Growth and Survival of Campylobacter Pathogens in the Presence of Different Metabolic Inhibitors

The effect of metabolic inhibitors on the growth of Campylobacter (100 human, animal and environmental isolates) was investigated. These inhibitors included beta -fluoropyravate (FP), iodoacetate (IAA, an inhibitor of gylcolysis) and alpha -methyl-D-glucoside (MG, a glucose analogue). In the presence of FP (0.8-1 g L super(-1)), the growth C. jejuni was inhibited for 24 h then growth occurred efficiently. However, the growth of C. coli was reduced by more than 50% even after 72 h. The growth of C. doylei was totally inhibited by the FP concentrations employed. In the presence of IAA (0.0048 g L super(-1)), non of the tested species was able to grow; when half of the IAA concentration was used, C. coli grew after 24 h whereas C. jejuni grew after 48 h. On the other hand, C. doylei was unable to grow even after 72 h. All the strains tested were relatively resistant to high concentration of MG; the growth of C. jejuni and C. doylei was completely inhibited in the presence of 50 and 40 g L super(-1) of MG whereas C. coli was resistant to MG concentration (70 g L super(-1)) when grown in brain heart infusion medium. This investigation attempts to not only understand better the survival of the organism in the environment but also should assist in finding ways to control Campylobacter in the environment and the food chain and hence reduce the risk of infection to human beings.