Early Colonic Damage and Invasion of Campylobacter jejuni in Experimentally Challenged Infant Macaca mulatta

Experimental challenge studies with Campylobacter jejuni were conducted in 3,5-month-old infant Macaca mulatta. One infant monkey (92-1) was challenged with 2.7 × 1010 cfu of strain 78-37. A second infant was infected intentionally by natural transmission. The infants developed diarrhea 32 h after challenge of infant 92-1. Electron microscopic observations indicate that cell invasion is the primary mechanism of colon damage and diarrheal disease caused by C. jejuni. Intracellular C. jejuni were located in membrane-bound vacuoles and were free in the cytoplasm. Damaged epithelial cells exhibited premature apoptosis and were exfoliated into the lumen of the colon. C. jejuni were also located extracellularly in the mucosa and submucosa. Some cells had dilated endoplasmic reticulum, indicating possible alteration in ion and water transport.