Dark-field microscopy of human feces for presumptive diagnosis of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni enteritis

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Abstract
To determine the value of direct dark-field microscopy for diagnosing enteritis due to C. fetus ssp. jejuni, 1377 human fecal specimens were examined for bacteria with typical Campylobacter darting motility, leukocytes and erythrocytes. Eighty-four specimens (6.1%) grew C. fetus ssp. jejuni. Of the 48 specimens showing Campylobacter motility, 30 (62%) grew C. fetus ssp. jejuni. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of observing Campylobacter motility were 36%, 99% and 62%, respectively. The predictive value of detecting Campylobacter motility was improved if the specimens were diarrheal (23 of 31, 74%), leukocytes were present (25 of 33, 76%), erythrocytes were present (22 of 27, 81%) or if all of the above findings were present (18 of 20, 90%). The sensitivity of detecting Campylobacter darting motility was highest if specimens were examined within 2 h of arrival in the laboratory (15 of 30, 50%) as opposed to after 2 h (15 of 53, 28%; P < 0.01). Prompt dark-field microscopic examination of diarrheal stool specimens is valuable for the presumptive diagnosis of Campylobacter enteritis.