Campylobacter jejuni

Paul Auwaerter, M.D.

MICROBIOLOGY

C. jejuni, spiral-shaped bacteria [Fig] well adapted to birds (carriage is asymptomatic).
- Microaerophilic, member of Campylobacteriacae
Culture is usually performed using selective "CAMP" agar, with the temperature set at normal avian body temperature of 42°C rather than at 37°C.
- Microaerophilic conditions facilitate growth.
- Oxidase positive.
- Stool Gram stain, curved rods suggestive of diagnosis (sensitivity 50-75%)
- Typically only scanty growth is seen on aerobic plates.

There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.