Detection of Campylobacter by Culture and Multiplex PCR in Mymensingh

Childhood diarrhea represents a major public health problem in developing countries like Bangladesh.Campylobacter species is one of the leading causes of bacterial diarrheal illness worldwide with as many as 400 million cases annually. The clinical spectrum of Campylobacter enteritis ranges from a watery, nonbloody, noninflammatory diarrhea to a severe inflammatory diarrhea with abdominal pain and fever. In Bangladesh, C. jejuni is typically associated with predominantly watery diarrhea and isolated in frequencies varying from 11 to 17.4%. Species detection of Campylobacter is very important for rapid and accurate diagnosis of diarrhea. PCR can detect Campylobacter upto species level with more sensitivity and specificity and less time consuming. The purpose of this study was to evaluate culture and PCR as a diagnostic tool for Campylobacter species as well as to determine its prevalence in the study population.