73 log₁₀ CFUs/mL), intermediate in cultures inoculated with feces or both feces and rumen fluid (7.16 and 6.36 log₁₀ CFUs/mL) and highest in pure culture controls that had not been inoculated with the rumen or fecal contents (8.32 log₁₀ CFUs/mL). In follow-up experiments intended to examine the potential effects of hydrogen and hydrogen-consuming methanogens on C. jejuni, freshly collected bovine feces, suspended in anaerobic buffer, were incubated anaerobically under either a 100% carbon dioxide or 50:50 carbon dioxide/hydrogen gas mix. While C. jejuni viability decreased <1 log₁₀ CFUs/mL during incubation of the fecal suspensions, this did not differ whether under low or high hydrogen accumulations or whether the suspensions were treated without or with the mechanistically distinct methanogen inhibitors, 5 mM nitrate, 0.05 mM 2-bromosulfonate or 0.001 mM monensin. These results suggest that little if any competition between C. jejuni and hydrogen-consuming methanogens exists in the bovine intestine based on fecal incubations. Full article

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14 pages, 2121 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Simultaneous Detection of Salmonella spp. and Quantification of Campylobacter spp. in a Real-Time Duplex PCR: Myth or Reality?

by Nagham Anis, Laetitia Bonifait, Ségolène Quesne, Louise Baugé, Marianne Chemaly and Muriel Guyard-Nicodème

Pathogens 2023, 12(2), 338; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12020338 - 16 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2424

Abstract

In Europe, there is a process hygiene criterion for Salmonella and Campylobacter on broiler carcasses after chilling. The criterion gives indicative contamination values above which corrective actions are required by food business operators. The reference methods for verifying compliance with the criterion for [...] Read more.

In Europe, there is a process hygiene criterion for Salmonella and Campylobacter on broiler carcasses after chilling. The criterion gives indicative contamination values above which corrective actions are required by food business operators. The reference methods for verifying compliance with the criterion for Salmonella and Campylobacter are international standards EN ISO 6579-1 (2017) and EN ISO 10272-2 (2017), respectively. These methods are time-consuming and expensive for food business operators. Therefore, it would be advantageous to simultaneously detect Salmonella spp. and quantify Campylobacter in the same analysis, using the same sample after the pre-enrichment step for Salmonella recovery. A duplex PCR for Salmonella detection and Campylobacter spp. enumeration was developed. Considering the method as a whole, the LOD and LOQ for Campylobacter enumeration were slightly over the limit of 3 log CFU/g set by the process hygiene criterion. A comparison of the duplex PCR method developed with the ISO method on artificially contaminated bacterial suspensions and on naturally contaminated samples demonstrated a good correlation of the results for Campylobacter enumeration when the duplex PCR was performed on samples taken before or after the pre-enrichment step, but revealed a slight bias with a large standard deviation resulting in widely spaced limits of agreement. Full article

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2022

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12 pages, 1676 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Survival of Campylobacter jejuni Co-Cultured with Salmonella spp. in Aerobic Conditions

by Nagham Anis, Laetitia Bonifait, Ségolène Quesne, Louise Baugé, Wissam Yassine, Muriel Guyard-Nicodème and Marianne Chemaly

Pathogens 2022, 11(7), 812; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11070812 - 20 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2406

Abstract

Campylobacter and Salmonella are responsible for the two major foodborne zoonotic diseases in Europe; poultry is the main infection source. Campylobacter cannot grow under aerobic conditions, but can show aerobic survival when co-cultured with other microorganisms; however, its interaction with Salmonella has not [...] Read more.

Campylobacter and Salmonella are responsible for the two major foodborne zoonotic diseases in Europe; poultry is the main infection source. Campylobacter cannot grow under aerobic conditions, but can show aerobic survival when co-cultured with other microorganisms; however, its interaction with Salmonella has not been studied yet. In this study, these two bacteria were co-cultured under controlled aerobic conditions. Different concentrations and strains of C. jejuni were incubated with or without different Salmonella serotypes (10 CFU) at 37 °C for 16 h. C. jejuni did not grow after incubation with or without Salmonella. The survival of C. jejuni was observed only for the highest initial concentration of 6 log CFU/mL with or without Salmonella. However, its survival was significantly higher when co-cultured with Salmonella. No survival was observed at lower concentrations. C. jejuni survival was positively affected by the presence of Salmonella but depended on the Salmonella serotype, the C. jejuni strain and the initial concentration. On the other hand, the Salmonella enumerations were not affected by C. jejuni. Our results suggest potential interactions between Salmonella and C. jejuni that require further investigations for a clearer understanding of their behavior in natural habitats. Full article

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17 pages, 3099 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chicken Skin Decontamination of Thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. and Hygiene Indicator Escherichia coli Assessed by Viability Real-Time PCR

by Imke F. Wulsten, Maja Thieck, André Göhler, Elisabeth Schuh and Kerstin Stingl

Pathogens 2022, 11(6), 706; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11060706 - 18 Jun 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2431

Abstract

Thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. are fecal contaminants of chicken meat with serious implications for human health. E. coli is considered as hygiene indicator since, in contrast to Campylobacter. spp., the bacterium is generally present in the avian gut. Stress exposure may transiently cease [...] Read more.

Thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. are fecal contaminants of chicken meat with serious implications for human health. E. coli is considered as hygiene indicator since, in contrast to Campylobacter. spp., the bacterium is generally present in the avian gut. Stress exposure may transiently cease bacterial division. Therefore, colony forming units (CFU) may underestimate the infection risk of pathogens. We developed a viability real-time PCR (v-qPCR) for the quantification of viable E. coli targeting the uidA gene, encoding β-glucuronidase, which is usually detected for phenotypic species identification. The short- and long-term effects of decontaminating chicken skin on the survival of both C. jejuni and an ESBL-producing E. coli were evaluated by CFU and v-qPCR. The results showed that freezing and storage in cool conditions are potentially underestimated by CFU but not by v-qPCR. The effect of treatment with peroxyacetic acid on survival was consistently detected by CFU and v-qPCR. v-qPCR analysis detected bacterial survival upon the application of lactic acid, which awaits further analysis. Interestingly, both bacteria showed similar kinetics of inactivation upon the application of reduction strategies, suggesting that E. coli might be a complementary hygiene indicator. We conclude that v-qPCR can improve food safety under the consideration of some limitations. Full article

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12 pages, 12971 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Campylobacteriosis, Shigellosis and Salmonellosis in Hospitalized Children with Acute Inflammatory Diarrhea in Georgia

by Maia Metreveli, Salome Bulia, Iamze Shalamberidze, Liana Tevzadze, Shota Tsanava, Juan Cruz Goenaga, Kerstin Stingl and Paata Imnadze

Pathogens 2022, 11(2), 232; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11020232 - 10 Feb 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3782

Abstract

This is the first study on campylobacteriosis carried out in Georgia. It targeted 382 hospitalized children with acute inflammatory diarrhea. The study was conducted between July 2020 to July 2021 based on the main infection clinic of the capital city. Culture-based bacteriological methods [...] Read more.

This is the first study on campylobacteriosis carried out in Georgia. It targeted 382 hospitalized children with acute inflammatory diarrhea. The study was conducted between July 2020 to July 2021 based on the main infection clinic of the capital city. Culture-based bacteriological methods were followed by phenotypic and Real-time PCR tests for bacterial confirmation and identification. The data revealed recent epidemiologic prevalences of the three main causative bacteria in the target population. Shigella sonnei with 19.1% (95% CI: 15.2–23.4%) was the most frequently detected pathogen followed by Campylobacter spp. with 12.3% (95% CI: 9.2–16.0%) and Salmonella spp. with 4.9% (95% CI: 3.0–7.6%). However, in 63.6% of the samples, the causative agent remained unknown. Species differentiation of Campylobacter spp. revealed 81% Campylobacter jejuni and 19% Campylobacter coli. An epidemiological pyramid with estimated magnification factors may give more insights into the burden of campylobacteriosis among the studied population, resulting in a putative annual incidence of 6 per 1000 children in Tbilisi. Children with campylobacteriosis were younger (median age 40 months (interquartile range (IQR) 22−95)) than with shigellosis (median age 92 months (interquartile range (IQR) 52−140)). However, no statistically significant difference was found with the age range of patients with campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis as well as with salmonellosis and shigellosis. In conclusion, Campylobacter spp. may be suspected to be the second most frequent bacterial causative agent of acute inflammatory diarrhea in hospitalized children and the primary cause in the 0–3 age group in Georgia. In addition, Campylobacter CROMagar showed better selectivity in comparison to mCCDA selective agar of stool samples in our study. Full article

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2021

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14 pages, 1938 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differences in Genotype and Antimicrobial Resistance between Campylobacter spp. Isolated from Organic and Conventionally Produced Chickens in Sweden

by Ingrid Hansson, Patrik Ellström, Oskar Nilsson, Matilda Chaba, Moa Skarin, Lise-Lotte Fernström and Sara Frosth

Pathogens 2021, 10(12), 1630; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10121630 - 16 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3516

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is a major challenge worldwide and increased resistance to quinolones in Campylobacter is being reported. Analysis of antibiotic resistance was performed on 157 Campylobacter strains (123 C. jejuni and 34 C. coli) from conventional and organic chickens produced in Sweden. [...] Read more.

Antibiotic resistance is a major challenge worldwide and increased resistance to quinolones in Campylobacter is being reported. Analysis of antibiotic resistance was performed on 157 Campylobacter strains (123 C. jejuni and 34 C. coli) from conventional and organic chickens produced in Sweden. Susceptibility for tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, nalidixic acid, streptomycin, and gentamycin was determined by microdilution. All 77 isolates from organic chickens were sensitive to all antibiotics, except two C. jejuni that were resistant to tetracycline. Of the 80 isolates from conventional chickens, 22.5% of C. jejuni and 11.1% of C. coli were resistant to quinolones and 5.6% of C. jejuni were resistant to tetracycline. Whole-genome sequencing resulted in 50 different sequence types of C. jejuni and six of C. coli. Nine sequence types were found in both organic and conventional chickens. Two of these (ST-19 and ST-257) included isolates from conventional broilers with different resistance phenotypes to the remaining isolates from conventional and organic broilers. There are management differences between the production systems, such as feed, breed, use of coccidiostats, and access to outdoor area. It is unlikely that quinolone resistance has arisen due to use of antimicrobials, since fluoroquinolones are not permitted in Swedish broiler production. Full article

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15 pages, 2786 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Immune-Modulatory Effects upon Oral Application of Cumin-Essential-Oil to Mice Suffering from Acute Campylobacteriosis

by Soraya Mousavi, Dennis Weschka, Stefan Bereswill and Markus M. Heimesaat

Pathogens 2021, 10(7), 818; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10070818 - 29 Jun 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2304

Abstract

Human campylobacteriosis, commonly caused by Campylobacter jejuni, is a food-borne infection with rising prevalence causing significant health and socioeconomic burdens worldwide. Given the threat from emerging antimicrobial resistances, the treatment of infectious diseases with antibiotics-independent natural compounds is utmost appreciated. Since the health-beneficial [...] Read more.

Human campylobacteriosis, commonly caused by Campylobacter jejuni, is a food-borne infection with rising prevalence causing significant health and socioeconomic burdens worldwide. Given the threat from emerging antimicrobial resistances, the treatment of infectious diseases with antibiotics-independent natural compounds is utmost appreciated. Since the health-beneficial effects of cumin-essential-oil (EO) have been known for centuries, its potential anti-pathogenic and immune-modulatory effects during acute experimental campylobacteriosis were addressed in the present study. Therefore, C. jejuni-challenged secondary abiotic IL-10^-/- mice were treated perorally with either cumin-EO or placebo starting on day 2 post-infection. On day 6 post-infection, cumin-EO treated mice harbored lower ileal pathogen numbers and exhibited a better clinical outcome when compared to placebo controls. Furthermore, cumin-EO treatment alleviated enteropathogen-induced apoptotic cell responses in colonic epithelia. Whereas, on day 6 post-infection, a dampened secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide and IFN-γ to basal levels, could be assessed in mesenteric lymph nodes of cumin-EO treated mice, systemic MCP-1 concentrations were elevated in placebo counterparts only. In conclusion, our preclinical intervention study provides first evidence for promising immune-modulatory effects of cumin-EO in the combat of human campylobacteriosis. Future studies should address antimicrobial and immune-modulatory effects of natural compounds as adjunct antibiotics-independent treatment option for infectious diseases. Full article

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2020

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8 pages, 966 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

A Case of Persistent Diarrhea in a Man with the Molecular Detection of Various Campylobacter species and the First Isolation of candidatus Campylobacter infans

by Jacky Flipse, Birgitta Duim, Janny A. Wallinga, Laetitia R. H. de Wijkerslooth, Linda van der Graaf-van Bloois, Arjen J. Timmerman, Aldert L. Zomer, Kees T. Veldman, Jaap A. Wagenaar and Peter Bloembergen

Pathogens 2020, 9(12), 1003; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9121003 - 30 Nov 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2620

Abstract

A man with a well-controlled HIV infection, previously diagnosed with lymphogranuloma venereum and treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, was suffering from chronic diarrhea. He travelled to Indonesia in the month prior to the start of complaints. Over a 15-month period, sequences related to Campylobacter [...] Read more.

A man with a well-controlled HIV infection, previously diagnosed with lymphogranuloma venereum and treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, was suffering from chronic diarrhea. He travelled to Indonesia in the month prior to the start of complaints. Over a 15-month period, sequences related to Campylobactertroglodytis/upsaliensis, C. pinnepediorum/mucosalis/concisus and C. hominis were detected by 16S rRNA qPCR-based assays in various stool samples and in a colon biopsy. Culture revealed the first isolation of “candidatus Campylobacter infans”, a species identified recently by molecular methods only. The patient was treated with azithromycin, ciprofloxacin and tetracycline. To identify potential continuous exposure of the patient to Campylobacter, stool samples of the partner and the cat of the patient were analyzed and C. pinnepediorum/mucosalis/concisus and C. helveticus, respectively, were detected. The diversity in detected species in this immunocompromised patient with a lack of repeatedly consistent findings resulted in the conclusion that not any of the Campylobacter species was the primary cause of the clinical condition. This study shows the challenges in detection and interpretation of diagnostic results regarding Campylobacter. Full article

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13 pages, 891 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Human Campylobacteriosis Cases Traceable to Chicken Meat—Evidence for Disseminated Outbreaks in Finland

by Ann-Katrin Llarena and Rauni Kivistö

Pathogens 2020, 9(11), 868; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9110868 - 22 Oct 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3099

Abstract

Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is the most common cause of human bacterial gastroenteritis in the world. Food-borne campylobacteriosis is thought to be commonly caused by the handling and consumption of undercooked chicken meat, but the epidemiology of this disease is complex [...] Read more.

Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is the most common cause of human bacterial gastroenteritis in the world. Food-borne campylobacteriosis is thought to be commonly caused by the handling and consumption of undercooked chicken meat, but the epidemiology of this disease is complex and remains poorly characterized, especially in the Nordic countries. Here, we used state-of-the-art methods in genetic epidemiology combined with patient background and temporal association data to trace domestically acquired human C. jejuni infections (n = 50) to chicken meat, in a midsize Nordic town in Finland during a seasonal peak. Although 59.2% of the human isolates shared a sequence type (ST) with a chicken batch slaughtered prior to the onset of disease, further analysis at the whole-genome level (core genome and whole-genome multilocus sequence typing, cgMLST and wgMLST, respectively) traced a mere nine cases (18.4%) to fresh chicken meat. Human isolates also shared genotypes with isolates collected from chicken batches slaughtered after the onset of the human disease, highlighting the role of alternative transmission pathways from chickens to humans besides the food chain, or a shared third source. The high resolution offered by wgMLST, combined with simple metadata, offers a more accurate way to trace sporadic cases to possible sources and reveal disseminated outbreak clustering in time, confirming the importance of complementing epidemiological investigations with molecular epidemiological data. Full article

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