Waterborne campylobacteriosis in northern Norway

https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1605(91)90064-VGet rights and content

Abstract

A suspected waterborne outbreak of presumed campylobacteriosis involving approximately 680 of the 1000 inhabitants in a community is described. Twenty-two strains of Campylobacter jejuni were isolated from patients. Ten randomly chosen isolates were identified as biotype 1 LAU 0:1 (n = 9) and biotype 2 PEN 0:6, 7 (n = 1) and one from tap water as biotype 1 PEN 0:19, 22. The majority of cases occurred within a period of 1 week. Examination of human sera obtained during the first 2 weeks of the epidemic (n = 38) revealed two patients producing antibodies directed only against the water isolate. The majority (89%) of sera collected 4 weeks later (n = 18) had antibodies directed against the most common human isolate. We suggest that all three serotypes of C. jejuni were involved in this outbreak, stressing the need for continuous surveillance and treatment of public drinking water sources.

References (32)

  • M.-N. Hwang et al.

    Rapid hippurate hydrolysis method for presumptive identification of group B streptococci

    J. Clin. Microbiol.

    (1975)
  • M. Kist

    Infektionen durch Campylobacter jejuni/coli

    Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr.

    (1983)
  • S. Lauwers et al.

    Serotyping Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli on the basis of thermostable antigens

  • V. Lund et al.

    Susceptibility of Campylobacter jejuni for disinfectants used in drinking water treatment

  • K. Melby et al.

    Antibody response in patients infected with one strain of Campylobacter jejuni measured with a DIG-ELISA method

    NIPH Ann.

    (1986)
  • K. Melby et al.

    Serotyping of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from sporadic cases and outbreaks in northern Norway

    Acta Pathol. Microbiol. Immunol. Scand. Sect. B

    (1985)
  • Cited by (29)

    • Review of campylobacter spp. in drinking and environmental waters

      2013, Journal of Microbiological Methods
      Citation Excerpt :

      Of these, E. coli, intestinal enterococci (previously fecal streptococci) and Clostridium perfringens are considered to be of fecal origin and can serve as indicators of fecal pathogens, such as Campylobacter spp. However, there are reported waterborne outbreaks and association of water with gastrointestinal illnesses in the absence of indicator bacteria (Melby et al., 1991; Payment, 1997; Engberg et al., 1998; Hänninen et al., 2003). Moreover, Campylobacter have been detected in surface water when E. coli numbers have been relatively low (Edge et al., 2012; Hokajärvi et al., 2013).

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text