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Advances in Rapid Detection and Quantification of Campylobacter in Food...
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Advances in Rapid Detection and Quantification of Campylobacter in Food Safety

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Bacterial Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 1894

Editors

Dr. Elena George Olson

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Meat Science and Animal Biologics Discovery Program, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
Interests: microbiome dynamics; meat microbiology; poultry science; foodborne pathogens; campylobacter
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Aaron R. Bodie

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Poultry Science Department, University of Georgia, 120 D W Brooks Dr., Athens, GA 30602, USA
Interests: foodborne pathogens; Campylobacter

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Campylobacter jejuni remains a leading cause of foodborne illness worldwide, necessitating rapid and accurate detection methods to mitigate contamination risks in poultry and other food products. Although they are widely used, traditional culture-based methods are time-intensive and are often challenged by background microbiota and stress-adapted bacterial cells. Recent advances in molecular detection, enrichment strategies, and quantitative approaches have enhanced our ability to monitor Campylobacter in complex food matrices with greater sensitivity and efficiency. This Special Issue will focus on novel and improved methodologies for detecting, quantifying, and monitoring Campylobacter in food production systems. We invite submissions that explore the following topics:

  • Molecular detection technologies (e.g., PCR-based assays, metagenomics, and biosensors);
  • The optimization of enrichment media and culture conditions for improved bacterial recovery;
  • Comparative studies on detection limits and sensitivity across different methodologies;
  • The integration of rapid detection into food safety monitoring systems;
  • The validation of detection methods in diverse poultry and food matrices.

This Special Issue will provide a comprehensive resource for food safety professionals, researchers, and regulatory bodies by showcasing research on advancements in Campylobacter detection. Contributions will build upon the existing literature by addressing methodological limitations and improving standardization while highlighting practical applications of emerging technologies in food safety monitoring. We encourage submissions of original research, reviews, and case studies that contribute to developing more efficient, sensitive, and applicable detection strategies for Campylobacter in the food industry.

Dr. Elena George Olson
Dr. Aaron R. Bodie
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pathogens is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Campylobacter jejuni detection
  • rapid molecular diagnostics
  • foodborne pathogens
  • PCR-based detection
  • enrichment medium optimization
  • quantification methods
  • poultry microbiology
  • food safety monitoring
  • culture-based vs. molecular methods
  • high-throughput screening
  • microbial load assessment
  • real-time PCR (RT-PCR)
  • biosensors in food safety
  • pathogen enumeration
  • sample matrix effects

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 3661 KB  
Article
Optimization of Sample Processing for Droplet Digital PCR Quantification of Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni in Chicken Liver
by Joseph Capobianco, Chin-Yi Chen and Yiping He
Pathogens 2026, 15(6), 638; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15060638 - 16 Jun 2026
Viewed by 328
Abstract
Accurate detection of Campylobacter in chicken liver is hindered by strong matrix inhibition. This study evaluated sample-processing strategies to improve droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) quantification of Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni in chicken liver. Mechanical homogenization (Stomacher) and enzymatic/mechanical dissociation (gentleMACS), with and [...] Read more.
Accurate detection of Campylobacter in chicken liver is hindered by strong matrix inhibition. This study evaluated sample-processing strategies to improve droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) quantification of Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni in chicken liver. Mechanical homogenization (Stomacher) and enzymatic/mechanical dissociation (gentleMACS), with and without 8 μm filtration, were compared. Particle-size analysis showed that filtration, especially following gentleMACS treatment, produced smaller, more uniform particles and reduced variability. Percent-degradation assays confirmed that gentleMACS achieved substantially greater tissue disruption than Stomacher homogenization. The multiplex ddPCR assay, which simultaneously targets C. coli and C. jejuni, produced droplet counts comparable to single-target reactions, indicating minimal interference between targets under the conditions tested. In inoculated liver samples, gentleMACS processing yielded droplet counts similar to those obtained from pure cultures, whereas unprocessed liver caused severe matrix interference and inconsistent quantification. Furthermore, gentleMACS-treated samples exhibited strong log-to-log linearity for quantifying C. coli and C. jejuni, enabling detection near 1 genome copy equivalent per reaction. Overall, the results indicate that enzymatic/mechanical dissociation combined with fine-pore filtration improves ddPCR detection of Campylobacter species in chicken liver. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Rapid Detection and Quantification of Campylobacter in Food Safety)
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14 pages, 3214 KB  
Article
Campylobacter spp. in Poultry Slaughterhouses: Occurrence, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Virulence-Associated Genes
by Pietro Di Taranto, Fiorenza Petruzzi, Antonella Cristina Romano, Mariateresa Toce, Lucia Palazzo, Alessandra Alessiani, Loredana Capozzi, Stefano Castellana, Laura Del Sambro, Adelia Donatiello, Carmine Pedarra, Gilda Occhiochiuso, Giovanni Castelli, Alessandra Barlaam, Giovanni Normanno and Antonio Parisi
Pathogens 2026, 15(6), 585; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15060585 - 29 May 2026
Viewed by 372
Abstract
Poultry is the main reservoir of Campylobacter spp. and most human cases result from consuming undercooked poultry or handling raw meat. In 2022, a total of 55 samples, including neck skin, cecal contents, and processing waters, were collected at two poultry slaughterhouses in [...] Read more.
Poultry is the main reservoir of Campylobacter spp. and most human cases result from consuming undercooked poultry or handling raw meat. In 2022, a total of 55 samples, including neck skin, cecal contents, and processing waters, were collected at two poultry slaughterhouses in Italy and analysed according to ISO 10272-2:2017 at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata laboratories. Overall, 51/55 (92.72%) samples tested positive for Campylobacter. Among the isolates, 64.71% were identified as C. coli, and 35.29% as C. jejuni. Phenotypic and genotypic analysis were performed to assess antimicrobial resistance and virulence characteristics. All C. jejuni isolates and 72.72% of C. coli showed resistance to fluoroquinolones. Resistances to tetracycline and carbapenem were observed in 60.78% and 45.09% of isolates, respectively. Genomic analysis confirmed the presence of the tet(O) gene, conferring tetracycline resistance. In addition, OXA-450 and OXA-466 genes, conferring beta-lactam resistance, were detected in 78.43% and 3.92% of isolates. Virulence-associated genes were detected. Specifically, the ciaB gene was found in 50/51 (98.04%) of isolates, whereas jlpA, cdtA, cdtB, and ctdC genes were exclusively identified in C. jejuni strains. The high prevalence of pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant Campylobacter strains highlights the need for strengthened control measures along the poultry production chain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Rapid Detection and Quantification of Campylobacter in Food Safety)
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15 pages, 1605 KB  
Article
Impact of Encapsulated Iron Availability on the Growth Kinetics of Campylobacter jejuni
by Elena G. Olson, Emily A. Matiak, Joshua A. Jendza and Steven C. Ricke
Pathogens 2026, 15(4), 400; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15040400 - 7 Apr 2026
Viewed by 587
Abstract
Background: Campylobacter jejuni, a leading foodborne pathogen in poultry, relies heavily on iron for survival and colonizes the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Iron supplementation in poultry diets can inadvertently promote pathogen growth, particularly when excess or poorly absorbed iron accumulates in the lower [...] Read more.
Background: Campylobacter jejuni, a leading foodborne pathogen in poultry, relies heavily on iron for survival and colonizes the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Iron supplementation in poultry diets can inadvertently promote pathogen growth, particularly when excess or poorly absorbed iron accumulates in the lower GIT. Encapsulated iron products, such as SQM® Iron, offer a controlled-release mechanism that may mitigate this risk by reducing iron availability to microbes. Objective: This study evaluated the effects of free (FeSO4) versus polysaccharide–iron complex (PIC) on C. jejuni growth under iron-limited conditions, hypothesizing that encapsulated iron would support slower and more limited bacterial proliferation due to delayed iron release. Methods: Growth kinetics of C. jejuni ATCC 700819 were assessed in chelated Mueller–Hinton broth supplemented with three iron concentrations (10, 20, and 50 ppm) of FeSO4, PIC, or PIC matrix without iron. Optical density was measured every 20 min over 48 h under microaerophilic conditions. Maximum growth rate (µmax) and carrying capacity (K) were derived using non-linear curve modeling. ANOVA evaluated statistical significance with Tukey’s HSD post hoc comparisons. Results: Free iron (FeSO4) consistently supported the highest µmax and K values across both trials, indicating rapid and robust C. jejuni proliferation. The effect of encapsulated iron was variable: at higher concentrations (50 ppm) it approached FeSO4 performance, but at lower concentrations (10 ppm) its effect differed markedly between trials, sometimes supporting growth comparable to free iron and sometimes supporting substantially slower growth. The PIC matrix alone did not promote growth. These variable results indicate that the relationship between encapsulated iron and C. jejuni proliferation is complex and concentration-dependent. Conclusions: Free iron consistently promotes robust C. jejuni growth due to immediate bioavailability. The impact of encapsulated iron on C. jejuni proliferation is nuanced and variable, particularly at lower concentrations, suggesting its role in pathogen control is not straightforward and requires further investigation under controlled conditions. Furthermore, in vivo research is warranted to validate its utility in poultry pathogen management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Rapid Detection and Quantification of Campylobacter in Food Safety)
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