The genus Campylobacter: a decade of progress.

Area of Science:

• Clinical Microbiology
• Bacterial Taxonomy
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• The genus Campylobacter gained prominence in 1977 due to Campylobacter jejuni causing human enteritis.
• Significant advancements in diagnostic and epidemiological tools followed, enabling a broader understanding of Campylobacter species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review a decade of developments in the genus Campylobacter, focusing on taxonomic changes.
• To highlight the clinical relevance of these taxonomic shifts for microbiologists.

Main Methods:

• Utilized deoxyribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization for species definition and genus expansion.
• Reviewed and revised existing classifications for species and subspecies within Campylobacter.
• Analyzed epidemiological data and clinical associations for newly identified and reclassified species.

Main Results:

• The genus Campylobacter expanded to 14 species, showing significant diversity.
• Key species implicated in human enteritis include Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Campylobacter laridis, with others like Campylobacter hyointestinalis also implicated.
• Taxonomic revisions resolved nomenclature issues for Campylobacter fetus subspecies and reclassified Campylobacter sputorum into three biovars, including the elevation of Campylobacter sputorum subsp. mucosalis to species rank.

Conclusions:

• The rapid taxonomic evolution of the Campylobacter genus necessitates updated understanding for clinical practice.
• Several species, including Campylobacter pylori (under consideration for reassignment), Campylobacter sputorum, Campylobacter mucosalis, and Campylobacter concisus, have been clarified regarding their clinical significance or lack thereof.