Campylobacteria are also potentially a zoonotic pathogen which can cause diarrhoea in humans and so are of importance in food production.
Effects of Campylobacteriosis
Infertility
Campylobacter fetus subspecies venerealis and Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus are most commonly associated with early embryonic death and abortion.
Enteritis
Enteritis (calf scour) due to primary Campylobacteria infection is not thought to be a common cause of scouring in calves. However, Campylobacteria may be found on faecal sample examination in combination with other pathogens or may be a secondary pathogen resulting from opportunistic infection following previous gut damage.
Zoonotic disease
Campylobacterial infection of people causes diarrhoea and can be severe in some cases. Zoonotic disease is thought to be due mainly to contamination of meat and meat products at the abattoir, during meat processing and storage, but best management practices on-farm are advisable to reduce the potential carriage in livestock.
Epidemiology
Campylobacteria are carried asymptomatically in the preputial area of bulls. After infection of a cow at service early embryonic death or abortion can be followed by a short duration of immunity.
Estimates of prevalence of Campylobacteria presence in faeces from different farms varies between 25-75% of farms. However, campylobacter prevalence is higher in calf faeces compared to adult cows and there may be an increase in shedding in spring in adult animals. Approximately one third of calves have been found to excrete Campylobacteria in faeces compared to around 5% of adult beef cows.
An increased prevalence of Campylobacter isolation in cattle faeces has been associated with an increased rate of abortion. Due to faecal carriage, Campylobacteria can be found in manure and slurry especially if calves under three months old or piglets are contributing to the manure.
Campylobacteria can be detected on pasture after slurry spreading for up to 64 days and has also been detected in raw bulk tank milk and in water troughs and water courses. Campylobacter from faecal contamination of carcases have been detected at slaughter, which may be a potential source of zoonotic spread.
This info was adapted from Defra’s Compendium of Animal Health & Welfare in Organic Farming, which is a collaborative effort led by Duchy College, Cornwall with VEERU at The University of Reading and The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow.
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