Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in children from communities in Northeastern Brazil: molecular detection and relation to nutritional status

This study determined the prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni/coli and its relation with nutritional status in children from Northeastern Brazil. This was a case-control study design. Stool samples were evaluated for hipO (C. jejuni), ask (C. coli), and cdtABC (C. jejuni's cytolethal distending toxin) genes. The nutritional status from these children was assessed by anthropometric measures and z-scores. C. jejuni and C. coli were detected in 9.6% (8/83) and 6.0% (5/83) in the diarrhea group and in 7.2% (6/83) and 1.2% (1/83) of the nondiarrhea group, respectively. Children with positive molecular detection of C. jejuni showed significantly lower z-scores than children without C. jejuni. The cdtABC operon was found in 57% of hipO⁺ samples. C. jejuni/coli prevalence was similar in diarrhea and nondiarrhea groups. There was a significant association of C. jejuni infection with lower nutritional status.