Species and biotype distribution of thermotolerant campylobacters in animal reservoirs in southern Chile.

Thermotolerant Campylobacters Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli are recognized as important agents of acute diarrheal illness in h u m a n s 1 4 3 1 . These microorganisms are widely distributed all over the world having as natural reservoirs a great variety of animal species including c o m p a n i o n , domes t i c and wild animals'. ». 1 3 . 2 4 . Human illness considered as zoonosis 3 0 can be acquired by contact with animals 9 2 °. 3 0 , by dr inking con tamina ted water with an imal faeces22 7 . 3 6 or by ingestion of contaminated food of animal or ig in 2 . 2 0 . In view of the lack of information about the natural distr ibution of the rmoto le ran t Campylobacters in this region of the world, a study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of C. jejuni and C. coli in different mammals and birds from sou the rn Chile (province of Valdivia), southern latitude 39° 15' 40°15' .