[Cases of gastroenteritis caused by Campylobacter fetus jejuni in Vienna]

Campylobacter fetus jejuni is a gram-negative spiral or comma-shaped rod, belonging to the family of Spirillaceae. It is now recognised as a cause of human gastroenteritis with fever. Recently, many reports have been published about sporadic cases as well as epidemic outbreaks. A symptomless carrier-state is also known. The mode of transmission is not yet fully understood. Direct, faecal-oral and indirect transmission especially via food contaminated with faeces are suspected. Recently, we isolated C. fetus jejuni from 4 out of 193 fecal samples stemming from patients with gastroenteritis. Cultures from 247 samples originating from patients without any enteritic symptoms yielded growth of this bacterium only once. All cultures were performed on selective media according to Skirrow. A short description of the course of illness is given for each case. As a consequence of its wide-spread occurrence and with respect to the relatively high frequency of its isolation, which is comparable to that of Salmonellae, this pathogen should be searched for in all faecal specimens of patients suffering from gastroenteritis.