Campylobacter

Campylobacter is a genus of bacteria with a diverse range of species, some of which play significant roles in human health and disease. Here is an overview of how Campylobacter interacts with human health:

1. Campylobacteriosis: Certain Campylobacter species, particularly Campylobacter jejuni, can cause campylobacteriosis, a food-borne infection resulting in diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and fever. This condition is typically associated with consuming undercooked poultry, unpasteurised milk, or contaminated water.¹Altekruse SF, Stern NJ, Fields PI, Swerdlow DL. Campylobacter jejuni–an emerging foodborne pathogen. Emerg Infect Dis. 1999 Jan-Feb;5(1):28-35. doi: 10.3201/eid0501.990104.²Dieckmann AL, Riedel T, Bunk B, Spröer C, Overmann J, Groß U, Bader O, Bohne W, Morgenstern B, Hosseini M, Zautner AE. Genome and Methylome analysis of a phylogenetic novel Campylobacter colicluster with C. jejuni introgression. Microb Genom. 2021 Oct;7(10):000679. doi: 10.1099/mgen.0.000679.³Dzianach PA, Pérez-Reche FJ, Strachan NJC, Forbes KJ, Dykes GA. The Use of Interdisciplinary Approaches to Understand the Biology of Campylobacter jejuni. Microorganisms. 2022 Dec 16;10(12):2498. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10122498.⁴Nielsen HL, Dalager-Pedersen M, Nielsen H. Risk of inflammatory bowel disease after Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter concisus infection: a population-based cohort study. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2019 Mar;54(3):265-272. doi: 10.1080/00365521.2019.1578406.
2. Gastrointestinal inflammation: Campylobacter species, such as C. jejuni and C. coli, can induce gastrointestinal inflammation, leading to symptoms that may resemble irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), highlighting the importance of distinguishing between these conditions.⁵Sheppard SK, Maiden MC. The evolution of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2015 Jun 22;7(8):a018119. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a018119.
3. Guillain-Barré syndrome: In rare cases, C. jejuni infection can trigger Guillain-Barré Syndrome, an autoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system, causing muscle weakness and potential paralysis. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to minimize the long-term impact of this syndrome.⁶Gundogdu O, Wren BW. Microbe Profile: Campylobacter jejuni – survival instincts. Microbiology (Reading). 2020 Mar;166(3):230-232. doi: 10.1099/mic.0.000906.⁷Nachamkin I, Allos BM, Ho T. Campylobacter species and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1998 Jul;11(3):555-67. doi: 10.1128/CMR.11.3.555.

In summary, Campylobacter has a dual role in human health and disease, with most species causing food-borne infections while others may exist as commensals. Understanding and mitigating the risks associated with pathogenic Campylobacter species is vital for protecting the delicate balance of the gut microbial ecosystem.

Where to find Campylobacter in the Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test

You will find your Campylobacter scores in the “Pathogens” report in your Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test results. Guidance on how to work with pathogens like Campylobacter will be featured in your Personal Action Plan. Please note that this information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP or other qualified health provider if you have any questions about Campylobacter.

Synonyms: Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter species

Important disclaimer

The Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Handbook is an educational resource built to translate complex science into plain English. The information provided on this page is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Always check with your GP for interactions with medications/health conditions before changing your diet or starting to take food supplements.

References

• 1
  Altekruse SF, Stern NJ, Fields PI, Swerdlow DL. Campylobacter jejuni–an emerging foodborne pathogen. Emerg Infect Dis. 1999 Jan-Feb;5(1):28-35. doi: 10.3201/eid0501.990104.
• 2
  Dieckmann AL, Riedel T, Bunk B, Spröer C, Overmann J, Groß U, Bader O, Bohne W, Morgenstern B, Hosseini M, Zautner AE. Genome and Methylome analysis of a phylogenetic novel Campylobacter colicluster with C. jejuni introgression. Microb Genom. 2021 Oct;7(10):000679. doi: 10.1099/mgen.0.000679.
• 3
  Dzianach PA, Pérez-Reche FJ, Strachan NJC, Forbes KJ, Dykes GA. The Use of Interdisciplinary Approaches to Understand the Biology of Campylobacter jejuni. Microorganisms. 2022 Dec 16;10(12):2498. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10122498.
• 4
  Nielsen HL, Dalager-Pedersen M, Nielsen H. Risk of inflammatory bowel disease after Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter concisus infection: a population-based cohort study. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2019 Mar;54(3):265-272. doi: 10.1080/00365521.2019.1578406.
• 5
  Sheppard SK, Maiden MC. The evolution of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2015 Jun 22;7(8):a018119. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a018119.
• 6
  Gundogdu O, Wren BW. Microbe Profile: Campylobacter jejuni – survival instincts. Microbiology (Reading). 2020 Mar;166(3):230-232. doi: 10.1099/mic.0.000906.
• 7
  Nachamkin I, Allos BM, Ho T. Campylobacter species and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1998 Jul;11(3):555-67. doi: 10.1128/CMR.11.3.555.

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