Temperature dependence of reportedCampylobacterinfection in England, 1989–1999

Abstract

SUMMARYCampylobacteris the most common bacterial cause of gastroenteritis in England and Wales, with 45 000 cases reported annually.Campylobacterincidence is highly seasonal; the consistent peak in late spring suggests a role for meteorological factors in the epidemiology of this organism. We investigated the relationship between ambient temperature andCampylobacterenteritis using time-series analysis to study short-term associations between temperature and number ofCampylobacterreports adjusted for longer-term trend and seasonal patterns. We found a linear relationship between mean weekly temperature and reportedCampylobacterenteritis, with a 1°C rise corresponding to a 5% increase in the number of reports up to a threshold of 14°C. There was no relationship outside this temperature range. Our findings provide evidence that ambient temperature influencesCampylobacterincidence, and suggest that its effect is likely to be indirect, acting through other intermediate pathways.