Welcome to CamCon

Peer reviewed papers

• Iglesias-Torrens et al.: Population Structure, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Virulence-Associated Genes in Campylobacter jejuni Isolated From Three Ecological Niches: Gastroenteritis Patients, Broilers, and Wild Birds
• Bahrndorff et al.: Foodborne Disease Prevention and Broiler Chickens with Reduced Campylobacter Infection
• Borck Høg et. al.: Farm specific risk factors for Campylobacter colonization in Danish and Norwegian broilers
• Josefsen et al.: Monitoring Campylobacter in the poultry production chain — From culture to genes and beyond
• Keestra et al.: Unique features of chicken Toll-like receptors
• Kjærsgaard et al.: Plasticity in behavioural responses and resistance to temperature stress in Musca domestica
• Nauta et al.: The effect of reducing numbers of Campylobacter in broiler intestines on human health risk
• Royden et al.: A role for flies (Diptera) in the transmission of Campylobacter to broilers
• Sommer et al.: Translation of risk factor estimates into on-farm intervetions and their effect on Campylobacter broiler flock prevalence
• Sommer et al.: Analysis of farms specific risk factors for Campylobacter colonization of broilers in six European countries
• Søndergaard et al.: Low-Cost Monitoring of Campylobacter in Poultry Houses by Air Sampling and Quantitative PCR
• Urdaneta et al.: Assessment of two different types of sample for the early detection and isolation of thermophilic Campylobacter in broiler farms
• Wagenaar et al.: Preventing Campylobacter at the Source: Why Is It So Difficult?
• Wagenberg et al.: Cost-effectiveness of Campylobacter interventions on broiler farms in six European countries
• Wagenberg and Horne: Impact of technical and economic performance on costs of Campylobacter spp. interventions on broiler farms in six European countries
• Wieczorek and Osek: Poultry flocks as a source of Campylobacter contamination of broiler carcasses
• Cantero et al: Characterization of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli Broiler Isolates by Whole-Genome Sequencing.

Chapters in books

• Bouwman et al.: Biology of Campylobacter infection. In: Epidemiology, evolution and molecular biology, p: 231-250. Caister Academic Press Ltd. ISBN: 978-1-908230-06-5
• Wagenaar et al.: Campylobacter: animal reservoirs, human infections, and options for control

Presentations and Posters

• List of presentations and posters (pdf)

Deliverables other than the learning material and publications:

WP1 – Epidemiology

• Report on broiler production in Europe
• Longitudinal study:
• Protocol
• Data First year

WP2 – Intervention strategies

• Phage collection

WP3 – Diagnostic tools

• Methods for quantification
• Definition of level of sensitivity
• Identification of technology

WP4 – Risk assessment and economy

• Report on data
• Future data needs
• Report major outcomes WP4

WP5 – From science to industry

• Distribution plan

WP6 – Management

• Communication plan
• Annual Meetings:
• 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010
• Reports to the Commission (scientific part):
• Final | Third | Second | First
• Final Stakeholder Seminar (14 April 2015): Programme

CamCon aimed to improve the control of Campylobacter in primary poultry production in various parts of Europe and thereby enable the production of “low-risk broilers”. The project placed great emphasis on ensuring rapid and effective dissemination of scientific achievements to end-users, in particular the EU poultry industry.

The consortium consisted of 10 partners from seven countries representing various parts of Europe.

The scientific work was organized in five Work Packages

WP1 - Epidemiology aimed at improving the understanding of the epidemiology of Campylobacter in the context of housed broiler production and quantify the role of risk factors in different regions of the EU. It considered the role of different subtypes of Campylobacter, seasonal and geographical variation in colonization as well as within and between flock and house transmission of the bacteria.

WP2 - Intervention strategies focused on the effect of biosecurity and fly screens in two very different countries/geographical areas. This WP also included research on two intervention strategies with more long-term possibilities for utilization; phage therapy and vaccination.

WP3 - Diagnostic tools aimed to implement efficient, inexpensive and rapid methods for semi-continuous detection, strain identification and quantification of Campylobacter at farm level.

WP4 - Risk assessment and economics aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the interventions studied in WP2. The WP combined data from the epidemiological studies in WP1 and data from the intervention studies in WP2 with quantitative microbiological risk assessment and economic analysis.

WP5 - From science to industry aimed to facilitate rapid transfer of new science-generated knowledge to practical solutions for the poultry industry, with the ultimate aim of reducing the growing burden of Campylobacter-associated illness on the population, within the EU society, and beyond. The strategy for meeting this objective was to develop novel web-based and tailor-made education and E-learning programmes targeted to poultry farmers and farm personnel.

Norwegian Veterinary Institute (NVI), Norway

The Norwegian Veterinary Institute (NVI) is a national biomedical research institute in the fields of animal health, fish health and food safety, whose primary function is supply of independent research-based advisory support to the governing authorities. Preparedness, diagnostics, surveillance and monitoring, reference- and scientific advisory functions, and risk assessment are the most important areas of operation. The NVI has approximately 330 employees and has its central laboratory in Oslo, with five regional laboratories located along the coast.

Technical University of Denmark (DTU)

DTU FOOD is a research institute at the Technical University of Denmark with approximately 330 employees. Activities include research, scientifically based risk assessments, advisory services as well as diagnostic and analytical services to Danish and international authorities and industry. The institute is the focal point of EFSA and is part of the national food safety contingency plan and the national reference laboratory for microbial food safety.

Liverpool University (ULIV), UK

The National Centre for Zoonosis Research (NCZR) is hosted by ULIV and is a combined venture of the universities of Liverpool and Lancaster, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and is a hub for collaborative research across the UK and further afield. The Centre, as the hub of a dynamic network, undertakes world-class research into zoonotic infections, including work on Campylobacter in broilers and Salmonella in layers. A particular interest is how production environments affect the resistance of chickens to the pathogens and how the nature of the host-pathogen interaction is influenced by host stress responses and/or endemic disease.

University Utrecht (UU), The Netherlands

Utrecht University is a research university comprising of seven faculties which collectively span the entire academic spectrum in teaching and research. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Utrecht University is the only veterinary school in the Netherlands. There are about 1000 employees and about 800 students.

Dianova (DIA), Denmark

Dianova is a separate limited company owned by the Technical University of Denmark. Dianova’s objectives are promoting and supporting innovative and commercial services of food safety and veterinary science. Dianova sells and markets services on behalf of the National Food Institute and the National Veterinary Institute, as well as sourcing other specialists and services outside the institutes for specific tasks and assignments.

Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen UR (CVI-LEI), The Netherlands

CVI is an institute of animal science and health and is a market oriented research institute covering the entire animal production chain. CVI is a part of Wageningen University and Research Centre and has approximately 280 highly qualified personnel that carry out research leading to practical solutions to complex issues and conducts strategic and applied veterinary, zootechnic and biomedical research. CVI represents Stichting DLO as partner in this project, thereby including LEI(-WUR) as a participant.

University of Newcastle upon Tyne (UNEW), UK

The Centre for Life Sciences Modelling group is found with in the Institute for Research and Sustainability at University of Newcastle upon Tyne. The group comprises some 12 staff and postgraduate students whose prime interest is developing modelling approaches for investigating the structure and dynamics of temporally and spatially heterogeneous biological systems. The group focuses on modelling the epidemiology of wildlife, livestock and human disease.

University of Minho (UMinho), Portugal

The Centre of Biological Engineering (CEB) is one of the R&D units of the UMinho. This research centre covers the fields of Food and Environmental Biotechnology as well as Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. CEB has a great and long experience in fermentation technology, bioseparation processes and microbial physiology. Researchers participating in this project are from BioPSE and Phage groups. These groups possess the technological means and knowledge to optimise bacteriophage production and purification.

Research Centre on Animal Health – CreSA (CSA), Spain

The Foundation Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA) is a private foundation created in 1999 for conducting research on animal health. The CReSA unites the human potential for research in animal health and takes advantage of a new technologically advanced building, with level-3 bio-containment (BSL3) for conducting research with all livestock species, grouping efforts and pooling new resources in this field. Research and development programmes within the animal health field, diagnostics, surveillance, monitoring, and scientific advisory functions are among the main activities of our Centre.

National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Poland

The National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) is a national agricultural research institute in the fields of animal health, fish health and food safety, whose primary function is supply of independent research-based advisory support to the governing authorities. Preparedness, diagnostics, surveillance and monitoring, reference- and scientific advisory functions, and risk assessment are the most important areas of operation. The NVRI has approximately 490 employees and has its central laboratory in Pulawy, with two branches located in Bydgoszcz (Departments of Mastitis and Horse diseases) and in Zdunska Wola (Department of Food and Mouth Disease).

Project coordinator 

Merete Hofshagen, Norwegian Veterinary Institute 
E-mail: merete.hofshagen@vetinst.no

WP leaders

WP1: Epidemiology
Nicola Williams, Liverpool University (ULIV)  
E-mail: njwillms@liverpool.ac.uk

WP2: Intervention strategies
Jaap Wagenaar, Utrecht University
E-mail: j.wagenaar@uu.nl

WP3: Diagnostic tools
Mathilde Josefsen, Denmark Technical University (DTU)
E-mail: mhjo@food.dtu.dk

WP4: Risk assessment and economics
Maarten Nauta, Denmark Technical University (DTU)  
E-mail: maana@food.dtu.dk

WP5: From science to industry
Mogens Madsen, Dianova  
E-mail: mogma@dianova.dk