Trends in the Incidence of Salmonellosis andCampylobacteriosis in the Czech Republic

Overview

Salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis are the most frequently reported acute enteric diseases ofinfectious origin in the Czech Republic. Epidemiological data on salmonellosis and campylobacteriosishave been reportable in this country since 1951 and 1984, respectively. In 2003, 53 486 cases ofacute enteric infections were reported: 26 899 (52 %) diagnosed as salmonellosis and 20 063 (almost40 %) diagnosed as campylobacteriosis. In 1989, the annual incidence of salmonellosis was threetimes as high as in the previous year, the upward trend continued until 1995 (528/100 000) and since1998 the salmonellosis incidence rates have been declining. The incidence of campylobacteriosisshowed a progressive increase since 1984 to peak in 2002 with a following slight decline in 2003.Morbidity from salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis is highest in the age group 0–4-years-olds. Themost frequent causative agents are Salmonella Enteritidis (96 %) and Campylobacter jejuni, respectively.Both infections are foodborne. Ready-to-eat meals, poultry, confectionery and eggs seem tobe most frequently implicated in outbreaks of salmonellosis in public catering andfamilies.Sporadiccases of campylobacteriosis are mostly associated with ingestion of poultry and chopped meat. Theincidence rates of these two infections are positively correlated with the average daily temperatures.

Key words:
salmonellosis – campylobacteriosis – Salmonella Enteritidis – Campylobacter jejuni –incidence.