Campylobacteriosis is the name that is given to the disease caused by the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni. Campylobacteriosis is one of the most common diarrheal illness in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
Campylobacteriosis can affect dogs and cats as well as people. It can be passed from pets to people. Therefore, it is considered to a zoonotic disease.
Campylobacter in People
Some infected people may be asymptomatic and show no signs of illness. Most people that become ill from infection with Campylobacter recover in a fairly short period of time, usually within a few days to up 10 days. Most commonly, symptoms of gastrointestinal distress are experienced, including diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, fever, nausea and vomiting. The diarrhea may be bloody. The majority of infected people recover fully from the infection though.
For immunocompromised individuals, infection may be more serious and may even become life-threatening.
Though in most cases recovery is complete, for some people, long-term consequences occur. Arthritis is one such consequence. Guillain-Barre syndrome is another. Guillain-Barre syndrome results in paralysis as the immune system of the infected person attacks their own nervous system.
Most cases of campylobacteriosis occur through eating raw or undercooked poultry. Ingestion of items contaminated by raw or undercooked poultry residues (such as that left on an unwashed cutting board) can also be responsible for infection. On rarer occasions, campylobacteriosis can be passed from an infected dog or cat to an owner or family member.
Campylobacteriosis in Dogs and Cats
Campylobacteriosis is most often a problem in puppies and kittens whose immune systems are not yet fully developed. More mature dogs and cats may harbor the bacteria in their intestinal tract but typically do not show signs of disease.
Preventing Campylobacter Infections
There are several steps you can take to avoid infection with Campylobacter.
- Make sure all poultry is fully cooked before consumption.
- Avoid cross-contamination in your kitchen by thoroughly cleansing all cutting boards, preparation surfaces and cooking utensils. Consider using different cutting boards for foods of animal origin.
- Wash your hands before handling food, after handling any raw meats and after handling any animal feces.
- Make certain your children wash their hands before eating or handling food as well. This is particularly true for children that are suffering from diarrhea.
- Be cautious of unpasteurized dairy products.
- Do not drink water from potentially contaminated sources.