Campylobacter fetus

Campylobacter fetus is a species of Campylobacter, gram-negative, motile, oxidase-positive bacilli, with a characteristic S-shaped , similar to members of the genus Vibrio. C. fetus is coated with a surface protein that functions similar to a capsule and disrupts the adherence of the complement molecule C3b.

Pathogenesis

It is generally an opportunistic pathogen that, unlike other bacteria of the same genus, rarely causes diarrhea, but instead causes extraintestinal infections in immunosuppressed patients or with accompanying underlying diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes mellitus, cancer, leukemia, heart disease, etc. The infectious picture is manifested by a rare bacteremia or septicemia in which fever almost always appears. As a result of bacteremia, there may be involvement in different organs, highlighting cardiovascular locations with endocarditis and pericarditis, thrombophlebitis, meningitis and meningoencephalitis, arthritis and abortions.

Other suppurative processes may arise such as peritonitis, lung abscess, empyema, cellulitis, urinary tract infections, and cholecystitis. The Campylobacter fetus can also cause gastroenteritis with symptoms similar to those produced by Campylobacter jejuni. The natural reservoir of C. fetus are cattle and sheep.