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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, December 2003, p. 5588-5592, Vol. 41, No. 12
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.12.5588-5592.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Risk Factors Associated with Campylobacter jejuni Infections in Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles

Hubert P. Endtz,1* Hanneke van West,1 Peggy C. R. Godschalk,1 Lidewij de Haan,1 Yaskara Halabi,2 Nicole van den Braak,1 Barbara I. Kesztyüs,3 Ewald Leyde,3 Alewijn Ott,1 Roel Verkooyen,1 Lawrence J. Price,4 David L. Woodward,4 Frank G. Rodgers,4 C. Wim Ang,1 Rinske van Koningsveld,5 Alex van Belkum,1 and Izzy Gerstenbluth2

Departments of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases,1 Neurology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands,5 Epidemiology and Research Unit, Medical and Public Health Service (GGD) of Curaçao,2 Analytic Diagnostic Center, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles,3 National Laboratory for Enteric Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory/CSCHAH, Winnipeg, Canada4

Received 11 July 2003/ Returned for modification 1 September 2003/ Accepted 8 September 2003

A steady increase in the incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) with a seasonal preponderance, almost exclusively related to Campylobacter jejuni, and a rise in the incidence of laboratory-confirmed Campylobacter enteritis have been reported from Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. We therefore investigated possible risk factors associated with diarrhea due to epidemic C. jejuni. Typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis identified four epidemic clones which accounted for almost 60% of the infections. One hundred six cases were included in a case-control study. Infections with epidemic clones were more frequently observed in specific districts in Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao. One of these clones caused infections during the rainy season only and was associated with the presence of a deep well around the house. Two out of three GBS-related C. jejuni isolates belonged to an epidemic clone. The observations presented point toward water as a possible source of Campylobacter infections.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC, Dr Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Phone: (31) 10 4635820. Fax: (31) 10 4633875. E-mail: H.P.ENDTZ{at}ERASMUSMC.NL.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, December 2003, p. 5588-5592, Vol. 41, No. 12
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.12.5588-5592.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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