Continuous Source Outbreak of Campylobacteriosis Traced to Chicken

Abstract

Poultry is a source of human campylobacteriosis, but a large continuous source outbreak, heretofore, has not been attributed to both a single source of poultry and single serotype of Campylobacter. Here we report an outbreak of C. jejuni affecting 6 catering college trainees and 13 patrons of a restaurant in southern England. An epidemiological investigation successfully tracked the outbreak source to the farm of origin. Frequency of occurrence of campylobacters and outbreak serotype distribution were determined in index cases, the local population, and local chicken suppliers. The source farm was investigated and the effect of interventions assessed. A single outbreak serotype of C. jejuni was isolated from trainee chefs, patrons, and chicken supplied to the college by Wholesaler A. The Campylobacter isolation rate for Wholesaler A was 89% (98% outbreak serotype), compared to 40% for non-Wholesaler A (10% outbreak serotype). The isolation rate for 14 months averaged 85% (99% outbreak serotype) in chickens grown on two farms (X and Y) supplying Wholesaler A, contributing approximately 40% to all local cases. In the research reported here, a specific strain and hygiene practice were found to be important for understanding transmission of Campylobacter from poultry to humans in this outbreak.

A continuous common-source outbreak of campylobacteriosis associated with changes to the preparation of chicken liver pâté

“…Continuous common-source outbreaks are usually associated with contaminated water supplies [3,4]. Only one foodborne continuous common-source outbreak of campylobacteriosis, due to the distribution of contaminated chicken from a single poultry producer, has been reported in the literature [5].…”

Survey of chicken abattoir for the presence of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli

“…Nevertheless, a great number of outbreaks have been related to water, which has been considered an important transmission route 12 . Campylobacteriosis outbreaks have been associated mainly to chicken meat and their subproducts 9,19 . The consumption of food contaminated by C. jejuni, especially inadequately processed or partially cooked poultry has been considered the main transmission route of enteritis in human beings 20 .…”

Autoinducer-2 Production in Campylobacter jejuni Contributes to Chicken Colonization

“…During the slaughtering process, the gastrointestinal contents can be released and contaminate the chicken meat products. Furthermore, several studies have shown that a large proportion of retail chicken products contain C. jejuni (22,26,28). Thus, a better understanding of processes that contribute to the growth and survival of C. jejuni in chickens could lead to efficient intervention strategies for reducing C. jejuni population sizes in this natural reservoir.…”