Campylobacter seroconversion rates in selected countries in the European Union

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Peter Teunis, Emory University; G Falkenhorst, Statens Serum Institut; CW Ang, Amsterdam UMC - Free University Amsterdam; MA Strid, Statens Serum Institut; H De Valk, Institut de Veille Sanitaire; M Sadkowska-Todys, National Medicines Institute, Warsaw; L Zota, Centre for Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control; M Kuusi, National Institute for Health and Welfare; MC Rota, Istituto Superiore Di Sanita; JB Simonsen, Statens Serum Institut; K Mølbak, Statens Serum Institut; YTHP Van Duynhoven, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment; W Van Pelt, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
• Language: English
• Date: 2013-10-01
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © Cambridge University Press 2012
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0950268812002774
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Epidemiology and Infection
• Volume: 141
• Issue: 10
• Start Page: 2051
• End Page: 2057
• Grant/Funding Information: The contribution of P.F.M.T. to this study was funded by ‘POLYMOD’, a European Commission project funded within the Sixth Framework Programme (contract number SSP22-CT-2004-502084).; e contributions of Y.T.H.P.Vd., W.vP. and G.F. were funded by Network of Excellence ‘MedVetNet’ funded within the EU Sixth Framework Programme (contract no. 506122) WP32: Public Health surveillance for foodborne infections: design of epidemiological studies and applying seroepidemiology to validate the surveillance pyramid.
• Keywords: Antibodies, Bacterial; Europe; Incidence; Female; Biomarkers; Male; Adult; Middle Aged; European Union; Serologic Tests; Humans; Adolescent; Aged; Campylobacter Infections; Campylobacter; Child
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

As a major foodborne pathogen, Campylobacter is frequently isolated from food sources of animal origin. In contrast, human Campylobacter illness is relatively rare, but has a considerable health burden due to acute enteric illness as well as severe sequelae. To study silent transmission, serum antibodies can be used as biomarkers to estimate seroconversion rates, as a proxy for infection pressure. This novel approach to serology shows that infections are much more common than disease, possibly because most infections remain asymptomatic. This study used antibody titres measured in serum samples collected from healthy subjects selected randomly in the general population from several countries in the European Union (EU). Estimates of seroconversion rates to Campylobacter were calculated for seven countries: Romania, Poland, Italy, France, Finland, Denmark and The Netherlands. Results indicate high infection pressures in all these countries, slightly increasing in Eastern EU countries. Of these countries, the differences in rates of notified illnesses are much greater, with low numbers in France and Poland, possibly indicating lower probability of detection due to differences in the notification systems, but in the latter case it cannot be excluded that more frequent exposure confers better protection due to acquired immunity. © Cambridge University Press 2012.