Arcobacter, what is known and unknown about a potential foodborne zoonotic agent

• Published in: Veterinary microbiology Vol. 115; no. 1; pp. 1 - 13
• Main Authors: Ho, Hoa T.K., Lipman, Len J.A., Gaastra, Wim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15-06-2006
• Subjects: animal-based foods; Animals; Antibiotic resistance; Arcobacter; Arcobacter - classification; Arcobacter - isolation & purification; Arcobacter - pathogenicity; Arcobacter butzleri; Arcobacter cibarius; Arcobacter cryaerophilus; Arcobacter skirrowii; bacterial contamination; disease transmission; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Food Contamination; Food Microbiology; foodborne infections; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - drug therapy; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - transmission; human-animal relations; Humans; literature reviews; Meat - microbiology; Pathogenicity; Phylogeny; Prevalence; veterinary medicine; Virulence; Water Microbiology; Zoonoses; Zoonosis; Pathogenicity; Prevalence; Zoonosis; Arcobacter; Antibiotic resistance
• ISSN: 0378-1135; 1873-2542
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2006.03.004

Since the introduction of the genus
Arcobacter in 1991, the association of
Arcobacter butzleri,
Arcobacter cryaerophilus and
Arcobacter skirrowii with humans and animals has been clearly established. These bacteria have been detected world wide in products of animal origin and in healthy animals as well as in surface water. A fourth species
Arcobacter cibarius was recently discovered on chicken carcasses. Although evidence was found for the connection of
Arcobacter spp. with human and animal illness,
Arcobacter spp. can be pathogens, opportunistic pathogens and commensals. Their potential as zoonotic foodborne and waterborne agents, the routes of transmission and the pathogenic mechanisms of these bacteria are largely unknown. Production of toxins or other virulence factors has not been demonstrated but adhesive and/or invasive properties were apparent. Antibiotic resistance is present in
Arcobacter strains to significant levels. The tools to genetically access
Arcobacter-like transformation of strains, construction of mutants are not yet available. Nor have genes (i.e. potential virulence factors) been cloned, expressed and characterized in other host organisms. Therefore those interested in the microbiology of these organisms eagerly await publication of the complete nucleotide sequence of the
Arcobacter genome.
The abundant presence of four
Arcobacter species in foods of animal origin and the recovery of these bacteria from surface and drinking water suggest an important role of these bacteria as foodborne or waterborne agent and possibly as zoonotic agent.