Campylobacteriosis Outbreak Linked to Municipal Water, Nebraska, USA, 2021

In September 2021, eight campylobacteriosis cases were identified in a town in Nebraska, USA. We assessed potential exposures for a case–control analysis. We conducted whole-genome sequencing on Campylobacter isolates from patients’ stool specimens. We collected large-volume dead-end ultrafiltration...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEmerging infectious diseases Vol. 30; no. 10; pp. 1998 - 2005
Main Authors Jansen, Lauren, Birn, Rachael, Koirala, Samir, Oppegard, Sadie, Loeck, Brianna, Hamik, Jeff, Wyckoff, Elizabeth, Spindola, Dana, Dempsey, Sue, Bartling, Amanda, Roundtree, Alexis, Kahler, Amy, Lane, Charlotte, Hogan, Nancy, Strockbine, Nancy, McKeel, Haley, Yoder, Jonathan, Mattioli, Mia, Donahue, Matthew, Buss, Bryan
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases 01.10.2024
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Subjects
Analysis
bacteria
Campylobacter infections
Campylobacteriosis
Development and progression
DNA sequencing
Drinking water
Epidemics
Genomes
Genomics
Health aspects
Medical research
Medicine, Experimental
Municipal water supply
Nebraska
Nucleotide sequencing
outbreaks
Physiological aspects
Prevention
Risk factors
Social aspects
United States
water
Water utilities
Waterborne infections
United States
Nebraska
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Summary:In September 2021, eight campylobacteriosis cases were identified in a town in Nebraska, USA. We assessed potential exposures for a case–control analysis. We conducted whole-genome sequencing on Campylobacter isolates from patients’ stool specimens. We collected large-volume dead-end ultrafiltration water samples for Campylobacter and microbial source tracking testing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We identified 64 cases in 2 waves of illnesses. Untreated municipal tap water consumption was strongly associated with illness (wave 1 odds ratio 15.36; wave 2 odds ratio 16.11). Whole-genome sequencing of 12 isolates identified 2 distinct Campylobacter jejuni subtypes (1 subtype/wave). The town began water chlorination, after which water testing detected coliforms. One dead-end ultrafiltration sample yielded nonculturable Campylobacter and avian-specific fecal rRNA genomic material. Our investigation implicated contaminated, untreated, municipal water as the source. Results of microbial source tracking supported mitigation with continued water chlorination. No further campylobacteriosis cases attributable to water were reported.
ISSN:1080-6040
1080-6059
DOI:10.3201/eid3010.231509