[Thermophilic Campylobacter from fecal samples of animals and their behavior in the ganglioside (GM1)-ELISA, Vero cell test and salt aggregation test]

Abstract

From 397 fecal specimens from apparently healthy and from diarrheic pigs, dogs, cats and cattle 59 strains (= 15%) of thermophilic Campylobacter (C.) spp. were isolated by culture. 39 strains were identified as C. coli and 18 as C. jejuni whereas 2 isolates could not be classified. None of the strains was found to be positive for cytotoxic enterotoxin in the GM1-ELISA. In the Vero-cell test 5 isolates showed a cytotoxic effect. The salt aggregation test (SAT) for indicating cell surface hydrophobicity was positive with 24 strains (5 C. jejuni, 19 C. coli). A correlation of isolation results with clinical manifestation could not be observed.