Isolation and characterization of Campylobacter jejuni from acute diarrhoeal cases in Calcutta

During a seven-month survey, Campylobacter jejuni was isolated from 9.6% of the 116 acute diarrhoeal cases admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Calcutta. In six of the 11 cases, C. jejuni occurred together with V. cholerae biotype El Tor (Ogawa) while in one case it was found in association with Shigella sonnei. No age or sex specific incidence was observed. A distinct clinical profile in cases suffering from Campylobacter enteritis was not discernible. Biochemically all strains isolated in this study conformed to the typical reported characteristics of C. jejuni. Survival of the organism in positive stool samples held at 4 degrees C without any transport medium was limited. This preliminary study indicates that C. jejuni is an important aetiological agent of acute diarrhoea and must be routinely monitored in enteric laboratories in India.