Campylobacter: Isolation, Identification, and Preservation

Globally Campylobacter has been recognized as a leading cause of human gastroenteritis, generating considerable interest in the development of special selective techniques for optimal growth, isolation, and preservation of Campylobacter from clinical and environmental sources. Campylobacter is a microaerophilic micro-organism sensitive to natural levels of oxygen found in the environment, thus requiring specific conditions for growth. The methods described herein apply a microaerophilic environment complemented with supplements such as blood, charcoal, and ferrous sulfate, sodium metabisulfate, and sodium pyruvate (FBP), which are thought to act by quenching toxic oxygen derivatives that develop over time in the media. Biotyping is the establishment of a characteristic biochemical pattern and is a simple but comprehensive method for identification of Campylobacter . The BioM�rieux API Campy system is employed as the biotyping method of choice in the procedures described in this chapter. Three methods for long-term preservation of Campylobacter are described herein: (1) FBP medium, (2) 15% glycerol, and (3) Cryobank Microbial Preservation System using defibrinated lysed horse blood and glass beads.