Campylobacter infection and the link with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: on the pathway towards a causal association. Issue 1 (3rd February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Takakura, Will; Kudaravalli, Praneeth; Chatterjee, Chandrima; Pimentel, Mark; Riddle, Mark S
• Is Part Of: Pathogens and disease. Volume 80:Issue 1(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-02-03
• Subjects: campylobacter -- post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome -- irritable bowel syndrome -- gut microbiome; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Pathogenic microorganisms -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Pathogenesis -- Periodicals; Host-parasite relationships -- Periodicals; Systems biology -- Periodicals; 616.904105
• DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftac003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2049-632X

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: proving causality between an exposure and outcome can be difficult in humans. Here, we utilize the Bradford Hill (BH) criteria to summarize the causal relationship between Campylobacter infection and the development of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Methods: we utilized the BH criteria to assess the strength, consistency, specificity, temporality, biological gradient, plausibility, coherence, experiment, and analogy of the current evidence linking Campylobacter to IBS. Through a consensus amongst all authors, the confidence of each criterion was graded as high, moderate, low, or very low. Results: a total of four criteria (strength, temporality, plausibility, and analogy) were graded as high; four criteria (consistency, biological gradient, coherence, and experiment) were graded as moderate; and one criterion (specificity) was graded as low. Large-scale epidemiological studies report a risk ratio of 2.7–5.6 for developing IBS after campylobacter . In rodent models, Campylobacter jejuni 81–176 can cause loose stool months after the infection is cleared and share common pathophysiology as IBS patients such as elevated intestinal TLR-4 and IL-8, antibodies to CdtB and vinculin, increased intraepithelial lymphocytes, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Conclusions: Campylobacter infection appear to cause IBS in a subset of patients. This may hold implication in risk factor identification, public health policy, and possibly treatment. Abstract : Campylobacter infection appears to cause IBS and recent studies suggest that low-grade chronic inflammation, autoimmunity, and bacterial overgrowth play a role in its pathogenesis.