Author
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Wesley, Irene |
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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 3/28/2007 Publication Date: 10/11/2007 Citation: Wesley, I.V. 2007. A 2007 update on Campylobacter [abstract]. International Food Safety Meeting. Paper No. 16-17. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Foodborne illnesses are estimated at 76 million cases, 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths annually in the United States. Yet the etiology—viral, bacterial, protozoan— for ~ 81.6% of these cases is unknown. Campylobacter jejuni is the number one cause of human bacterial foodborne enteritis worldwide. In the United States, ~ 2 million human campylobacteriosis cases account for ~ $1 billion in productivity losses annually. Healthy People 2010 targets reduction of Campylobacter to 12.3 cases per 100,000 population from 50 cases per 100,000 in 1987. FoodNet monitors seven bacterial foodborne pathogens in 10 states, representing 44.5 million people or 15% of the United States population. The 30% decline already observed by FoodNet for Campylobacter has been attributed to HACCP, GMP, and consumer education. Consumption of contaminated poultry is the most significant risk factor. Campylobacter is present on 90% of poultry carcasses. As a result, in 2008 USDA will initiate performance standards to reduce contamination on broiler and turkey carcasses. We will review our studies describing the on-farm epidemiology of Campylobacter in turkeys as well as improved molecular methods for its isolation, detection and enumeration. The availability of the total genome map (1.5 x 10**6 base pairs) of C. jejuni has expedited molecular-based methods to elucidate its epidemiology and pathogenesis. Initial studies using the Campylobacter microarray to compare strain virulence differences will be outlined. A brief summary of the public health significance of Arcobacter, the 4th most frequently reported cause of human campylobacteriosis, will also be presented. |
