Campylobacter is the most frequently reported human enteropathogenic bacter
ium in developed countries. Guillian-Barre syndrome and reactive arthritis
are severe sequellae to the acute phase of gastroenteritis. Data will be pr
esented showing that identical clones of Campylobacter isolated prospective
ly from processed broiler carcasses appeared in subsequent human disease. W
e conducted epidemiological studies and infrequently, if ever, found the sa
me clone on the farm before those isolates were excreted by the broiler chi
ckens. Using a gene sequencing characterization system, we demonstrated ide
ntity of the resulting Campylobacter isolates from breeder flocks and their
progeny more than 20 miles apart. Measures to control the pathogen will be
discussed.