Campylobacter Flashcards

Question	Answer		Article
What type of bacteria are campylobacter?	Curved, gram negative rods with polar flagellum to aid motility.		Link to Article
Which of the campylobacter species are thermophillic (thrive at higher temperature)?	C.jejuni C.coli		Link to Article
Which of the campylobacter species are non-thermophillic?	C.fetus		Link to Article
How does C.fetus persist within the host genital tract?	C. fetus subspecies fetus and subspecies venerealis possess a microcapsule (S layer) which resists phagocytosis and serum-mediated destruction and enhances survival in the genital tract. Antigens of the S layer undergo antigenic shifts in C. fetus subspecies venerealis, allowing persistence in the host.		Link to Article
Which campylobacter species is responsible for 10% of ovine abortions?	C.fetus. After ingestion during the last trimester of pregnancy it causes necrotic placentitis, which prediposes the animal to late abortion, still birth or weak lambs. It can also cause sporadic abortion in cattle and horses but at a lower incidence than in sheep.		Link to Article
How can C.fetus be diagnosed?	On post mortem aborted lambs may have round necrotic lesions on the surface of their liver.		Link to Article
How can C.fetus subspecies fetus controlled and treated?	Aborting ewes should be isolated and other ewes should be moved to clean pasture. The placenta should be destroyed and the flock vaccinated with bacterin during the outbreak and prophylactically. During and outbreak, chlortetracycline should be added to the feed.		Link to Article
Which Campylobacter species causes venereal infection in cattle and infertility in female cattle?	Campylobacter fetus subspecies venerealis. It causes: Catarrhal inflammation in the female genital tract Temporary infertility Prolonged oestrus cycle Endometritis - that prevents implantation and causes early embryonic death/sporadic abortion		Link to Article
What are the clinical signs in Bulls infected with C.fetus subsp. venerealis?	Bulls are known as carriers as they show no clinical signs of the disease but they carry bacteria in the glandular crypts of the prepuce.		Link to Article
Do cows develop immunity to C.fetus subsp. venerealis?	The cow may remain infertile for 3-5 months before immunity develops, which then lasts 4-5 years. Effective immunity includes induction of IgA in the vagina and IgG in the uterus. The bacteria may persist in the vagina and be transmitted to bulls.		Link to Article
How do you diagnose C.fetus subsp. venerealis?	Fluorescent antibody test on genital discharges from the bull or cow Vaginal mucus agglutination test ELISA to IgA antibodies in vaginal mucus after an abortion in the cow PCR for detection in semen.		Link to Article
How can C.fetus subsp. venerealisbe treated?	Dihydrostreptomycin intrauterine for cows and systemically or topically for bulls Vaccination of bacterin in oil adjuvant		Link to Article