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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #92733
Title: CAMPYLOBACTER, HELICOBACTER AND YERSINIA--WHAT DO WE KNOW? (NPPC PORK SUMMIT)

Author
item WESLEY, IRENE
item Johnson, Scott

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Campylobacter, Helicobacter, and Arcobacter are closely related microbes that are present in pigs and pork products. Campylobacter coli is a normal inhabitant of the pig intestine, is found on pork products, and causes human bacterial enteritis. Infrequently pigs and pork may harbor C. jejuni. Helicobacter pylori is the most common chronic bacterial infection in man and is the major etiologic agent for chronic active gastritis. It has been documented in hogs only once. Although H. pylori has been reported in hog serosurveys, these studies used reagents that cross-reacted with Helicobacter heilmanni. H. heilmanni is a major cause of gastric ulcers in pigs and infrequently causes human gastric ulcers. Arcobacter has been described in cases of human enteritis and in abortion in livestock. Arcobacter is found in healthy hogs and in pork. Swine is also the major animal reservoir for Yersinia enterocolitica that is pathogenic for humans. Information regarding the distribution of these pathogens in pigs is needed to design effective intervention strategies for their elimination in pork.