Genomic study reveals unequal distribution of Campylobacter in Chilean children
New research highlights socio-economic disparities in Campylobacter infections among children in Santiago, exposing limitations in traditional surveillance and emphasising the need for integrated genomic tracking.
A study in Scientific Reports suggests Campylobacter infection in Chile may be more unevenly distributed across social groups than earlier public-health data have captured, underlining the limits of surveillance in Latin America.
Researchers compared clinical isolates from a public paediatric hospital and a private tertiary clinic in Santiago, using genomic analysis to trace likely animal sources and assess disease features. Poultry-linked lineages, including the ST-353 and ST-443 complexes, appeared across both care settings but were more common in the public-sector cases. By contrast, cattle-associated strains from the ST-22 complex were found mainly among higher-income patients.
The authors say this is the first evidence of Campylobacter infection frequency in a lower-income paediatric population in Chile, reinforcing the view that the pathogen is an important cause of gastroenteritis across socioeconomic groups in the capital.
The study also found an association between the Type 6 Secretion System and more severe illness, particularly dehydration, with two effector genes linked to that outcome. Resistance markers were widespread, including tetO, which confers tetracycline resistance, and gyrA T86I, associated with fluoroquinolone resistance.
The findings point to distinct transmission patterns within one city and argue for integrated genomic surveillance to guide outbreak response and antimicrobial policy.
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