Arcobacter - an underestimated zoonotic pathogen?

The relevance for public health of the agent Arcobacter is mostly unclear despite of an increasing number of studies. Recent evidence shows that especially Arcobacter (A.) butzleri but also A. cryaerophilus and A. skirrowii may be involved in human enteric diseases. However, little is currently known about pathogenicity or potential virulence factors. Livestock animals, particularly poultry and pigs, might be a significant reservoir of Arcobacter spp. Furthermore, Arcobacter spp. could be isolated from retail raw meat products of these animals as well as from drinking water. There are currently no standardized isolation and detection methods to collect comparable data. Further studies and efforts of both human and veterinary medicine are needed to elucidate prevalence, epidemiology, the pathogenic role and potential virulence factors of Arcobacter spp. These data are the necessary basis for further risk assessment.