Campylobacteriosis

Campylobacteriosis refers to infection caused by Campylobacter species, with Campylobacter jejuni described as the most common species associated with human illness ^[1]. It is presented in the source material as a zoonotic foodborne disease, indicating an animal-to-human infection pathway linked to contaminated food and environmental contamination ^[3]. The literature also notes increasing recognition of other Campylobacter species as clinically important, including Campylobacter concisus and Campylobacter ureolyticus ^[2].

Infection with Campylobacter causes acute enteritis and diarrheal illness, and may also extend beyond the gut to extraintestinal infections and postinfectious complications ^[1]. The source review notes that symptoms of foodborne infections may be mild and sometimes flu-like, but can also be accompanied by severe complications, some of them fatal ^[3]. No source-backed detail is yet available here on the typical duration of illness, complication frequencies, or specific clinical warning patterns beyond this general spectrum ^[1][3].

Campylobacteriosis is described as one of the most widespread infectious diseases of the last century, with incidence and prevalence increasing in both developed and developing countries over the last 10 years ^[2]. The reviewed literature reports a dramatic rise in North America, Europe, and Australia, while data from parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East indicate endemicity, especially in children ^[2]. It remains one of the most common bacterial causes of diarrheal illness in the United States and worldwide ^[1]. Poultry is identified as a major reservoir, and other listed exposure contexts include animal products and water, contact with animals, and international travel ^[2].

The evidence identifies poultry as a major reservoir and source of transmission to humans ^[2]. More broadly, Campylobacter and related zoonotic bacteria may be shed in animal feces, contaminate the environment, and reach food, vegetables, fruits, and food-production surfaces, particularly when processing is improper or careless ^[3]. The source material also lists consumption of animal products and water, contact with animals, and international travel as relevant exposure routes or risk contexts ^[2].

The provided sources explicitly identify children as a group in which campylobacteriosis is endemic in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East ^[2]. Exposure-related risk groups include people consuming animal products or water linked to contamination, those in contact with animals, and international travelers ^[2]. No further source-backed high-risk subgroup detail is yet available in the supplied snippets ^[2][3].

Source-backed prevention emphasis is on multifaceted biocontrol measures to reduce transmission and on controlling contamination along the food chain ^[2][3]. The reviewed material highlights the importance of preventing pathogens from persisting in food production areas and on equipment surfaces, and of avoiding improper or careless processing of food products ^[3]. Specific consumer-level preventive steps, vaccine strategies, or formal schedules are not provided in the source snippets ^[3][2].

For surveillance purposes, campylobacteriosis should be interpreted as a zoonotic, foodborne bacterial disease with a substantial global burden and increasing reported incidence in multiple regions ^[2][3]. Because the sources emphasize endemicity in some settings, frequent diarrheal presentation, and possible extraintestinal or postinfectious outcomes, case counts may reflect both enteric disease and broader clinical recognition ^[1][2]. Source-backed detail on standardized case definitions, routine laboratory thresholds, or seasonality is not yet available in the provided material ^[1][2].

1. 1 Fitzgerald C et al. Campylobacter. Clin Lab Med. 2015 Jun. PMID: 26004643. doi: 10.1016/j.cll.2015.03.001. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26004643/
2. 2 Kaakoush NO et al. Global Epidemiology of Campylobacter Infection. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2015 Jul. PMID: 26062576. doi: 10.1128/CMR.00006-15. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26062576/
3. 3 Chlebicz A et al. Campylobacteriosis, Salmonellosis, Yersiniosis, and Listeriosis as Zoonotic Foodborne Diseases: A Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Apr 26. PMID: 29701663. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050863. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29701663/
4. 4 Campylobacteriosis. The Handbook of Zoonotic Diseases of Goats. 2024. doi: 10.1079/9781800622852.0011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1079/9781800622852.0011
5. 5 Campylobacteriosis. Diseases of Poultry. 2019. doi: 10.1002/9781119371199.ch17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119371199.ch17
6. 6 Campylobacteriosis. Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology. 2023. doi: 10.1007/978-981-19-7800-5_36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-7800-5_36

ICD-10

ICD-11

Total cases

1.1M

Peak month

2025-08

Coverage

4 reporting countries · 2000-01-01 → 2026-06-20