NAME: Campylobacter fetus ssp. fetus
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: C. fetus ssp. intestinalis, Vibrio fetus var. intestinalis
CHARACTERISTICS: Gram negative spiral S-shaped bacteria, motility; grow under reduced oxygen tension: growth at 25°C but not at 42°C
PATHOGENICITY: Opportunistic human pathogen, capable of causing systemic infection in immunocompromised hosts; intestinal infection may be mild and overshadowed by a bacteremic illness, associated with high fever; may be complicated by endocarditis, pericarditis, thrombophlebitis, meningoencephalitis; causes abortion and infertility in cattle
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide
HOST RANGE: Cattle, humans
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Ingestion of organisms in food; contact with infected animals
INCUBATION PERIOD: 3-5 days
COMMUNICABILITY: Communicable throughout course of infection; several days to several weeks
RESERVOIR: Cattle, sheep, goats
ZOONOSIS: Yes, by contact with cattle
VECTORS: None
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Susceptible to erythromycin, ampicillin, gentamycin, and chloramphenicol
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to many disinfectants - 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, 2% glutaraldehyde, iodines, phenolics, formaldehyde
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Sensitive to moist heat (121°C for at least 15 min) and dry heat (160-170°C for at least 1 hour)
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Liquid manure - 24 hours; linen - 3 hours; soil - up to 20 days
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirmation by stool cultures and/or blood cultures
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Antibiotic therapy for bacteremia, other endovascular manifestations
IMMUNIZATION: None
PROPHYLAXIS: Not usually administered
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: 2 reported laboratory-acquired infections with Vibrio fetus
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Feces, blood
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Ingestion, accidental parenteral inoculation
SPECIAL HAZARDS: Infected lab animals
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment and facilities for activities with clinical materials known or potentially infected and cultures; animal biosafety level 2
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when contact with infected materials is unavoidable
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Good personal hygiene and frequent hand washing
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with paper towels and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite, starting at perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled
Date prepared: November 1999
Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC
Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.
Copyright ©
Health Canada, 2001