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Out of 125 samples we isolated 45 thermophilic Campylobacter spp. from Bø River by filtration followed by growth on selective agar plates. The species were identified by biotyping, multiplex PCR and riboprinting. C. jejuni represented 17 (37.7%), C. coli 2 (4.4%), C. lari 5 (11.1%), C. hyointestinalis 1 (2.2%) and C. species 20 (44.5%). Five of C. jejuni were classified in ribogroups (DUP-PST1-ID) while four C. lari were identified in three. The RiboPrinter® identified C. hyointestinalis. Dendrogram analysis grouped the isolates into two main clades and seven subclades. C. lari and C. coli were grouped in one clade while most C. spp. and the C. hyointestinalis were grouped in the other. C. jejuni were clustered in five subclades and display a high degree of diversity. Because of the frequent isolation of campylobacters in surface water and the lack of knowledge of the pathogenesis of Campylobacter strains and their virulence factors, special hygienic precautions should be taken to avoid the risk of transmitting campylobacteriosis from water.

Campylobacteriosis is the most frequently occurring food and waterborne gastroenteritis in Norway and 90% of cases are caused by Campylobacter jejuni. Campylobacteriosis is epidemiologically associated with use of non-disinfected water and consumption of contaminated poultry. In order to provide molecular epidemiological support for this association isolates from local poultry and water were compared with human isolates from domestic and import infections using ribotyping. Automatic riboprints were performed with the PstI restriction enzyme and RiboPrinter® and compared with a library of recognised patterns (DUP-IDs). Patterns were further compared with each other using GelCompar software. The isolates from human clinical cases showed high heterogeneity. DUP-IDs found among human isolates were also found in 2 isolates from poultry, DUP-PSTI-1146 and DUP-PSTI-2061. Two human isolates were like isolates from water, DUP-PSTI-2073 and DUP-PSTI-1122, but these were from patients infected abroad. This study provides limited support for the importance of poultry as a source of infection and illustrates the need for studies of much larger scope to encompass the huge diversity of strains and sources of C. jejuni.

Out of 100 faecal swab samples, 88 thermophilic Campylobacter representing ten herds were isolated. The species were identified by biotyping and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of the isolates, 86 (97.7%) were C. coli, one was C. lari, and one was C. jejuni. All three species were isolated from the same herd. Automatic riboprints were performed with the PstI restriction enzyme and RiboPrinter® (automated microbial characterization system). The identification of the isolates was predicted when the corresponding pattern matched one of the patterns in the DuPont identification (DUP-ID) library and was then assigned an identification number. A total of 81 selected C. coli isolates were riboprinted. The isolates could be divided into two clades and five subclades, and 19 isolates could be given five different DUP-IDs from the library: DUP-PST1-1182 (n=6), DUP-PST1-1208 (n=10), DUP-PST1-1175 (n=1), DUP-PST1-1140 (n=1), and DUP-PST1-1163 (n=1). Pigs are healthy carriers of C. coli which showed a high degree of diversity among and within the herds.