dog and cat assay data sheet

Campylobacter screen

Test code: B0006 - Ultrasensitive qualitative screen for Campylobacter species by real time polymerase chain reaction

B0006 is included on P0022 - canine diarrhea panel and on P0028 - feline diarrhea panel

Family Campylobacteraceae includes 2 genera, Campylobacter and Arcobacter. There are 18 species and subspecies within the genus Campylobacter, 11 of which are considered pathogenic to humans, causing enteric and extra-intestinal illnesses. The major pathogens are Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter fetus. These pathogens are small, curved, motile, microaerophilic, gram-negative rods.

Apart from contaminated food and drinking water, transmission of these bacteria can occur through direct contact with carrier animals. The presence of puppies in a household has been reported to be an important risk factor for campylobacteriosis, especially for children.

It is known that dogs are an important reservoir for C. upsaliensis, a catalase-negative/catalase-weak Campylobacter species. Cats have been shown to be carriers of C. helveticus, a thermophilic Campylobacter species which is difficult to differentiate from C. upsaliensis by biochemical tests. These two bacteria are known human pathogens. Close social contact between owners and their dogs and cats makes transmission of Campylobacter spp. highly probable.

Most people suffering from campylobacteriosis develop diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever within 2 to 5 days after exposure to the organism. The diarrhea may be bloody and can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The symptoms may last for one week. Some persons who are infected with Campylobacter, however, may not have any symptoms at all. In persons with compromised immune systems, Campylobacter can occasionally spread to the bloodstream and causes a serious life-threatening infection.

People who get campylobacteriosis usually recover completely within 2 to 5 days, but recovery can sometimes take up to 10 days. Although rare, long-term consequences can result from a Campylobacter infection. Some people may have arthritis following campylobacteriosis; others may develop a rare disease that affects the nerves of the body beginning several weeks after the diarrheal illness. This disease, called Guillain-Barré syndrome, occurs when a person's immune system is "triggered" to attack the body's own nerves, and can lead to paralysis that lasts several weeks and usually requires intensive care. It is estimated that approximately one in every 1000 reported campylobacteriosis cases leads to Guillain-Barré syndrome. As many as 40% of Guillain-Barré syndrome cases in the United States were caused by campylobacteriosis.

Although bacterial isolation can be used to diagnose Campylobacter infection, a long incubation period is required to obtain results. Furthermore, bacterial culture is neither very sensitive nor very specific, and it increases the potential risk of laboratory personnel contacting the bacteria. Subspecies identification by culture can be difficult due to new variants. Campylobacter detection by PCR is not only rapid, sensitive and specific, but can also accurately subtype the bacteria.

Utilities:

• Confirm the disease causing agent
• Ensure that pet dogs and cats are free of Campylobacter spp.
• Early prevention of spread of the bacteria among pets
• Minimize human exposure to Campylobacter
• Safety monitoring of biological products derived from susceptible animals

References:
Elmore, D. B., J. H. Anderson, D. W. Hird, K. D. Sanders, and N. W. Lerche (1992). Diarrhea rates and risk factors for developing chronic diarrhea in infant and juvenile rhesus monkeys. Lab. Anim. Sci. 42:356-359.
Munoz-Zanzi, C. A., M. C. Thurmond, D. W. Hird, and N. W. Lerche (1999) Effect of weaning time and associated management practices on postweaning chronic diarrhea in captive rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Lab. Anim. Sci. 49:617-621.
Sestak, K., Merritt, C.K., Borda, J., Saylor, E., Schwamberger, S.R., Cogswell, F., Didier, E.S., Didier, P.J., Plauche, G., Bohm, R.P., Aye, P.P., Alexa, P., Ward, R. and Lackner, A.A. (2003) Infectious agent and immune response characteristics of chronic enterocolitis in captive rhesus macaques. Infect Immun. 71:4079-86.
Baze, W.B. and Bernacky, B.J. (2002) Campylobacter-induced fetal death in a rhesus monkey. Vet Pathol. 39:605-7.
Kulkarni, S.P., Lever, S., Logan, J.M., Lawson, A.J., Stanley, J. and Shafi, M.S. (2002) Detection of campylobacter species: a comparison of culture and polymerase chain reaction based methods. J Clin Pathol. 55:749-753.

Specimen requirements:

Preferred specimen: 0.5 ml feces, or rectal swab, or 0.5 ml bacterial culture.

Less preferred specimen: 0.5 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) or ACD (yellow top) tube.

For specimen types other than those listed here, please call to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodology: Qualitative real time PCR

Normal range: Nondetected