Detection of Campylobacter concisus and Other Campylobacter Species in Colonic Biopsies from Adults with Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract

IntroductionThe critical role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) is well recognized, but an individual causative microorganism has not been singled out so far. Campylobacter concisus and other non-jejuni species of Campylobacter have been implicated as putative aetiological agents in inflammatory bowel disease in children, but such studies have not been addressed in adults. This study investigated the prevalence of Campylobacter species in colonic biopsy samples from adults with UC and healthy controls.MethodsAdult patients who were undergoing diagnostic colonoscopy were recruited for the study, which included 69 patients with histologically proven UC and 65 healthy controls. DNA was extracted from the biopsy samples and subjected to Campylobacter genus specific and Campylobacter concisus specific polymerase chain reaction and sequencing.ResultsDetection of all Campylobacter DNA utilising genus specific primers was significantly higher in cases of UC, with a prevalence of 73.9% (51/69) compared to 23.1% (15/65) in controls (p = 0.0001). Nested PCR for C. concisus DNA was positive in 33.3% (23/69) of biopsy samples from subjects with UC, which was significantly higher than the prevalence rate of 10.8% (7/65) from controls (p = 0.0019). Sequencing of the remaining Campylobacter positive samples revealed that Campylobacter ureolyticus was positive in 21.7% (15/69) of samples from UC subjects as opposed to 3.1% (2/65) in controls (p = 0.0013). Mixed Campylobacter species were more common in UC patients, 20.3% (14/69) as compared to controls 4.6% (3/65) (p = 0.0084).ConclusionThe higher prevalence of Campylobacter genus and more specifically C. concisus and C. ureolyticus in biopsy samples from adults with UC suggests these genera of bacteria may be involved in the chronic inflammation that is characteristically seen in UC. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of this association of C. concisus and C. ureolyticus with UC in adults.

Campylobacter concisus as the etiologic agent of gastrointestinal diseases

“…6 Mukhopadhya et al, among others, showed a significantly higher incidence of C. concisus in tissue biopsies of the colon in adult patients with ulcerative colitis compared to the control group. 35 Mahendran et al obtained similar results by examining adult patients with Crohn's disease. 6 It has also been shown that certain strains of C. concisus have the ability to colonize the gastrointestinal tract in mice, and can cause weight loss and the formation of liver micro-abscesses.…”

Global Epidemiology of Campylobacter Infection

“…Similarly, the prevalence of C. concisus was reported to be higher in patients with UC (91)(92)(93)(94). For example, Mahendran and colleagues found a higher prevalence of C. concisus, not only in colonic biopsy specimens from adult CD patients (53%; 8/15 patients) but also in those from UC patients (31%; 4/13 patients), than in controls (18%; 6/33 individuals) (P Ͻ 0.05) (91).…”

“…For example, Mahendran and colleagues found a higher prevalence of C. concisus, not only in colonic biopsy specimens from adult CD patients (53%; 8/15 patients) but also in those from UC patients (31%; 4/13 patients), than in controls (18%; 6/33 individuals) (P Ͻ 0.05) (91). Two further studies, conducted in Scotland, showed an increased prevalence of C. concisus DNA in both adults and children presenting with UC (92,93). The first study isolated C. concisus from three children with IBD (two with CD and one with UC) but not from any of the controls; however, based on PCR, the prevalences of C. concisus were not significantly different between patients and controls (92).…”

“…C. jejuni was the initial focus of research (83)(84)(85), but it was not until 2009 that Gradel and colleagues provided evidence that indicated an association between C. jejuni infection and an increased risk of IBD (86). Furthermore, recent studies investigating the role of other emerging Campylobacter species in IBD have provided solid evidence that demonstrates an association between C. concisus and these gastrointestinal disorders (81,(87)(88)(89)(90)(91)(92)(93)(94).…”

FdhTU-Modulated Formate Dehydrogenase Expression and Electron Donor Availability Enhance Recovery ofCampylobacter jejunifollowing Host Cell Infection

“…Up to 1% of the population in developed countries is diagnosed with acute campylobacteriosis each year, with the incidence of disease estimated to be even higher in developing nations (9,38,73). Human infection with C. jejuni causes severe watery to bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever (9) and can also lead to more serious secondary sequelae such as GuillainBarré syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease (10,34,49,87). Despite its prevalence, much less is known about the pathogenesis mechanisms of C. jejuni compared to other enterics, such as Salmonella spp.…”