Studies reaffirm international campylobacter concerns

Out of 40 fresh chicken products tested by Consumer NZ - a consumer advisory service in New Zealand - two-thirds of samples found traces of campylobacter. The bacteria was detected in 26 of the 40 products, all of which were purchased from supermarkets. Last year, 6,218 cases of campylobacter were recorded in the country. The illness has the capability of surviving in raw chicken if it is not cooked to the correct standards and can be spread to other foods and surfaces if not treated. According to Sue Chetwin, Consumer NZ chief executive, whilst campylobacter rates have dropped after significant control measures, the figures are still too high. “The bug’s presence in the products we tested doesn’t mean you’ll get sick from the chicken but it increases the chances,” said Chetwin. According to the chief executive, Consumer NZ’s research supports the argument for regular testing of chicken in the retail sector. “Experience in the UK, where retail testing is carried out, indicates it [testing] raises public awareness of the problem and can also prompt retailers and manufacturers to reduce contamination in the supply chain.” The Ministry for Primary Industries has set a target of reducing incidents of campylobacter by 10% by 2020. Meanwhile, research from Michigan State University (MSU) in the United States has revealed that the strain campylobacter jejuni can lead to the development of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). “What our work has told us is that it takes a certain genetic makeup combined with a certain campylobacter strain to cause this disease,” said Linda Mansfield, lead author and MSU College of Veterinary Medicine professor. “The concerning thing is that many of these strains are resistant to antibiotics and our work shows that treatment with some antibiotics could actually make the disease worse.” According to MSU, GBS is the world’s leading cause of acute neuromuscular paralysis in humans. The exact details as to how the disease develops have been widely unknown. Whilst campylobacter has been found to increase risks of this disease, conversely it has presented researchers with the platform to investigate potential solutions. “We have successfully produced three preclinical models of GBS that represent two different forms of the syndrome in humans,” added Mansfield. “Our models now provide a unique opportunity to understand how your personal genetic type may make you more susceptible to certain forms of GBS.” Whilst many treatments of GBS have been limited or have failed, Mansfield claimed that certain antibiotics in her study aggravated neurological signs, lesions and the number of immune antibodies that can mistakenly attack a patient’s own organs and tissues. “These models hold great potential for discovery of new treatments for this paralysis,” commented the professor. “Many patients with GBS are critically ill and they can’t participate in clinical trials. The models we identified can help solve this.” MSU highlighted that campylobacter jejuni infects over a million people every year in the United States and can trigger other disorders such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Reiter’s arthritis.

Studies reaffirm international campylobacter concerns

Fears over campylobacter levels in chicken in New Zealand have been reignited, thanks to recent research.

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