Human campylobacteriosis: A public health concern of global importance

1Campylobacter belong to a distinct group of specialized bacteria designated rRNA superfamily VI of Class Proteobacteria. Campylobacter species are slender Gram-negative rod-shaped, spiral-shaped with single or pair of flagella. Some Campylobacter species have multiple flagella such as C. showae while some species are non-motile like C. gracilis. Campylobacter species are indole negative, oxidase positive, hippurate positive, catalase positive, nitrate positive and glucose utilization negative. Campylobacter species are closely related group of bacteria that principally colonise the gastrointestinal tracts of different animals. Campylobacter species are enormous significance due to the increase in number of species implicated in animals and human's infections. Since its first identification, the number of pathogenic Campylobacter species that causes animal and human infections are largely classified through phylogenetic means with few as 500–800 bacteria ingestion dose resulting to human disease. Nonetheless, report has shown that Campylobacter doses of 100 cells or less have been linked with human infections. The major infection caused by Campylobacter is mainly acute diarrhea and since 1977, Campylobacter species have been known as the major causative agent of acute diarrhea. Campylobacter species have also been reported to be implicated in various human systemic infections including septic thrombophlebitis, endocarditis, neonatal sepsis, pneumonia, bloodstream infections (BSIs), acute colitis of inflammatory bowel disease and acute appendicitis. Other major post-infections that significantly add to Campylobacter disease burden include severe demyelinating neuropathy, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), sequelae and Miller-Fisher syndrome (MFS). Campylobacter species are also associated with series of gastrointestinal infections like colorectal cancer and Barrett's esophagus. In small group of patients, Campylobacter species have also been reported to be associated with extragastrointestinal infections such as brain abscesses, meningitis, lung infections, bacteremia and reactive arthritis.

2Campylobacter is a significant zoonotic causes of bacterial food-borne infection and farm animals are the major reservoir of Campylobacter species and the major cause of campylobacteriosis. Worldwide, farm animals are also the major cause of both bacteria food poisoning and Campylobacter foodborne gastrointestinal infections. Campylobacter foodborne infection is a problem and an economic burden to human population which caused about 8.4% of the global diarrhea cases. Campylobacter foodborne infection is a global concern because of the emerging Campylobacter species involved in both human infections and Campylobacter foodborne outbreaks. Campylobacter foodborne outbreak is defined as Campylobacter infection that involve more than two or more persons as a result of consumption of Campylobacter contaminated foods. Majority of campylobacteriosis cases are not recognized as outbreaks rather as sporadic episode involving a single family group. Campylobacteriosis is a collective name of infections caused by pathogenic Campylobacter species and is characterized by fever, vomiting, watery or bloody diarrhea. In general, Campylobacter infections are predominantly common in certain age group such as children (below 4) and the aged (above 75). Other group of people at high risk of Campylobacter infections are immunocompromised individuals, hemoglobinopathies patients and those suffering from inflammatory bowel disease. In addition, the risks of Campylobacter infections are higher in high income nations than in low income nations. In low income nations, a number of environmental sources pose a high risks of human Campylobacter infections; and most outbreaks are caused by consumption of poultry meats and poultry products. Poultry meats include meats from laying hens, turkeys, ostriches, ducks and broilers, and poultry meats and it product cause about 60–80% of the global campylobacteriosis cases.

3Campylobacter species are divided into Lior serotypes and penner serotypes and over 100 Lior serotypes and 600 penner serotypes have been reported. Among these Lior serotypes and penner serotypes, only the thermotolerant Campylobacter species have been reported to have clinical significance.

4Worldwide, pathogenic Campylobacter species are responsible for the cause of over 400–500 million infections cases each year. Pathogenic Campylobacter species known to be implicated in human infections includes C. jejuni, C. concisus, C. rectus, C. hyointestinalis, C. insulaenigrae, C. sputorum, C. helveticus, C. lari, C. fetus, C. mucosalis, C. coli, C. upsaliensis and C. ureolyticus. These pathogenic Campylobacter species are grouped into major human enteric pathogens (C. jejuni, C. jejuni subsp. jejuni (Cjj), C. jejuni subsp. doyley (Cjd), C. coli and C. fetus); minor pathogens (C. concisus, C. upsaliensis, C. lari and C. hyointestinalis) and major veterinary pathogens (C. fetus subsp. venerealis (Cfv) and C. fetus subsp. fetus (Cff)).

5C. jejuni is a motile, microaerophilic, zoonotic, thermophilic bacterial considered as the leading cause of worldwide foodborne bacterial gastroenteritis. It's a member of the genus Campylobacter with polar flagella and helical morphology that is used for movement through viscous solutions including the mucus layer of the gastrointestinal tract. C. jejuni is the major enteric pathogen that displays significant strain-to-strain dissimilarities in their pathogenicity patterns. C. jejuni is the major species that caused infections than other pathogenic Campylobacter species and also the major Campylobacter species that regularly cause diarrhea in human. Infections caused by C. jejuni can develop into diverse severities such as mild and self-limiting diarrhea to hemorrhagic colitis and sometimes to meningitis and bacteremia. C. jejuni infections are also associated with many secondary complications such as autoimmune neuropathy, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). C. jejuni is the major Campylobacter species that cause disease in young people. C. jejuni infections can occur via various routes such as through direct contact with companion and farm animals or through waterborne or foodborne transmission. C. jejuni is a commensal bacterial of chickens which inhabit the chicken intestines at a level >106–108 CFU/g of chicken faeces and chickens are the main vector for human campylobacteriosis. C. jejuni consist of two subspecies; C. jejuni subsp. jejuni (Cjj) and C. jejuni subsp. doyley (Cjd). The main phenotypic feature generally used to differentiate Cjj from Cjd strain is the inability of C. jejuni subsp. doyley to reduce nitrate and also, Cjd is also associated with high susceptibility to cephalothin. Clinically, Cjd strain causes both enteritis and gastritis. C. jejuni subsp. jejuni (Cjj) is the main bacterial cause of enteroinvasive diarrhea and the major symptoms of C. jejuni infections include severe enteritis, severe abdominal cramps, fever and bloody diarrhea with mucus. In addition, C. jejuni has also been reported to be associated with immunoreactive complications like Miller-Fisher syndromes.

6Campylobacter coli is an S-shaped curved cell measuring about 0.2–0.5 micrometers long with a single flagellum. It's very similar to C. jejuni; and both bacteria cause inflammation of the intestine and diarrhea in humans. C. coli is the second most regularly reported Campylobacter species that causes human infections. C. coli is grouped into 3 clades (clade 1, 2 and 3). C. coli clade 1 includes most C. coli isolated from humans and farm animals. C. coli clade 1 causes most of human infections whereas infections cause by C. coli clade 2 and 3 are rare. In high income countries, report has shown that C. coli is the second most regular cause of campylobacteriosis. Also in high income countries, C. coli infections are usually sporadic and it show seasonal drifts with majority of the infections occurring in early fall or late summer. The clinical manifestations of C. coli infections include watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, inflammatory enterocolitis, malaise and nausea.

7C. fetus is a curved cell, fastidious motile bacterial that majorly cause septic abortion in farm animals. C. fetus can cause infection in human and its infection can be acquired through direct contact with animals, through consumption of undercooked contaminated meat or through ingesting food or water contaminated by animal faeces. C. fetus is grouped into 3 subsp. which includes: C. fetus subsp. venerealis (Cfv), C. fetus subsp. testudinum (Cft) and C. fetus subsp. fetus (Cff). Cfv and Cff are associated with farm animal infections; while Cft has also been reported to be associated with human infection such as bacteremia. Cff and Cfv are categorized on the basis of their clinical manifestations and mechanisms of transmission. Cff caused abortion in infected sheep and cattle and it's an opportunistic human pathogen that largely infects immunecompromised patients. Cfv is reported to be cattle-restricted pathogen, but this species has been isolated from humans and most human infection caused by C. fetus strain is majorly caused by Cff. Some of the major reported symptoms of C. fetus infections include endocarditis, meningitis, septicemia, septic arthritis, peritonitis and cellulitis. C. fetus is sometimes responsible for human systemic infections like bloodstream infection in immunosuppressed and immunocompromised individuals, but infections are rare.

8Campylobacter lari was previously called Campylobacter laridis and is part of the thermotolerant Campylobacter species. C. lari is grouped into a genotypically and phenotypically diverse Campylobacter group that encompasses of the nalidixic-acid susceptible (NASC) group, nalidixic acid-resistant thermophilic Campylobacter, the urease-positive thermophilic Campylobacter and the urease-producing NASC. These aforementioned groups are all identified as variants of C. lari group. This C. lari group is made up of five Campylobacter species (C. subantarcticus, C. insulaenigrae, C. volucris, C. lari and C. peloridis) with other group of strains called UPTC and C. lari-like strains. Though, some of these strains formally identified as C. lari group were later classified as novel taxa such as C. volucris and C. peloridis. C. lari is a species within the genus Campylobacter and is grouped into two novel subsp. namely; C. lari subspe. concheus (Clc) and C. lari subsp. lari (Cll). In 1984, C. lari was first reported in immunocompromised patient and since then sporadic cases including water-borne C. lari outbreaks have been reported. C. lari has also been reported to be associated with enteritis, purulent pleurisy, bacteremia, urinary tract infection, reactive arthritis and prosthetic joint infection.

9Campylobacter upsaliensis is among the thermotolerant Campylobacter species and is mostly found in dogs and cats, regardless of whether the animal is sick or healthy. C. upsaliensis is the third most Campylobacter species after C. jejuni and C. coli. C. upsaliensis was named after the city it was first described and thereafter, reports have emerged globally associating this species as a human bacterial enteropathogen. C. upsaliensis is a well-known Campylobacter species that cause diarrhea in felines and canines. C. upsaliensis is well recognized as a clinically important emerging diarrhea pathogen in both pediatric and immunocompromised persons. It is one of the emerging Campylobacter species that is associated with human infections including Crohn's disease, neonatal infection, bacteremia, abscesses, meningitis and abortion. C. upsaliensis has also been reported to cause acute or chronic diarrhea in human and diarrhea in dogs though genetic studies have shown that Campylobacter strains isolated from dogs and human strains are different. In many nations, C. upsaliensis is the second reported Campylobacter species that cause infections in human after C. jejuni.

10Other pathogenic Campylobacter species implicated in human infections includes C. mucosalis, C. curvus, C. insulaenigrae, C. doylei, C. concisus, C. helveticus and C. rectus. Beside the well-known pathogenic species, other emerging species such as C. sputorum biovar sputorum, C. gracilis, C. ureolyticus, C. peloridis and C. showae, have also been reported to be implicated in causing human infections with some life-threatening complications in hospitalized patients. Some of these emerging Campylobacter species have also been isolated and detected in samples from the axillary nerve, soft tissue lesions, hepatic, lung, bone infections, the cerebrospinal, peritoneal fluid, genitalia, brain abscesses and thoracic empyema of hospitalized patients. In addition to these life-threatening complications caused by these emerging pathogens, there is a huge gap in tracing the connection between infection and source of human infection. Furthermore, even with the global incidence of Campylobacter species in causing infections, the knowledge of the epidemiology and pathogenesis are still incomplete.

11Campylobacter species are of economic importance as they constantly cause foodborne infections due to diverse genes involved in its pathogenicity. Campylobacter pathogenicity is based on the virulence factors and these virulence factors are multi-factorial in nature and the ability of these bacteria to survival and resist physiological stress also contributes to its pathogenicity. The various virulence related mechanisms displayed by Campylobacter species includes invasive properties, oxidative stress defence, toxin production, iron acquisition and its ability to remain viable but non-culturable state. Campylobacter invasion, adherence and colonization also add to the pathogenicity of these groups of bacteria. Other virulence factors of Campylobacter include; secretion of some sets of proteins, translocation capabilities and flagella-mediated motility.

12Motility is important for Campylobacter survival under diverse chemotactic conditions it comes across in the gastrointestinal tract. In some Campylobacter species, the motility system with the flagella involves a chemosensory system that steers flagella movement depending on the environmental conditions where these bacteria are found. Campylobacter chemotaxis and flagellin are the two important virulence factors that help lead these bacteria to its colonization site and also help in invading the host cell. Some of these Campylobacter motility virulence factors and their encoding genes are σ54 promoter regulates gene (flaB) and σ28 promoter regulates gene (flaA). The flaA gene appears to be significant for invasion, colonization of the host epithelial cells and adherence to the host gastrointestinal tracts. The flagellum is composed of structural extracellular filamentous components and a hook-basal body. The hook-basal body comprises of the following: (a) the surface localized hook, (b) the periplasmic rod and associated ring structures and (c) a base embedded in the cytoplasm and inner membrane of the cell. The hook-basal body is a complex component that is made up of a number of diverse proteins such as FliO, FlhA, FliG, FlhB, FliP, FliF, FliQ, FliR, FliY, FliM and FliN, FlgI, FlgH, FlgE, FliK, FlgE and FliK. The extracellular filament of the flagella is composed of multimers of the protein including flagellin protein (FlaA and FlaB), FlaA (coded by flaA gene), and FlaB (coded by flaB gene) which is the minor flagellin protein.

13Chemotaxis is a method or system by which motile bacteria sense and move to the direction of more favourable conditions and several pathogenic bacteria uses this practice to invade their hosts. Campylobacter chemotaxis virulence factors involve in human infections includes chemotaxis proteins; Che A, B, R, V, W and Z encoded by cheA, cheB, cheR, cheV, cheW and cheZ genes, Methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins encoded by tlp4, tlp and tlp1 genes, the CheY response regulator that is responsible for controlling flagella rotation encoded by cheY gene and Campylobacter energy taxis system proteins CetB (Aer2) and CetA (Tlp9) encoded by cetB and cetA gene.

14Campylobacter adherence to epithelial cells of the host gastrointestinal tract is a precondition for its colonisation mediated by some adhesins on the bacterial surface. Campylobacter adhesion virulence factors includes outer membrane protein encoded by cadF gene, Campylobacter adhesion protein A encoded by capA gene, phospholipase A encoded by pldA gene, lipoprotein encoded by jlpA gene, periplasmic binding protein encoded by peb1A gene, fibronectin-like protein A encoded by flpA and Type IV secretion system encoded by virB11 gene. Campylobacter adhering to fibronectin F is another important Campylobacter virulence factor that enables these bacteria to bind to fibronectin which promotes the bacterium-host cell interactions and colonization. Other virulence genes in Campylobacter species reported to be linked with human infections responsible for expression of colonization and adherence include racR, dnaJ, docA and racR genes.

15Campylobacter produce different type of cytotoxins and cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) is one of these toxins. CDT is a tripartite toxin that is made up of three subunits encoded by the cdtA, cdtB and cdtC genes. Cytolethal distending toxin activity is determined by these three cdt cluster genes. These three cdt cluster genes are all needed for these toxins to be active. The cdtA and C genes are heterodimeric toxin subunits responsible for toxin binding and internalization of the host cell while cdtB is the subunit which encodes for the toxic/active components of the toxin. Cytolethal distending toxins induce diarrhea in both humans and animals by intrusive with the division of cells in the intestinal crypts.

16Invasion is another virulence mechanism in Campylobacter that is carried out by the flagella which also function as an export apparatus in the secretion of non-flagella proteins during host invasion. There are many virulence genes that are involved in Campylobacter invasion mechanism and the products of these genes including flagellin C (flaC) and invasion antigens (cia) genes. These genes are transported into the host cell's cytoplasm with the aid of flagella secretion system which is vital for invasion and colonisation. The secretion of invasion antigens and invasion protein B (ciaB) are also important virulence proteins synthesized by Campylobacter species which help in the epithelial cells invasion and adhesion of the host gastrointestinal tract. Other important virulence genes and proteins synthesized by Campylobacter species including the 73-kDa protein involved in adhesion, the invasion antigen C protein involved in full invasion of INT-407 cells, invasion associated protein gene (iamA) implicated in invasion and virulence, the periplasmic protein HtrA responsible for full binding to the epithelial cells, the HtrA chaperone implicated in full folding of out outer membrane protein, the CiaI gene implicated in intracellular survival and pldA and hcp genes responsible for the expression of invasion.

17Other virulence mechanism that adds to Campylobacter pathogenicity is the ability to obtain the necessary nutrient iron needed for its growth from the host body fluids and tissues. Sialyltransferases (cstII) activity also add to Campylobacter pathogenicity by providing lipooligosaccharide with a defensive barricade that help facilitates in the disruption of the epithelial cells which mimic the action of human ganglioside inducing diarrhea. The wlaN gene is implicated in lipopolysaccharide production. The spot gene is responsible for extreme control, the Kat A (catalase) responsible to convert H2O2 to H2O and O2, the cj0012c and cj1371 proteins genes implicated to protect against reactive oxygen species. The Peb4 chaperone is another virulence mechanism in Campylobacter that play a significant role in the exporting of proteins to the outer membrane. Other virulence genes responsible for stress response genes includes the cosR, cj1556, spoT, ppk1, csrA, nuoK and cprS and the cell surface modifications genes (waaF, pgp1 and peb4). All these aforementioned Campylobacter virulence-associated genes have all been reported to be implicated in human infections.

18Campylobacters are types of bacteria that majorly cause infections in the gastrointestinal tract. Campylobacter infections may be acquired through different means including consumption of unpasteurized milk, non-chlorinated/contaminated surface water and consumption of undercooked poultry or red meat. Campylobacter infections can also be acquired through direct contact with infected pets within the family environment. The clinical manifestations of Campylobacter infections are oftentimes impossible to differentiate from infections caused by Shigella and Salmonella. Campylobacter mechanisms of survival and infection is poorly understood but when colonized the ileum, jejunum and colon, it sometimes causes infection with or without symptoms. Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of the transmission cycle involve in Campylobacter infection.

19Campylobacter infection is a bacterial infection that commonly causes human gastroenteritis but infection can also occur outside the intestines. Campylobacter infections are classified into two categories namely; (i): Gastrointestinal infection (GI) and (ii): Extragastrointestinal infection.

20Gastrointestinal infection (GI) is the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract involving both the small intestine and stomach. GI is generally characterized by diarrhea. Campylobacter is 1 of the 4 key global bacterial cause of gastrointestinal infections. It's also the major and regular cause of traveller's diarrhea and children diarrhea. Besides diarrhea, other gastrointestinal infections associated with different Campylobacter species are shown in Table 1.

21Extragastrointestinal infections (EI) are infections outside the intestines but symptoms are associated with a problem within the intestine. Extragastrointestinal infections reported to be associated with Campylobacter infections includes reactive arthritis, GBS, bacteremia, septicaemia, septic arthritis, endocarditis, neonatal sepsis, osteomyelitis, and meningitis. In small number of cases, other extragastrointestinal post-infections associated with Campylobacter infections include severe neurological dysfunction, neurological disorders and a polio-like form of paralysis. Some Campylobacter species associated with extragastrointestinal infections are listed in Table 2.

22Isolation of Campylobacter species relied on culture-based methods which have helped to strongly ascertain its part in human infections. Campylobacter isolation involves a medium that uses antibiotics as selective agents. These antibiotics used differs from a single antibiotic including cefoperazone or cefazolin in modified CDA medium to a “cocktail” of polymixin B, trimethroprin and vancomycin found in Skirrow's medium. Campylobacter sensitivity to oxidizing radicals and O2 has led to the development of a number of selective media and selective agents for its isolation. Before the development of these culture media for Campylobacter isolation and detection, non-selective medium was previously used but the medium was less proper for isolation of campylobacters from environmental and animal samples. Owing to this problem, Bolton and Robertson in 1977 developed a selective Preston medium suitable for Campylobacter isolation from environmental and food samples. Several other selective broths and media latter developed for Campylobacter isolation includes Bolton broth, Preston broth and Campylobacter enrichment broth, modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar (mCCDA), CampyFood agar (CFA) and broth, RAPID’Campylobacter agar, Campylobacter agar base (CAB) and Campylobacter Cefex agar. Campylobacter species are microaerobic, fastidious bacteria capable of growing in a temperature between 37 °C and 42 °C. Despite Campylobacter sensitivity to high temperature and low oxygen concentration, the actual procedures used by clinical laboratories in its isolation from human faecal specimens may vary in different countries. However, laboratory diagnosis of campylobacteriosis is usually carried out by culture-base technique or by rapid detection of Campylobacter antigen (Enzyme Immunoassay) in stool samples, body tissue or fluids of infected person to identify the genetic materials of this bacterial strain that shows similar symptoms with other bacteria pathogens.

23Other method use for Campylobacter identification includes growth morphology, biochemical tests and some of these identification methods used are not unreliable. However, other molecular techniques have been designed as alternative and better diagnostic methods for identification. In 1992, application of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was first used for specific detection of C. coli and C. jejuni, and PCR is widely used in the detection and identification of this bacterial to species level. In addition to PCR techniques, other molecular methods used for identification or detection of Campylobacter species include random amplified polymorphic DNA, whole-genome sequencing, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF). Some of the challenges involved in Campylobacter isolation and identification includes difficult procedures for isolation and identification, suboptimal storage and loss of isolates during extensive freeze-thaw cycles which has raised concerns to the scientific community. Likewise, the presence of the “protective guard” in a community of multispecies biofilm could hide a wide range of emerging pathogenic Campylobacter species which can successfully “escape” adverse environments and regain its ability to cause infection when found in optimal conditions may lead to wrong results in the diagnosis process. Another serious challenge for public health concern in campylobacters identification and diagnosis is its ability to remain viable but nonculturable but retain its physiology and virulence ability. Lasstly, the laboratory diagnosis of Campylobacter infections caused by other pathogenic Campylobacter species except C. coli and C. jejuni is complex due to the challenging growth and identification processes of the several subsets of Campylobacter species.

24Campylobacter species majorly colonized the intestine of poultry, European blackbirds, cattle, sheep, ostriches, cats, dogs and pigs. These bacteria are shed in the faeces of these animals into the environment. Campylobacter can also spread to person by direct contact to animals such as pets, with dog owners at high risk of Campylobacter infection. Beside pets, other domestic animals such as cattle are also regularly colonized by Campylobacter species and persons working with these animals are also at high risk of Campylobacter infection. Other sets of people at high risk of campylobacteriosis include farms and abattoirs workers who sometimes do not practice hand-washing and food safety habits. However, identification and understanding the transmission routes of Campylobacter infections is crucial for its prevention and control. The common and major route/pathways of campylobacteriosis includes through faecal-oral routes, through consumption of contaminated undercooked meats or through consumption of contaminated food/water. Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of overview of the transmission routes of Campylobacter infection.

25Worldwide, there is a rise in the consumption of unpasteurized milk as a result of its health benefits compared to pasteurized milk. Despites the health benefits in the consumption of unpasteurized milk, there is a great concern to the health risk its pose to human. Milk is a white liquid and a nutrient-rich food produced in the mammary glands of mammals. It's a source of protein, dietary fats and minerals (calcium and magnesium) for growth particularly in children. Milk is consumed either unpasteurized or pasteurized and mammals that produced milk for human consumption includes sheep, buffalo, goats, cows, yak and camel and the highest proportions of commercially produced milks are from cows. Milk is considered germ-free when secreted in the alveoli of the udder. Fresh milk drawn from animals naturally possess a short lived antibacterial system that display ‘germicidal’ or ‘bacteriostatic’ properties but bacterial growth is inevitable after sometimes except it undergoes heat treatment or freezing. Milk is a good substrate for bacteria growth and it's reported to be among the major transmission routes for Campylobacter to humans. Milk is natural foods that has no protection against external contamination and can easily be contaminated when separated from it source. Milk contamination generally occurs from environmental sources such as water, grass, milking equipments, feed, air, teat apex, soil and other sources. It's believed that the occurrence of Campylobacter species in raw milk samples is from faecal contamination. Campylobacter species have been detected in cow milk ( et al., 2017), and different Campylobacter species that have been detected in milk samples from different mammals including C. Jejuni detected in buffalo and cow milk and C. coli identified in cow milk. Campylobacter species have also been detected in bulk tank milk where these milks are stored, and Campylobacter species reported to have been detected from milk samples from the bulk tank include C. lari, C. jejuni and C. coli. Globally, several cases of illness and deaths have been reported to occur via consumption of contaminated raw milk and its products, and in many countries, milk-borne pathogens are of public health concern.

26Worldwide, consumption of meats is steadily increasing and meats are sometimes contaminated with microorganisms but bacteria contaminations may sometimes occur from animal microbiota, equipment surfaces and water. The bacteria from animal's microbiota that majorly contaminate meats include pathogenic Salmonella and Campylobacter species and these two bacteria species are majorly responsible for human gastroenteritis as a result of consumption of contaminated undercooked meat. Campylobacter contamination remains the major cause of bacterial food-borne infection and the major reservoir of these bacteria species are poultry. Infections caused by poultry consumption represents about 50–70% of the global Campylobacter infections cases, and poultry is define as meats from chicken, turkey, duck and goose. Beside poultry, Campylobacter species have also been detected in other meat typss such as pork and beef, mutton and in camel, lamb and chevon. Campylobacter species that have been isolated and detected in meat samples include C. coli and C. jejuni identified in poultry meat, C. coli, C. lari, C. jejuni and C. fetus detected in mutton samples, and C. jejuni and C. coli detected in pork, beef and lamb. Isolation and detection of these bacteria species from meats samples position them as one of the major transmission route.

27Worldwide, access to safe drinking water is one of the targets goals, but report from regular analysis of water samples have showed that unsafe drinking water remain the number eight leading risk factor for human disease. Studies have also showed that improved water sources including public taps/standpipes, protected dug wells, boreholes and protected springs are not automatically free of faecal contamination. In high income countries, water is sometimes contaminated through faulty pumps and pipes while in low income countries, majority of the people rely mostly on streams, lakes and other surface water sources for food preparation, washing clothes, drinking and these water are usually contaminated by human and animal faeces exacerbating the possibility of waterborne infections. Though, some environmental sources used for recreational purposes are often overlooked as a route of disease transmission. Water is an important route of Campylobacter transmission to humans resulting to waterborne infections and waterborne infections can involve several persons. Besides, Campylobacter infection via consumption of contaminated food/tap water, other water sources including dug well water have been reported to be implicated in Campylobacter outbreaks. Some of the reported pathogenic Campylobacter species detected in water samples from beach and river include C. coli, C. jejuni and C. lari. Other water sources where these bacteria have also been isolated includes ponds, streams, lakes, children's paddling pool, groundwater and seawater.

28The reports in the incidences of Campylobacter outbreaks differs among countries and the true nature of the global occurrence rate is largely unknown. The reasons for lack of true incidences rate of Campylobacter outbreaks includes underreporting of Campylobacter infection cases, differences in the reporting systems, difficulties with diagnosis and differences in surveillance in case of outbreaks. Campylobacter outbreaks are usually either from waterborne or foodborne infection involving several persons, and majority of Campylobacter outbreaks are usually from animal origin. Although, in low income countries, Campylobacter outbreaks are majorly from environmental sources such as streams and river where many people depend on these water bodies as their major drinking water source. Beside involvement of water sources in human infection in low income countries, water sources have also been reported to be implicated in Campylobacter outbreaks in high income countries such as Norway, New Zealand, Canada, Finland and Denmark. Campylobacter milk borne infection and outbreaks have also been reported in several high and low income countries. Some of the countries with records of campylobacteriosis outbreaks including the Netherlands, Israel, China, Japan, India, Sweden, Mexico and the United States. Also, other nations where there have been records of Campylobacter outbreaks includes Canada, British Columbia, Australia, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Poland, New Zealand, Madagascar, Malawi, Kenya, Iceland and Estonia, Guatemala and Peru. Fig. 3 is a map showing records of some reported cases of Campylobacter outbreaks in some countries of the world.

29Prevention of Campylobacter infections can be directly applied to humans by different ways including sewage sanitary conditions, provision of portable water, vaccine usage, public awareness concerning the significance of pasteurization of milk, proper cooking of food from animal origins and the use of therapeutics in case of infections. Prevention of Campylobacter infections can also be directed on animals by phage treatment, probiotics, prebiotics, and by improved biosecurity such as the provision of good water quality at farm level and also by monitoring the regular use of antibiotics in animal husbandry. Another vital preventive measure that will help lower the level of these bacteria is the withholding of feed from poultry for about 12 h before slaughter. Campylobacter infections are sometimes self-limiting but in most cases fluid and electrolyte replacement are major supportive measures for the treatment of this infection. Beside fluid and electrolyte replacement, antibiotics are used when symptoms pesist and antibiotics treatments are most effective when started within three days after onset of illness. Nonetheless, antibiotics are regularly used in Campylobacter infected patients with diarrhea, high fever or patients with other severe illness like weakened immune systems, AIDS, thalassemia, and hypogammaglobulinemia. Antibiotics drugs of choice for the treatment of campylobacteriosis includes fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, tetracycline, macrolides, betalactams and erythromycin. Other useful alternative antibiotics drugs of choice include ciprofloxacin, vancomycin and quinolones.

30Antibiotics use for the treatment of campylobacteriosis is significant for patients with prolonged or severe infections. Campylobacter resistance to vital antibiotics used in the treatments of Campylobacter infections is an emerging global burden and Campylobacter resistance to drugs of choice may limit the treatment options. The global spread of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter strains is a contineous process due to the regular use of antibiotics in animal husbandary and this is a problem of public health concern. Other problems that add to the spread of Campylobacter resistance includes inability to completely remove these antibiotic-resistant bacteria during wastewater treatment process, inproper dumping of humans and animals waste into waterbodies and inappropriate preparation of food from animal origin. Antibiotic resistant bacteria is a global problem assocaited with increased healthcare cost, prolonged infections with a greater risk of hospitalization and high mortality risk and rate. Molecular detection of antibiotic resistance genes in Campylobacter species have helped in determining the resistance genes in Campylobacter species from animals and environmental origin. Molecular detection of antimicrobial resistance genes in Campylobacter originating from foods and water samples is a major public health concern of global importance. Some of the resistance genes detected in Campylobacter species includes quinolone resistance-genes (gyrA, gyrB and parC), FQ-resistant (parE), β-lactamase (blaOXA-61 and blaOX-184), tetracycline resistance genes (tetA, tetB, tetM, tetO and tetS), aminoglycoside resistance genes (aphA and aadE) and erythromycin resistance gene (ermB). Antibiotics resistance genes in Campylobacter are either acquired by spontaneous mutations or through horizontal gene transfer via transduction, conjugation and transformation. Other resistance mechanisms developed by Campylobacter against antimicrobials include genetic mutation, point mutation, decreased in membrane permeability due to MOMP and rRNA methylases. Resistance-nodulation-cell division efflux system, modification of ribosomal target sites and weakening of the interaction of the macrocyclic ring and the tunnel wall of the ribosome are also essential resistance mechanism developed in Campylobacter. Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of the patterns implicated in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes.

31The emergence of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter strains has rise markedly in both developing and developed countries suggesting the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry as the source of the accelerating trend. Several countries have policy in the control of antibiotics use in animal production. However, multiples countries do not have policy in the control of antibiotics use for animal production. In addition, grain-based feeds and water are mostly supplemented with antibiotics and other drugs for animal production. In some countries that practise indiscriminate use of antimicrobial in animal production, new regulatory policy should be place on the use of antibiotic in animal husbandry for non-therapeutic reasons such as promoting weight gains of birds or improving feed efficiency. Owing to the increase in antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter strains, vaccine development is important and vaccination of birds against Campylobacter could help eradicate Campylobacter from birds and reduce the rate of incidence of human infections. Vaccine would also help to reduce high cost of post-harvest treatments. Nevertheless, the cost of Campylobacter infections treatment to public health systems is high thus the main motivation towards developing a Campylobacter vaccine would be to reduce the high costs of treatment associated with campylobacteriosis, enhance food safety and reduce potential human health risks. Presently, there are no vaccines approved by any global governing authority to prevent Campylobacter infections. Vaccine approaches against Campylobacter infections are restricted by lacking in comprehension of its association with post-infectious syndromes, antigenic diversity, protective epitopes and its pathogenesis.

32Worldwide, outbreaks of campylobacteriosis have been increasing and the major routes of transmission of these bacteria to human is generally believed to be through consumption of contaminated foods. The development of rapid Kits for Campylobacter detection and quantification in foods from animal origin will be essential for the prevention of Campylobacter infections. Campylobacter infections are majorly treated with antibiotics and the actions of these antibiotics have been compromised and this call for the development of new vaccines that will help to control the regular use of antibiotics in animal husbandry. In addition, regular domestic hygiene will also help to prevent Campylobacter infections. The production of new and effective antibiotic for better treatment of campylobacteriosis will as well help in the reduction of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter strain and the spread of antibiotics resistant genes.

33All authors listed have significantly contributed to the development and the writing of this article.

34This work was supported by the South African Medical Research Council.

35The authors declare no conflict of interest.

36No additional information is available for this paper.