Infections with Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter-like Organisms in Homosexual Men

Abstract

In studies of the cause of gastrointestinal symptoms in homosexual men, C. jejuni was recovered from 10 of 158 men with, and 2 of 75 men without, intestinal symptoms. A heterogeneous group of Campylobacter-like organisms was identified in 26 symptomatic and 6 asymptomatic homosexual men, but in none of 150 heterosexual men and women. Infections with Campylobacter-like organisms, like infections with C. jejuni, were significantly associated with the sexual practice of anilinctus and were usually associated with diarrhea, abdominal cramps and hematochezia; proctocolitis seen at sigmoidoscopy; increased numbers of leukocytes seen on rectal smears; acute inflammatory changes seen on rectal biopsy specimens; and a serum antibody response to the infecting organism.