Campylobacterepidemiology: a descriptive study reviewing 1 million cases in England and Wales between 1989 and 2011

Abstract

ObjectivesTo review Campylobacter cases in England and Wales over 2 decades and examine the main factors/mechanisms driving the changing epidemiology.DesignA descriptive study of Campylobacter patients between 1989 and 2011. Cases over 3 years were linked anonymously to postcode, population density, deprivation indices and census data. Cases over 5 years were anonymously linked to local weather exposure estimates.SettingPatients were from general practice, hospital and environmental health investigations through primary diagnostic laboratories across England and Wales.ParticipantsThere were 1 109 406 cases.Outcome measuresDescription of changes in Campylobacter epidemiology over 23 years and how the main drivers may influence these.ResultsThere was an increase in Campylobacter cases over the past 23 years, with the largest increase in people over 50 years. Changes in the underlying population have contributed to this, including the impacts of population increases after World War I, World War II and the ‘baby boom’ of the 1960s. A recent increase in risk or ascertainment within this population has caused an increase in cases in all age groups from 2004 to 2011. The seasonal increase in cases between weeks 18 (Early May) and 22 (Early June) was consistent across ages, years and regions and was most marked in children and in more rural regions. Campylobacter prevalence by week in each region correlated with temperature 2 weeks before. There were higher prevalences in areas with a low population density, low deprivation and lower percentage of people of ethnic origin. Data from sero–phage and multilocus sequence typing show a few common types and many uncommon types.ConclusionsThe drivers/mechanisms influencing seasonality, age distribution, population density, socioeconomic and long-term differences are diverse and their relative contributions remain to be established. Surveillance and typing provide insights into Campylobacter epidemiology and sources of infection, providing a sound basis for targeted interventions.

Public Health Hazard of Zoonotic Campylobacter jejuni Reference to Egyptian Regional and Seasonal Variations

“…A correlation between temperature and a number of campylobacteriosis cases has been described before and may also explain the seasonal pattern of the disease with an incidence peak in the summer months, which has been described for many countries (Lal et al, 2012;Nichols et al, 2012). Contamination of broilers and chicken meat with Campylobacter tends to be higher in the summer months; as it was found to be highest in August (Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, 2010).…”

Members of the family Campylobacteraceae: Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli

“…Duration of shedding lasts from a few hours to three weeks (average 15 days) (Nichols et al, 2012;Feodoroff et al, 2010;Butzler, 2004). Limited data is available on the concentration in human feces, but in three patients' concentrations varied from 6×10 6 to 10 9 CFU/g (Blaser and Wang, 1980).…”

“…The mean incubation period is 3.2 days ranging approximately from 1 to 10 days (Blaser, 1997;Feodoroff et al, 2010;Nichols et al, 2012). …”

“…The data collection also includes information on the prevalence of C. jejuni and C. coli in their domestic animal reservoirs and certain foods improving assessment of potential sources of human infections. Some countries also have data on foreign travel-associated cases separated from those acquired from domestic sources (EFSA, 2015;Nichols et al, 2012;Kendall et al, 2012). This travel-associated data is important for targeting potential interpretation measures to decrease health burden of the illness.…”

PerR controls oxidative stress defence and aerotolerance but not motility-associated phenotypes of Campylobacter jejuni

“…The bacterial pathogen Campylobacter jejuni is the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis of humans in the developed world, with an estimated annual incidence of 9.2 million cases in the 27 member countries of the European Union [EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) (2011); Nichols et al, 2012]. This, together with its link to neurodegenerative diseases like Guillain-Barré syndrome, makes it both a public health and economic problem (Janssen et al, 2008;McCarthy et al, 2012;Poropatich et al, 2010).…”