Campylobacter is considered by many to be the leading cause of enteric illness in the United States (20,26). Campylobacter species can cause mild to severe diarrhea, with loose, watery stools often followed by bloody diarrhea (7,20). C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari account for more than 99% of the human isolates (C. jejuni 90%). Other species have been associated with human illness in recent years (7,17,18,23,26,27).
Campylobacter species are highly infective. The infective dose of C. jejuni ranges from 500 to 10,000 cells, depending on the strain, damage to cells from environmental stresses, and the susceptibility of the host (4,6,7,20,27). Only the mesophilic C. fetus is normally invasive. Thermophilic species (optimum 42°C) such as C. jejuni are occasionally invasive. The infections are manifested as meningitis, pneumonia, miscarriage, and a severe form of Guillain-Barré syndrome (6,20). Thermotolerant strains of C. fetus that grow at 42°C have been isolated from patients (17).
Campylobacters are carried in the intestinal tract of a wide variety of wild and domestic animals, especially birds. They can establish a temporary asymptomatic carrier state, as well as illness, in humans. This is especially prevalent in developing countries (20). Consumption of food and water contaminated with untreated animal or human waste accounts for 70% of Campylobacter-related illnesses each year. The foods include unpasteurized milk, meats, poultry, shellfish, fruits, and vegetables, (1,8-11,17,19,20,22, 25,26).
C. jejuni can survive 2-4 weeks under moist, reduced-oxygen conditions at 4°C, often outlasting the shelf life of the product (except in raw milk products). They can also survive 2-5 months at -20°C, but only a few days at room temperature (5,8-11,20). Environmental stresses, such as exposure to air, drying, low pH, heating, freezing, and prolonged storage, damage cells and hinder recovery to a greater degree than for most bacteria. Older and stressed organisms gradually become coccoidal and increasingly difficult to culture (5,20). Oxygen quenching agents in media such as hemin and charcoal as well as a microaerobic atmosphere and preenrichment can significantly improve recovery (2,14-16,21,25,28).
Campylobacters are microaerophilic, very small, curved, thin, Gram-negative rods (1.5-5 µm), with corkscrew motility. They often join to form zigzag shapes (20,24). Campylobacter spp. are currently identified by tests described by Harvey (13) and Barret et al.(3). PCR genus and species identification methods have been published (12,18,30).
For additional information contact Jan Hunt or Carlos Abeyta, FDA, PRLNW, Bothell, WA 98041-3012. Phone numbers: (425) 483-4902 (Hunt) or (425) 483-4890 (Abeyta); e-mail: jhunt2@ora.fda.gov and cabeyta@ora.fda.gov. Tony Tran can be contacted at CFSAN, 200 C St., SW, Washington, DC 20204; phone no. is (202) 205-5253 and the e-mail address is TTT@cfsan.fda.gov.
SAMPLE PREPARATION FLOWCHART FOR VARIOUS FOODS AND WATER (SECTION C.2.a-h)
*for samples produced or processed <10 days previously.
†for frozen samples or samples produced or processed ≥ 10 days previously.
§ CAUTION: ONLY GAS PACS USED WITHOUT WATER ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THE ITEMS IN A.3) AND A.4). THE RECTANGULAR JARS CAN EXPLODE IF USED WITH THE OXOID BR56, BBL OR DIFCO ENVELOPES. |
Campylobacter spp. can survive, but not multiply, in food at refrigeration temperatures for 1-3 weeks, especially if foods (except raw milk) are in airtight containers. Their numbers decrease 2 logs upon freezing at -20°C, but the surviving organisms can be recovered ≥5 months. Samples should be analyzed for Campylobacter as soon as a sample package is opened; introduction of fresh oxygen adds significant stress to already weakened organisms.
Production of oxygen-neutralizing enzymes is decreased in microaerophiles, especially when cells are under stress. To combat this problem oxygen-quenching compounds, such as FBP, hemin, blood and/or charcoal, are added to the media. Prepared media absorb oxygen during storage; use freshly prepared media whenever possible. Alternatively, if prepared broth base is stored in tightly closed containers away from light (hemin is light sensitive), it can be used for up to 2 months. Protect agar containing FPB from light and refrigerate when not in use.
Both the initial sample preparation and a 1:10 dilution are often needed for enrichment when high numbers of background flora (with broad species diversity) are present. With the sample dilution, antibiotics perform more effectively and campylobacter cells can utilize the low-oxygen atmosphere more efficiently. If heavy background contamination is suspected, add 1:10 dilution enrichment. The following instructions include mandatory dilution enrichments for shellfish and eggs.
Add 2 rehydrated vials of Bolton antibiotic additives and 50 ml lysed horse blood to 1000 ml Bolton broth base. Alternatively, antibiotic additives can be prepared from individual components (G-1).
Place filter bag in wire petri dish holder (type used in anaerobe jars). Hold bag lining in place with metal binder clip to prevent collapse during filling. Weigh 25 g sample (50 g if fruit or vegetables) into bag, and add 100 ml enrichment broth. Remove bag from holder, keeping clip attached and wrap twist-tie around top. Place bag(s) in basket or whirl-pak rack. Shake gently for 5 min. or place on a table-top shaker set at 25 rpm.
After the rinsing step, hold 5 min. Remove filter lining and allow it to drain a few seconds. If filter bag is not available, rinse sample in a sterile bag, and pour contents through a sterile, cheesecloth-lined funnel into the incubation bag or flask. When using metalized poly pouches for the gassed bag incubation, place filter liner from a stomacher bag into the pouch before weighing in the sample. Note: When analyzing acidic foods, such as chicken salad, adjust broth pH to 7.4 with 2N NaOH after the rinsing step.
Place sample into 3500 ml stomacher or other sterile bag. Add 200 ml 0.1% peptone water. Twist bag to seal, and swirl contents for 2-3 min. Tilt bag, and hold back food pieces to let rinse liquid flow to one corner. Sanitize a bottom bag corner with 1000 ppm hypochlorite solution or 70% ethanol; then rinse with sterile water. Aseptically cut corner of bag, and pour rinse through sterile cheesecloth-lined funnel into a 250 ml centrifuge bottle. Centrifuge at 16,000 x g for 15 min. Discard supernatant, and resuspend pellet in 10 ml 0.1% peptone water. Transfer 3 ml pellet mixture to 100 ml broth.
Divide sample into composites of two subsamples per composite, 25 g per sub. Weigh 25 g of each composite into 125 ml broth. After gently mixing, transfer 25 ml to another 100 ml broth. Analyze both the 1:6 and 1:48 dilutions.
In general, a minimum of 12 shellfish shall be taken in order to obtain a representative sample (APHA 1970, Recommended Procedures for the Examination of Sea Water and Shellfish). Depending on the size of the species, this will yield an approximately 100 to 200 g composite of shell liquor and meat. Collect the appropriate quantities of shell liquor and meats in a sterile blender or other suitable sterile container. Blend at low speed or stomach for 60 s. Remove 25 g shellfish homogenate for sample analysis to a Stomacher bag or 500 ml flask.
Add 225 ml enrichment broth. Transfer 25 ml of the mixture to a second 225 ml enrichment broth. Analyze both the 1:10 and 1:100 enrichments.
If enrichments are bubbled during incubation, leave them in bags or 500 ml flasks. If incubating in gassed bag or flask shaker system, use 6 x 10-inch metalized poly pouches or 500 ml vacuum flasks. If incubating in anaerobe jars, reduce volume/flask or bag to 125 ml by dividing each enrichment into two parts. The gas does not penetrate into a larger volume sufficiently to provide proper growth of campylobacters.
Request investigators collect 2-4 liters for analysis. When collected, 5 ml of 1 M sodium thiosulfate should be added per liter of chlorinated water sample.
Filter smaller volume samples through 45 µm Zetapor filters, 47 mm diameter. These filters have a positive charge. The negatively charged Gram-negative organisms are more effectively retained in the filter. Filter larger volumes, especially those that are turbid, through 90 mm or larger diameter filters.
Place filter unit into autoclavable pan. If filter clogs, wear sterile gloves and open filter holder unit to aseptically remove filter with sterile forceps. Place filter into enrichment broth (see below). Place another sterile filter in unit, reassemble, and continue filtering. Use as many filters as needed per subsample. When analyzing sea or other salt water, flush excess salt off filter by running 100-1,000 ml (depending on filter size) sterile phosphate buffer through the filter as the last of the sample is going through the filter. Do this with every filter used for salt water analyses. Do not let filter become completely dry. Immediately transfer finished filter to broth. Campylobacters are very sensitive to drying and high salt concentrations.
Place filter(s) in broth in the enrichment container. When using large filters, fragment with a sterile pipet. Be sure the broth covers the filter(s).
Enrichments incubated in Campy gas in anaerobe jars should be 125 ml or less. Larger volumes should be divided into smaller amounts, aseptically dividing the filters.
Pipet 10 ml enrichment broth into sterile 50 ml Erlenmeyer flasks with foil tops. Place one swab into each flask, aseptically breaking off the sticks below the top of the flask. Replace covers loosely. Place flasks in anaerobe jar. To fit two layers of flasks in jar, place a cardboard circle over bottom layer, leaving space around the cardboard's edge for gas circulation.
Ice cream and other frozen dairy products: melt and aseptically remove any candy or other solids before weighing out.
Incubate at 30°C for 3 h, then at 37°C for 2 h. NOTE: Incubate microaerobically at 30°C unless using a non-shaking bath-bubbler system (D-3). Bubbling static enrichments at 30°C fosters growth of anaerobes (D-3). Perform the 37°C incubation under microaerobic conditions. This method yields greater recovery for severely stressed organisms.
After pre-enrichment, raise the temperature in the water bath or move to a 42°C incubator. If analyzing for C. fetus, keep the temperature at 37°C, even if a thermotolerant strain (growth at 42°C) was associated with the sample. Incubate shaking enrichments 23-24 h, except shellfish samples, which are incubated an extra 4 h. Dairy samples are incubated 48 hrs total. Incubate non-shaking enrichments 28-29 h, except shellfish, which are incubated 48 h. Incubate samples for C. fetus at 48 h (shaking) or 52 h (non-shaking).
Analysts may choose from three methods for generating microaerobic conditions in enrichment broth. These are: bubbling the gas mixture through broth, shaking enrichments to incorporate the gas, or incubating in anaerobe jars with a modified atmosphere.
The first method uses the bubbler system that also can incorporate shaking the enrichments during incubation. The second uses heat-sealed, gassed, metalized poly pouches or evacuated and gassed flasks.
The third method is the evacuated and gassed anaerobe jar (or a jar that uses a Campy gas envelope). Choose this when other systems are not available. Exception: incubation of enrichments in 50 ml Erlenmeyer flasks (i.e., swabs), which can be accomplished only in the jar system.
The systems are described as follows:
Double-bag enrichments to prevent bags from leaking (bags can tear during shaking). Add about10 ml water to the outer bag for optimum heat trasfer to the broth. Place stomacher bags into stainless steel baskets (4-6/basket). Fill excess space in basket with water-filled dilution bottles. Place 1 ml plastic pipet tip end into each bag and fasten tightly with a twist-tie. Insert the plugged end of each pipet into the tubing connected to the bubbler valves.
Open the main gas tank valve and set the pressure to 4-6 lb with the regulator adjusting screw. This will give a flow rate of 2-3 bubbles per sec into each bag (figs. 1 & 3). Ensure that the pipet tip in each bag is inserted 2/3 into the broth. Tie bubbler tubing for each enrichment loosely together above the baskets to keep the bags standing upright. Bring the water level of the bath up slightly higher than the level of the broths in the bags. Replenish water as needed during the incubation period.
Refer to the BAM, 7th ed., 1992, chap. 7. for instructions on using Erlenmeyer flasks with the bubbler.
Heat seal each filled bag (metalized poly pouch) with a bag sealer. Cut a very small corner from the top of the sealed end. Squeeze air from bag by pressing area above liquid until the area is flat. Insert pipet into open corner of bag and open on-off valve on the gas hose. Fill area above the broth with gas. Repeat squeezing and gassing each bag 2 more times, ending with a gassing step. Quickly heat seal or tape the corner of the bag shut. Place gassed bags into baskets lined with plastic bags. Set the basket(s) onto a shaker incubator platform. Set shaker speed to 175-200 rpm.
Store jars with screw clamps placed in jars so that one end is lying over lip of jar bottom. Prop lid against clamp to allow free flow of air and prevent mold build-up from damp jar. Or clean jars between uses with 70% alcohol and dry before storing.
If a jar will not hold vacuum or gas pressure, check for the following: cracks in the jar bottom, cracked or missing rubber rings or seals in the lids or a faulty valve stem. Replacement valve stems and a Schrader extractor tool are available from the jars' distributors or bicycle shops. To replace stems, place prongs of extractor over valve stem and turn counter-clockwise until stem is removed. Drop new valve stem (pin-head side up) into valve and turn clockwise until meeting resistance.
Store Campylobacter cultures in freezing medium (G-) at -70°C. If cultures are used often, they can be kept at room temperature in semi-solid storage media (G-4). Control cultures can be ordered from ATCC. Labs should stock C. jejuni (ATCC 33560), C. coli (ATCC 33559), C. lari (ATCC 35211), and C. fetus (ATCC 27374).
Inoculate broth or agar positive controls from a frozen culture by rubbing a moistened sterile swab against the culture and breaking off the swab end into broth or swabbing agar plate. Incubate microaerobically.
To freeze a culture, grow it first on Abeyta-Hunt-Bark (AHB) agar without antibiotics. Inoculate plates generously and incubate under microaerobic conditions, 42°C, 24 h. Incubate C. fetus cultures at 37°C, 48 h. Mix enough freezing media to allow 1 ml/plate. Wearing gloves, pipet 1.0 ml onto each plate. Use a sterile hockey stick to wash the growth to one end of each plate. Transfer washings to a sterile test tube. Pipet 0.5 ml of culture washings to cryotubes or sterile polypropylene test tubes. Freeze at -70°C. Freezer shock can be reduced by freezing the cultures in an alcohol-dry ice bath. . Alcohol will remove most markers' identification, so mark tubes with tape labels on lids or use marker that will not be affected by alcohol.
When storing cultures in semi-solid medium, inoculate the medium at the surface and incubate loosely-capped tubes under microaerobic conditions, 24 h. See previous paragraph for proper incubation temperatures. After incubation, tighten caps and place away from direct light. Cultures can be stored up to 2 months with subsequent transfer.
Note: To ship cultures, grow the culture on AHB agar plates w/o antibiotics and swab off growth. Place swab in a sterile polypropylene screw-cap shipping tube filled with Cary-Blair media. Aseptically break off the excess swab stem and tighten the tube cap. Alternatively, grow culture and ship on AHB agar slants (in shipping test tube) w/wo 5% lysed horse blood, w/o antibiotics.
After 24 and 48 h, streak enrichments onto either Abeyta-Hunt-Bark or modified CCDA agars. Make a 1:100 dilution (0.1ml to 9.9 ml 0.1% peptone) of each enrichment and streak undiluted and diluted portions. For shellfish, eggs, and other enrichments prepared as dilutions, streak from the broths only. Transfer two loopfuls of enrichment broth to each plate and then streak for isolation. Protect plates from light.
Place plates in anaerobe jars (1/2 full if possible) or air tight plastic bag (4 mil wt). Heat seal or roll close and tape the mouth of the bag. Do not delay bringing jars or bags to microaerobic conditions. For jars, use either the evacuation/gassing method, Campy gas paks or 1 anaerobe pak with a 9.5 liter BBL large jar (see D,3,c-gassed jar system). If using bags, attach a pipet to both the gassing and evacuation tubing. With the vacuum set very low, evacuate through a cut corner, then gas, repeat 2X and tape the corner to close. Bags can be used with Incubate at 42°C, 24-48 h. Check for growth at 24 h. If analyzing for C. fetus, incubate at 37°C for 48-72 h..
The inoculated agars may be incubated at a range of 37-42°C, but thermophilic campylobacters show more rapid growth at higher temperature. NOTE: When preparing agar in plates, dry plates overnight on bench. If plates must be used the same day, place them in 42°C incubator for several hours. Do not dry in a hood with lids open. Even very brief drying of surface will inhibit campylobacter growth.
Campylobacter colonies on agar are round to irregular with smooth edges. They can show thick translucent white growth to spreading, film-like transparent growth. Pick one typical colony per plate and prepare wet mount slide. To prepare, emulsify pick in drop of saline or buffer on slide. Cover each with 22 x 22 mm cover slip and examine without oil under dark-field optics at 63X or with oil under phase-contrast at 1000X. Store plates to be picked at 4°C under microaerobic conditions if analysis is not begun quickly.
If neither type of scope is available, prepare wet mounts as follows: Emulsify a colony pick in 0.1 ml of contrast stain (50-50 mix of Gram's crystal violet to saline or buffer). After 3-5 min., prepare a wet mount and view under a 1000X oil-immersion light microscope. Compare with a positive control culture. Campylobacter cells are curved, 1.5-5 m long, usually in chains resembling zigzag shapes (any length). Cells picked from agar often demonstrate only "wiggly" motility, whereas those from broth swim rapidly in corkscrew motion. About 10% of strains are nonmotile. Older or stressed cells have decreased motility and may show coccoid forms. Wear gloves or wash hands and disinfect microscope stage and lens after completing wet mounts. An infective dose can be acquired from cell suspensions that leak from slides.
If organisms appear typical, restreak to Abeyta-Hunt-Bark agar without antibiotics, two colonies/sub. Confirm only one plate/sub. Choose the plate with the least background growth. Refrigerate isolation agar plates microaerobically in case repicking is necessary. Incubate restreaked picks at 42°C, 24-48 h, microaerobically (37°C for C. fetus). Continue to restreak as necessary to obtain a pure culture. One or two plates can be incubated using the pouch-bag or pouch-jar systems. (A.15a)
Perform catalase and oxidase tests from growth on a restreaked AHB plate. Place a loopful of growth in a drop of 3% H2O2. Bubbles indicate positive catalase test. Rub a loopful of growth on filter dampened with oxidase reagent. If the reagent turns purple, it is oxidase-positive. All Campylobacter spp. are oxidase-positive. Note: Colonies grown on charcoal agar plates can give a false-negative reaction.
All tests should include the following controls: C. jejuni (for hippurate and other tests) and C. lari (for antibiotic resistance and hippurate). If testing for C. fetus, also include C. fetus as a positive control.
Table 1. Biochemical Tests
Characteristic | C. jejuni | C. jejuni subsp. doylei |
C. coli | C. lari | C. fetus subsp. fetus |
C. hyo-intestinalis | "C. upsaliensis"(b) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Growth at 25°C | - | ± | - | - | + | D | -0 |
Growth at 35-37°C | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
Growth at 42°C | + | ± | + | + | D | + | + |
Nitrate reduction | + | - | + | + | + | + | + |
3.5% NaCl | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
H2S, lead acetate strip | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
H2S, TSI | - | - | D | - | - | +(c) | - |
Catalase | + | + | + | + | + | + | - |
Oxidase | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
MacConkey's agar | + | + | + | + | + | + | - |
Motility (wet mount) | +(81%) | + | + | + | + | + | + |
Growth in 1% glycine | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
Glucose utilization | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Hippurate hydrolysis | + | + | - | - | - | - | - |
Resistance to naladixic acid | S(d) | S | S | R | R | R | S |
Resistance to cephalothin | R | R | R | R | S(e) | S | S |
a Symbols: +, 90% or more of strains are positive; -, 90% or more of strains are negative; D, 11-89% of strains are positive; R, resistant; S, susceptible. NOTE: C. hyointestinalis requires H2 for vigorous growth and grows very poorly in O2, CO2, N2 gas mixture. Use Campy Pak gas generating envelopes without catalyst for all incubations if analyzing samples for this species. "C. upsaliensis" does not grow in the FDA medium because of its sensitivity to antibiotics. Please call for more information. Chart information adapted from T.J. Barret, C.M. Patton, and G.K. Morris (1988). Lab. Med. 19:96-102. |
Gram stain. Use 0.5% carbol fuchsin as counterstain. Campylobacter spp. are Gram negative.
Hippurate hydrolysis. Emulsify generous 2 mm loopful of growth from the restreaked pick on the nonselective or antibiotic inhibition plate to 0.4 ml 1% hippurate solution in 13 x 100 mm tube. Incubate 2 h in 37°C water bath. Add 0.2 ml ninhydrin reagent (R47), agitate, and reincubate 10 min. Violet (not medium or pale purple) color is positive reaction. Only C. jejuni is hippurate-positive. Refrigerate hippurate solution up to 1 month and ninhydrin solution up to 3 months.
TSI reaction. Generously inoculate slant and stab butt of TSI (M149) slant from blood plate. Incubate under microaerobic atmosphere at 35-37°C for 5 days. Eighty percent of C. coli and a few C. lari produce H2S at stab; C. jejuni does not produce H2S. All Campylobacter spp. produce alkaline/alkaline reactions. Prepare slants no more than 7 days before use.
Glucose utilization test. Stab 2 tubes of O-F media (M116), 3 times in each tube from blood plate. One tube contains glucose and one contains base alone. Incubate 4 days under microaerobic atmosphere at 35-37°C. Campylobacter spp. do not utilize glucose or other sugars and show no change in either tube.
Dryspot Campy Test or Alert for Campylobacter (see B, 2.i.). Follow manufacturer's instructions to test 1-2 colonies from an isolation agar plate (presumptive identification only), or a restreaked AHB plate. These kits produce a presumptive identification and are not a substitute for biochemical identification. They are not serotyping kits. If the kits do not produce a positive test, the culture might be another species of Campylobacter if other tests indicate Campylobacter.
Tests using diluted inoculum. Emulsify growth from colony into 5 ml 0.1% peptone and adjust turbidity to McFarland No. 1. Use this suspension to inoculate the following tests.
1% glycine. Record ± growth.
3.5% NaCl. Record ± growth.
H2S from cysteine. Inoculate cysteine medium and hang a lead acetate strip from top, keeping cap loose. Do not let strip touch medium. Blackening of strip, even slightly, is positive reaction.
Nitrate reduction. After 5 days, add nitrate reagents A and B (R48). Red color is positive reaction.
Send identified cultures to Jan Hunt or Carlos Abeyta, at the address in the chapter introduction.
Insert and twist the luer stopcocks into the outlet valves. Connect the intake valves to the Y-connector with two 3/16"-diameter aquarium tubing pieces; then connect the Y-connector to the gas tank (Fig. 1) with a longer length of tubing. Determine the length of aquarium tubing pieces needed to reach from the unit's outlet valves to the enrichment bags or flasks. Cut one piece/valve and attach to each outlet port. Fasten the unit to a board or rack. Bubbler flow is determined by screws on the intake valves. Close stopcocks on unused outlet valves. More concentrator/evaporator units can be added by splitting the gas line to the tank with connectors. It can also be mounted in a 42°C air incubator with a shaking platform placed inside and the gas line connected through the wall of the incubator. A second line should go to a bubbler in a 37°C incubator.
Determine how the valves should be arranged and connect with appropriate lengths of teflon tubing. Leave one outlet port/valve. Determine the length of the teflon tubing pieces needed to reach from the valves (when mounted) to the enrichment containers. Cut one piece/valve and attach to each outlet port. Place 2" long pieces of 3/16" aquarium tubing over the end of each outlet valve tubing piece. This enables insertion of 1 ml pipets. Mount the assembled bubbler unit to a board placed at the back of the water bath or on a rack suspended over the bath. It can also be mounted in a 42°C air incubator with a shaking platform placed inside and the gas line connected through the wall of the incubator. A second line should go to a bubbler in a 37°C incubator.
Meat Peptone | 10 g |
Lactalbumin Hydrolysate | 5 g |
Yeast Extract | 5 g |
NaCl | 5 g |
Haemin | 0.01 g |
Sodium Pyruvate | 0.5 g |
-Ketoglutaric Acid | 1 g |
Sodium Metabisulphite | 0.5 g |
Sodium Carbonate | 0.6 g |
Distilled Water | 1000 ml |
Final pH, 7.4 ± 0.2.
Prepare the broth base in screw-capped bottles, if possible. Mix 27.61 g in 1liter water and soak approximately 10 min. Once the powder is dissolved, adjust to pH 7.4 and autoclave 15 min at 121°C. Tighten the caps after the broth has cooled. Before use, add 50 ml lysed horse blood and 2 rehydrated [5 ml per vial 50:50 sterile filtered H20-Ethanol solution] vials of Campylobacter enrichment broth (Bolton formula) supplement (Oxoid NDX131 or Malthus Diagnostics X-131). If supplement is not available add 4 ml each of antibiotic concentrates (formulas below, solutions made separately).
Note: Substitute solubilized amphotericin B (Sigma Cat. No. A9528) for cycloheximide if cycloheximide not available. (See G.2.a.3.)Store powdered media in a tightly fastened container in a cool, dry area to reduce oxygen infusion and peroxide formation, which can inhibit recovery of microaerophiles. Use prepared broth within 1 month of preparation (preferably less than 2 weeks).
Use fresh blood and freeze to lyse upon receipt. To freeze, resuspend blood cells gently and pour ~40 ml portions into sterile 50 ml disposable centrifuge tubes. Freeze at -20°C. Thaw and refreeze once more to complete lysis. Store blood up to 6 months. Unused portions can be refrozen several times.
or
Heart infusion agar (Difco) | 40 g |
Yeast extract | 2 g |
Distilled water | 1000 ml |
Autoclave 15 min at 121°C. Final pH, 7.4 ± 0.2. Cool and add the selective agents listed below.
After pouring plates, dry plates overnight on bench.If plates must be used the same day, place them in 42°C incubator for several hours. Do not dry in a hood with lids open. Even very brief surface drying will inhibit campylobacter growth.
CCDA agar base (OXOID) | 45.5 g |
Yeast extract | 2 g |
Distilled water | 1 liter |
Autoclave 15 min at 121°C. Final pH, 7.4 ± 0.2. Cool and add of sodium cefoperazone (6.4 ml of the concentration used in Bolton broth (M28a) or 4 ml of the solution added to AHB agar(M29a)), 4 ml rifampicin, and 4 ml amphotericin B. See AHB directions for precautions when drying plates.
Campylobacter Enrichment Broth (Bolton)(Oxoid AM-7526) | 27.6 g |
Agar | 1.8 g |
Sodium Citrate | 0.1 g |
Distilled water | 1000 ml |
Mix ingredients, pH to 7.4 ± 0.2, boil and dispense 10 ml per 16 X 125 screw-cap tube. Autoclave 121°C, 15 min. Keep tubes tightly capped during storage. Do not add horse blood or antibiotics.
Base Medium | |
---|---|
Campylobacter Enrichment Broth (Bolton)(Oxoid AM-7526) without blood or antibiotics | 27.6 g |
Agar | 1.8 g |
Distilled water | 1000 ml |
Biochemicals (see below)
Neutral red solution, 0.2% Dissolve 0.2 g neutral red in 10 ml EtOH in a 100 ml volumetric and bring to line with d. water.
Mix base medium ingredients, then boil. Divide into four 250 ml portions. Add 2.5 ml neutral red to 3 of the 4 portions. Add glycine, NaCl and cysteine-HCl to the 3 portions containing neutral red. Add potassium nitrate in the portion without neutral red. Adjust the pH of each portion to 7.4 ± 0.2. Dispense 10 ml per 16 X 125 mm screw-cap tube. Autoclave 121°C, 15 min.
Acknowledgements
We thank Norman Stern, Eric Line, Gerri Ransom, Irene Wesley and Sharon Franklin, U.S. Department of Agriculture; Mabel Ann Nickelson, Centers for Disease Control; Eric Bolton, Public Health Laboratory, Preston, Eng. We also thank the following FDA personnel for help and guidance: Chuck Kaysner and Karen Jinneman, SPRC and the PRL-NW microbiology team, Bothell, WA; Robert Merker, CFSAN, Washington, DC; David Ware, SERL.
References
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2. Bark, D., B. Jay, C.A. Abeyta, Jr. 1996. Enhancement of Recovery by Removal of Blood from the Standard Campylobacter Protocol. IAMFES 83rd Annual Meeting, Poster #58.
3. Barrett, T.J., C.M. Patton and G.K. Morris. 1988. Differentiation of Campylobacter species using phenotypic characterization. Lab. Med. 19:96-102.
4. Black, R.E., M.M. Levine, M.L. Clements, T.P. Hughes and M.J. Blaser. 1988. Experimental Campylobacter jejuni infection in humans. J. Infect. Dis. 157:472-479.
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8. Castillo, A. and E.F. Escartin. 1994. Survival of Campylobacter jejuni on sliced watermelon and papaya. J. Food Prot. 57:166-168.
9. Clark, A.G. and D.H. Bueschkens. 1986. Survival and growth of Campylobacter jejuni in egg yolk and albumen. J. Food Prot. 49:135-141.
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Note: For information on cycloheximide availability problems, see Advisory for BAM Users on Reported Supply Problems for CycloheximideHypertext Source: Bacteriological Analytical Manual, 8th Edition, Revision A, 1998 Chapter 7.