Epidemiologic study of campylobacteriosis in Iowa cattle and the possible role of unpasteurized milk as a vehicle of infection
Warner, D.P.; Bryner, J.H.; Beran, G.W.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 47(2): 254-258
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 3954200 Document Number: 277456
Of 477 cows culled from dairy herds throughout Iowa, 74 (15.5%) yielded thermophilic Campylobacter, and 6 yielded non-thermophilic Campylobacter (C. fetus subsp. fetus) from the bile. Of the thermophilic isolates 67 (91%) were C. jejuni and 7 (9%) C. coli. Four milk line sock filters collected at 3-month intervals for a year from a grade A dairy (total of 16 filters) were all negative for Campylobacter. Serotyping was carried out on the 74 thermophilic isolates from cow bile, and also on 86 from chicken carcasses, 16 from ovine reproductive tracts, 19 porcine isolates and 99 human faecal isolates. Serotypes 2 and 4 and related serotypes (13, 16, 43 and 50) were the most prevalent among human and bovine isolates, but accounted for only 12.8% of the chicken isolates. The three serotypes most prevalent in chickens (5, 44 and 10) accounted for 60.4% of the chicken isolates, but for only 11% of the human and 4% of the bovine isolates. Of 263 human clinical cases of campylobacteriosis, 23% were associated with the consumption of unpasteurized milk during the previous week.