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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, March 2008, p. 1332-1338, Vol. 74, No. 5
0099-2240/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02060-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Retrospective Study of Campylobacter Infection in a Zoological Collection{triangledown}

Maged M. Taema,1 James C. Bull,2,{dagger} Shaheed K. Macgregor,1* Edmund J. Flach,1 Wayne S. Boardman,1,{ddagger} and Andrew D. Routh1

Veterinary Department, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom,1 The Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom2

Received 9 September 2007/ Accepted 18 December 2007

Little is known about the epidemiology of Campylobacter spp. in wild animal populations. However, zoological collections can provide valuable insights. Using records from the Zoological Society of London Whipsnade Zoo compiled between 1990 and 2003, the roles of a range of biotic and abiotic factors associated with the occurrence of campylobacteriosis were investigated. The occurrence of campylobacteriosis varied widely across host taxonomic orders. Furthermore, in mammals, a combination of changes in both rainfall and temperature in the week preceding the onset of gastroenteritis were associated with isolation of Campylobacter from feces. In birds, there was a weak negative correlation between mean weekly rainfall and isolation of Campylobacter from feces. Importantly, in birds we found that the mean weekly rainfall 3 to 4 weeks before symptoms of gastroenteritis appeared was the best predictor of Campylobacter infection. Campylobacter-related gastroenteritis cases with mixed concurrent infections were positively associated with the presence of parasites (helminths and protozoans) in mammals, while in birds Campylobacter was associated with other concurrent bacterial infections rather than with the presence of helminths and protozoans. This study suggests that climatic elements are important factors associated with Campylobacter-related gastroenteritis. Further investigations are required to improve our understanding of Campylobacter epidemiology in captive wild animal populations.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Veterinary Science, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom. Phone: 44 (0) 20 7449 6684. Fax: 44(0) 20 7586 1457. E-mail: shaheed.macgregor{at}zsl.org

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 28 December 2007.

{dagger} Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom.

{ddagger} Present address: Animal Health Department, Zoological Society of South Australia, Adelaide Zoo, Frome Rd., Adelaide 5000, Australia.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, March 2008, p. 1332-1338, Vol. 74, No. 5
0099-2240/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02060-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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