Arcobacter in a food safety perspective

Arcobacters are increasingly Isolated from food products and have been classified as emerging food pathogens In the past, they were predominantly associated with reproductive problems, mastitis and gastric ulcers in livestock, though recently they are frequently isolated from clinically healthy farm animals. In humans, Arcobacter is associated with enteritis with in some cases septicaemia. The routes of infection are Still unclear but included, person-to-person contact and consumption of contaminated water and food. At present, there is no unequivocal evidence that arcobacters are hazards for human health, but neither are they part of the normal commensal flora. The current status Of the pathogen and the importance of food contamination is reviewed.