Description
This method specifies techniques for qualitative, semi-quantitative and quantitative determination of thermotolerant Campylobacter in foods and drinking water. Bacteria belonging to the genus Campylobacter may cause disease in humans. Especially Campylobacter jejuni is described as a common agent related to intestinal infection, but C. coli, and C. lari may also cause disease in humans. The natural habitat for Campylobacter is assumed to be the digestive tract of mainly mammals and birds. Humans are exposed to Campylobacter e.g. by contaminated foods and untreated surface water. Method for semi-quantitative determination of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. is described in Annex B. The method is divided into three different techniques based on detection, semi-quantitative and quantitative determination /enumeration.