The cellular fatty acid composition ofCampylobacterspecies isolated from cases of enteritis in man and animals

Abstract

SUMMARYThe cellular fatty acid composition of 41 strains of suspectedCampylobacter jejuni, 23 from human cases of gastroenteritis and 18 from animals, was examined by gas-liquid chromatography. Three of the 23 human isolates and 2 of 18 animal isolates did not contain 19:0 cyclopropane fatty acid and were identified asC. laridis. The remaining 36 strains had cellular fatty acid profiles consistent withC. jejunibut could be divided into three groups on the ratio of the concentration of 18:1 and 19:0 eycloproprane. Most human isolates (85%) were in groups II or III whereas most animal isolates (56%) were in group I. It is proposed that gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of cellular fatty acids is a relatively easy method for epidemiological typing ofC. jejuniisolates.