Vibrio, Campylobacter and Helicobacter

Suzan Matar (PhD Medical Microbiology and Immunology)

Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences
- Vibrio, Campylobacter, and Helicobacter species are gram-
negative rods that are all widely distributed in nature.

- The vibrios are found in marine and surface waters. Vibrio

cholerae produces an enterotoxin that causes cholera, a
profuse watery diarrhea that can rapidly lead to
dehydration and death

- The campylobacters are found in many species of animals,

including many domesticated animals. Campylobacter
jejuni is a common cause of enteritis in humans.

- Helicobacter pylori has been associated with gastritis and

duodenal ulcer disease.
 Vibrio species
Gram stain Curved design
 Vibrio cholerae:
Clinical Infections
Acute diarrheal disease
Spread through contaminated water, but also
improperly preserved foods, including fish and
seafood, milk, ice cream, and unpreserved meat
Rice Water stools
Caused by cholera toxin or choleragen
Loss of electrolytes & water
Dehydration is usual cause of death
Man is the only host
 Campylobacter species
Most common cause of bacterial
gastroenteritis worldwide is Campylobacter
jejuni

Campylobacter infections attributed to direct

contact with animals and indirectly through
consumption of contaminated water and dairy
products and improperly cooked poultry
 HELICOBACTER PYLORI

H pylori is associated with duodenal

(peptic) ulcer disease, gastric ulcers,
gastric adenocarcinoma and gastric
mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)
lymphomas.
Special Tests

Rapid tests to detect urease activity are widely used for

presumptive identification of H pylori in specimens.

Gastric biopsy material can be placed onto a urea-containing

medium with a color indicator. If H pylori is present, the
urease rapidly splits the urea (12 hours), and the resulting
shift in pH yields a color change in the medium.

In vivo tests for urease activity can be done also. In urea

breath tests, 13C- or 14C-labeled urea is ingested by the
patient.

If H pylori is present, the urease activity generates labeled CO2

that can be detected in the patients exhaled breath.
Treatment

Triple therapy with metronidazole and either

bismuth plus either amoxicillin or
tetracycline for 14 days eradicates H pylori
infection in 7095% of patients.

An acid-suppressing agent given for 4

to 6 weeks enhances ulcer healing.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) directly inhibit H

pylori and appear to be potent urease inhibitors.
Epidemiology and Control

Developing countries 80% carriers.

Person-to-person transmission of H pylori

is likely because intrafamilial clustering of
infection occurs.