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Understanding Human Infectious Potential of Campylobacter spp. Isolated from Water Fowl
Citation:
Villegas, E. Understanding Human Infectious Potential of Campylobacter spp. Isolated from Water Fowl. 2019-CHRO, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK, September 07 - 11, 2019.
Impact/Purpose:
The poster describes research efforts towards the development of animal models of infection for Campylobacter spp. in hopes of establishing dose response models for environmental Campylobacter isolates. Results from this research will provide critical scientific data sets that will allow for the development of a more accurate QMRA model for campylobacter contamination of recreational and drinking waters.
Description:
To better understand public health implications of waterfowl as reservoirs for zoonotic sources of Campylobacter in recreational waters, we developed a modified Gallus gallus (chick) model of infection to assess pathogenicity of clinical and environmental Campylobacter isolates. Viable Campylobacter from infected chicks were monitored using a modified non-invasive sampling of fresh chick excreta followed by a passive polycarbonate-filter migration culture assay. Preliminary results revealed that chicks exposed to clinical and environmental isolates of Campylobacter, through ingestion of Campylobacter-spiked drinking water, the natural route of infection, were successfully infected in a dose dependent manner, ranging from 10% to over 90%. More importantly, exposure of chicks with Campylobacter spp. isolated from Larus californicus (California gulls) excreta also resulted in a successful establishment of infection (up to 90%). Each Campylobacter spp. monitored from chick excreta contained at least 7.5 × 104 CFU g-1 of feces at seven days post-exposure. Lastly, this animal model was used to develop a dose response model for the various Campylobacter isolates tested, which revealed varying difference in infectivity among the various isolates. Taken together, this study suggests the Gallus gallus model can be used to assess infectivity of Campylobacter isolates, including gull and human clinical isolates, and the use of an avian animal model can be applied to assess the importance of birds, like the Larus californicus, as potential contributors of waterborne-associated outbreaks of campylobacteriosis.
