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Campylobacter jejuni isolations from Mexican and Swedish patients, with repeated symptomatic and/or asymptomatic
E Sjögren1, G Ruiz-Palacios, B Kaijser
1Department of Clinical Bacteriology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
Abstract:
The presence of different Campylobacter jejuni serotypes in Swedish patients with diarrhoea and in Mexican patients with or without diarrhoea was investigated with special reference to repeated isolations during the course of infection and to symptomatic and asymptomatic episodes. The study included 136 C. jejuni isolates from 62 Mexican children and 173 isolates from 68 Swedish patients. The bacteria were serotyped for heat-stable (HS) and heat-labile (HL) antigen. Swedish patients, all with symptoms, were in general only infected with one serotype and were rarely reinfected. Mexican patients on the other hand were in general infected with mixed serotypes and frequently reinfected without symptoms with new, different serotypes, a finding which is in concordance with a theory of an induced immunity to surface antigens.
Insights
This study compared Campylobacter jejuni serotypes in Swedish and Mexican patients. Mexican patients showed mixed serotypes and frequent asymptomatic reinfections, suggesting induced immunity, unlike Swedish patients with single, symptomatic infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide.
- Understanding serotype diversity and host immune responses is crucial for disease control.
- Previous research highlights geographical variations in C. jejuni epidemiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and characteristics of Campylobacter jejuni serotypes in Swedish and Mexican populations.
- To analyze repeated isolations during infection and differentiate between symptomatic and asymptomatic episodes.
- To explore the correlation between serotype patterns and potential induced immunity.
Main Methods:
- Serotyping of 136 C. jejuni isolates from 62 Mexican children and 173 isolates from 68 Swedish patients.
- Analysis based on heat-stable (HS) and heat-labile (HL) antigen profiles.
- Comparison of infection patterns, including single vs. mixed serotypes and reinfection frequency, between the two populations.
Main Results:
- Swedish patients, all symptomatic, predominantly harbored single C. jejuni serotypes and experienced rare reinfections.
- Mexican patients frequently presented with mixed C. jejuni serotypes and underwent repeated asymptomatic reinfections with different serotypes.
- Observed differences suggest a potential role of induced immunity to surface antigens in Mexican patients.
Conclusions:
- Campylobacter jejuni infection dynamics differ significantly between Swedish and Mexican populations.
- Asymptomatic reinfections with diverse serotypes in Mexico support the hypothesis of acquired immunity.
- Further research into host-pathogen interactions and serotype-specific immunity is warranted.