Human Campylobacteriosis—A Serious Infectious Threat in a One Health Perspective

Abstract

Zoonotic Campylobacter species—mainly C. jejuni and C. coli —are major causes of food-borne bacterial infectious gastroenteritis worldwide. Symptoms of intestinal campylobacteriosis include abdominal pain, diarrhea and fever. The clinical course of enteritis is generally self-limiting, but some infected individuals develop severe post-infectious sequelae including autoimmune disorders affecting the nervous system, the joints and the intestinal tract. Moreover, in immunocompromised individuals, systemic spread of the pathogens may trigger diseases of the circulatory system and septicemia. The socioeconomic costs associated with Campylobacter infections have been calculated to several billion dollars annually. Poultry meat products represent major sources of human infections. Thus, a “One World—One Health” approach with collective efforts of public health authorities, veterinarians, clinicians, researchers and politicians is required to reduce the burden of campylobacteriosis. Innovative intervention regimes for the prevention of Campylobacter contaminations along the food chain include improvements of information distribution to strengthen hygiene measures for agricultural remediation. Given that elimination of Campylobacter from the food production chains is not feasible, novel intervention strategies fortify both the reduction of pathogen contamination in food production and the treatment of the associated diseases in humans. This review summarizes some current trends in the combat of Campylobacter infections including the combination of public health and veterinary preventive approaches with consumer education. The “One World—One Health” perspective is completed by clinical aspects and molecular concepts of human campylobacteriosis offering innovative treatment options supported by novel murine infection models that are based on the essential role of innate immune activation by bacterial endotoxins.

Genomic Relatedness, Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence Traits of Campylobacter jejuni HS19 Isolates From Cattle in China Indicate Pathogenic Potential

“…Compared with cattle isolates collected in east China, the majority of human clinical isolates were recovered from developed countries, such as the United States, Netherlands, Japan, and Australia, suggesting the possibility of clonal spread of capsular genotype HS19 isolates across different regions and hosts. Additionally, the predominance of these clonal complexes could be associated with economic conditions, hygiene conditions, wildlife ecology, population movements, and environmental factors (geography and climate) ( Oh et al, 2017 ; Heimesaat et al, 2021 ). Multiple introductions and widespread dissemination of C. jejuni lineages between countries may be facilitated by the constant movement of agricultural products, animals, and people, which could also be associated with the risk of emergence and spread of HS19 isolates, potentially causing pandemics.…”

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

“…), and requires (if at all) a symptomatic regimen consisting of antipyretics and substitution of fluids and electrolytes. Antibiotics may be indicated in severe cases, particularly in immune-compromised patients [ 8 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Guillain–Barré syndrome, Miller Fisher syndrome, irritable bowel disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, and coeliac disease can develop as post-infectious morbidities in relatively rare instances after weeks or even months [ 2 , 7 , 8 , 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”

Disease-Alleviating Effects of Peroral Activated Charcoal Treatment in Acute Murine Campylobacteriosis

“…Foodborne campylobacteriosis due to infections with the Gram-negative bacterial enteropathogen Campylobacter jejuni cause significant burdens to the public health systems all around the globe [ 1 , 2 ]. Since prevalence rates of human C. jejuni infections are progressively increasing worldwide, this infectious disease poses a global health issue which can only be solved by so called “One Health” approaches combining research efforts in human and veterinary medicine with governmental interventions and consumers’ protection [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. The intestinal tract of avian vertebrates constitutes the major reservoir for the pathogen where C. jejuni bacteria behave as commensal residents and usually do not cause clinical signs in the colonized host [ 5 ].…”

“…[8]. Antibiotic treatment, however, is reserved for severely diseased hospitalized cases including immune-compromised patients who are at risk for systemic complications [4]. Therefore, Microorganisms 2021, 9, 1424 2 of 17 only symptomatic treatment consisting of fluid replacement and application of analgetic compounds is indicated in the majority of cases.…”