Campylobacter species in animal, food and environmental sources and relevant testing programs in Canada

Campylobacter species, particularly thermophilic campylobacters, have emerged as a leading cause of human foodborne gastroenteritis worldwide, with Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli and C. lari responsible for the majority of human infections. Although most cases of campylobacteriosis are self-limiting, campylobacteriosis represents a significant public health burden. Human illness due to infection with campylobacters has been reported across Canada since the early 1970s. Many studies have shown that sources including food, particularly raw poultry and other meat products, raw milk and contaminated water have contributed to outbreaks of campylobacteriosis in Canada. Campylobacter spp. have also been detected in wide range of animal and environmental sources including water in Canada. The purpose of this article is to review the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in animals, food and the environment, and relevant testing programs in Canada with a focus on potential links of campylobacters with human health in Canada.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author