During September 1999, a multistate outbreak of Salmonella serovar Muenchen infection associated with eating raw alfalfa sprouts was identified in Wisconsin. Despite use of a calcium hypochlorite sanitizing procedure to pretreat seeds before sprouting, at least 157 outbreak-related illnesses were identified in seven states having sprouters who received alfalfa seed from a specific lot. The continued occurrence of sproutrelated outbreaks despite presprouting disinfection supports the concern that no available treatment will eliminate pathogens from seeds before sprouting and reinforces the need for additional safeguards to protect the public. A lack of consumer knowledge regarding exposure to sprouts documented in this investigation suggests that more-targeted outreach to high-risk individuals may be needed to reduce their risk.Consumption of raw sprouts has emerged as an important risk factor associated with the occurrence of food-borne illness. In the United States, at least 12 reported sprout-related disease outbreaks involving a total of more than 1,500 cases have been reported since 1995. Sprout-related illness has involved infection with 10 different serogroups of Salmonella (12,13,(15)(16)(17)20; E. Mouzin et al

Four isolates of an unclassified microaerophilic bacterium resembling Campylobacter species were characterized by growth requirements, microscopic examination, biochemical characteristics, antimicrobial susceptibility tests, and protein profile analysis. The unclassified isolates were differentiated from Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus, Campylobacter laridis, Campylobacter pylori, and an ovine isolate. The bacterium was fusiform shaped with a corrugated surface due to the presence of periplasmic fibers and had multiple bipolar flagella. Biochemically, the bacterium was separated from the Campylobacter controls by its negative catalase reaction, negative nitrate reduction, and no growth in 1% glycine. It was also resistant to ampicillin. Protein profile analysis demonstrated nine major protein bands present in the unclassified isolates that were absent in the Campylobacter controls. The bacterium also differed from the ovine isolate by its negative catalase reaction, rapid urea hydrolysis, and susceptibility to clindamycin, erythromycin, and tetracycline. Our results showed that the unclassified bacterium was distinct from the recognized Campylobacter species.

An unusual microaerophilic gram-negative bacterium was isolated from the stools of two individuals presenting with chronic diarrhea. This bacterium resembled Campylobacter species by colonial morphology and biochemical reactions. However, microscopic examination revealed a fusiform rod with a corrugated surface, rather than a spiral rod. This is the first reported isolation of this bacterium from humans. Since the first successful isolation of Campylobacter species utilizing selective plating media and optimal growth conditions (17), the number of clinical isolates has steadily increased (11). These human isolates include Campylobacter jejuni, which causes enteritis (21), whereas other Campylobacter species have been associated with diarrhea, enterocolitis, enteritis, and gastritis (6, 14, 16, 19, 20). This study is the first reported isolation of an unclassified bacterium from two humans with mild chronic gastroenteritis; this bacterium shares some cultural and biochemical characteristics with Campylobacter species. Case 1. A 47-year-old male with symptoms of gastroenteritis was seen in May 1985 by a physician in Madison, Wis. The patient had a history of recent travel to the Dominican Republic in January 1985 but appeared healthy until April, when he developed symptoms. He demonstrated a chronic diarrhea with two to three loose stools per day which were mushy but not bloody or watery. Other symptoms were fever, headache, and lower abdominal pain with no nausea or vomiting. Stool cultures yielded a gram-negative bacterium which resembled Campylobacter species on initial inspection. This isolate was subsequently lost during biochemical testing. A second specimen was requested, and the unusual bacterium was reisolated. Cultures for enteric pathogens, as well as microscopic examinations for ova and parasites, were negative. The patient was treated with erythromycin and became asymptomatic. Follow-up cultures were negative, and no relapse occurred. The family members of patient 1 were cultured for enteric pathogens, and a second isolate of the unusual bacterium was recovered from the 16-year-old daughter, who was asymptomatic. Other family members were negative. The bacterium was also isolated from an asymptomatic young dog (5-month-old female) owned by the family, but an older dog (16 years old) was negative. Case 2. A 40-year-old male with symptoms of chronic gastroenteritis was seen in October 1985 by a physician in Janesville, Wis. The patient had a 2-month history of six to eight soft-to-watery bowel movements a day. His stools were not bloody and did not contain mucus. He showed no weight loss or fever. No inflammatory changes were evident in the bowel by fiberoptic sigmoidoscopy. When stool cultures were performed for enteric pathogens, a bacterium resembling the bacterium in case 1 was isolated. No other