Comparative prevalence and diversity of Campylobacter jejuni strains in water and human beings over a 1-year period in southwestern Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from diarrheic people, river water (Oldman River watershed), wastewater, and drinking water over a 1-year period in southwestern Alberta (2008-2009). High rates of campylobacteriosis were observed during the study period (≥115 cases/100K). Infections occurred throughout the year, with a peak in late summer and early autumn. The majority of infections occurred in people living in Lethbridge. Campylobacter jejuni was not isolated from municipal drinking water. In contrast, the bacterium was isolated from untreated and treated wastewater, and river water (all sites). There were no correlations between C. jejuni recovery/detection from water and river flow rates, water turbidity, or fecal coliforms. Campylobacter jejuni recovery from water did not correspond with the peak periods of campylobacteriosis. The bacterium was most commonly isolated downstream of wastewater outfalls; waterfowl congregated at these sites, particularly during the winter months. A comparison of subtypes from people and water revealed that the vast majority of subtypes in water did not correspond to subtypes recovered from diarrheic people, and were linked to waterfowl and other non-human animal sources. We conclude that water-borne C. jejuni did not contribute significantly to the high rates of campylobacteriosis observed in people during the study period.

Environmental dynamics of Campylobacter jejuni genotypes circulating in Luxembourg: what is the role of wild birds?

“…Moreover, C. jejuni isolated from surface waters corresponded to genotypes different from those of wild birds or recurring clinical isolates. Surface water contamination appears not to be associated with human recurring or wild bird isolates [47]. However, the frequent presence of C. coli could disrupt the isolation of C. jejuni strains because we selected a limited number of colonies.…”

“…By contact with these surface waters, animals such as bovines, chickens and wild birds could also become contaminated. Via their faeces, these animals contaminated fields, which become a vector of contamination for other animal food production and waters [47,50]. Moreover, indirect exposure to surfaces contaminated with bird faeces has been linked to disease in young children [51].…”

Campylobacter in aquatic and terrestrial mammals is driven by life traits: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…This is a concern that is not entirely restricted to the developing world, however, with many developed countries having high prevalence of the pathogen group. For example, it was found that 9.1% of diarrheic patients in Alberta over a one-year period were positive for Campylobacter (Inglis et al, 2021). Additionally, some wildlife species consumed by humans contained antimicrobial resistant (AMR) strains of Campylobacter spp., which may have important implications to AMR transmission dynamics and public health (Sasaki et al, 2013).…”