Campylobacter spp in enteric lesions in cattle

Campylobacters were isolated from the intestinal mucosa of 16 of 47 cattle examined post mortem. Of the 17 isolates seven were identified as Campylobacter fetus subsp jejuni, eight as Cf subsp intestinalis, one as C fecalis and one remained unidentified. Cf subsp jejuni and Cf subsp intestinalis were both recovered from one case. Gross changes were not always seen at the sites from which campylobacters were isolated but microscopic changes were seen in all cases. The changes seen are described and the possibility that campylobacters of all the species isolated might cause enteric lesions in cattle discussed.