Question

1. Differentiate campylobacteriosis from salmonellosis and shigellosis in terms of symptoms, ways to diagnose, and ways to treat.

Answer 1

Campylobacteriosis

Symptoms : Campylobacter infection mainly causes gastroenteritis which ischaracterised by fever, vomiting, headaches, and abdominal pain with watery or bloody diarrhea, for a duration of 6 days. Poultry is one of the major reservoir and source of transmission of Campylobacter to humans. It can also be transmitted by the consumption of animal products and water, contact with animals, and even person-to-person transmission (fomites or feco-oral).

Diagnosis : Campylobacter organisms can be detected by doing Gram stain of a stool sample. Most often diagnosis is made by stool culture. feecal leukocytes may be detected. Antigen testing by PCR is also used for diagnosis.

Treatment : Usually self limiting, only symptomatic treatment is needed. Antibiotics given only for hihg risk patients.

Salmonellosis

Symptoms : Salmonella infecion causes acute gastroenteritis and symptoms Include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, achiness, fever, intense diarrhea and headache. Symptoms usually lasts for 2-3 days. Transmission of Salmonella occurs through contaminated food (poultry, poultry products, pork, beef, egg, milk, and seafood), water or contact with infected animals

Diagnosis : Diagnosis is made by blood and stool sample. Growth on Hektoen enteric agar produces bluish-green colonies with black centers for Salmonella.

Treatment : Water and electrolyte loss are supplimented by oral rehydration therapy. Ceftriaxone can be used to kill bacteria, but not routinely recommended.

Shigellosis

Symptoms : Shigellosis is a dysentery which is characterized by bloody and mucus-containing diarrhea. It is transmitted by the use of raw or previously cooked products without re-heating.

Diagnosis : Made by isolating the organism in diarrheal fecal sample cultures. Growth on Hektoen enteric agar produces bluish-green colonies for Shigella.

Treatment : Oral rehydration or iv rehydration is needed to combat dehydration. Antibiotics are not routinely recommended, only given in severe cases.