C H A P T E R X
Methods in Campylobacter
UWE ULLMANN
Department of Microbiology, Institute of Hygiene, University of Tubingen,
Silcherstr. 7, 74 Tiibingen, West Germany
I. Introduction .
. 435
11. Taxonomy .
. 436
111. Morphology .
. 436
IV. Biochemical Characteristics
.
. 437
V. Isolation of C. fetus
.
. 438
A. Material useful for isolation in animal and man
. . 438
B. Transport of specimen .
. 4 4 0
C. Treatment of mixed specimens
.
. 4 4 0
D. Liquid and solid media .
. 441
E. Incubation of cultures .
. 441
F. Immunofluorescent technique
.
. 442
G. Conservation of C. fetus
.
. 443
H. Biochemical identification
.
. 4 4 4
VI. Serological Identification of Campylobacter . .
. 445
A. 0 antigens .
. 445
B. H antigens .
. 447
C. K antigens .
. 449
VII. Phages of C. fetus .
. 449
A. Maintcnance of phages .
. 449
B. Phage isolation .
. 449
VIII. Testing of C. fetus. Against Antibiotics
.
. 450
IX. Epidemiology of C. fetus .
. 450
References
.
. 451
I. INTRODUCTION
Infection with Campylobacter fetus has been familiar to veterinarians for
more than 60 years. T h e organism was first described as a cause of infectious
abortion in sheep and cattle by McFadyean and Stockman in 1913. The
pathogenesis of campylobacteriosis in animals is largely known.
C. fetus subspecies fetus causes a veneral disease in cattle characterised by transient infertility, endometritis and abortion of infected cows.
The organisms are carried on the prepuce of the bull, which does not