Isolation of Campylobacter Species from Food and Water

Campylobacter is considered by many to be the leading cause of enteric illness in the United States (20,26). Campylobacter species can cause mild to severe diarrhea, with loose, watery stools often followed by bloody diarrhea (7,20). C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari account for more than 99% of the human isolates (C. jejuni 90%). Other species have been associated with human illness in recent years (7,17,18,23,26,27).