A six-year epidemiological surveillance study in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia: urban versus rural differences in human campylobacteriosis incidence

ABSTRACT

Data from population-based laboratory surveillance were used to examine the epidemiological pattern of campylobacteriosis in a sentinel site, Split-Dalmatia County (SDC),Croatia, from 2007 to 2012, and to evaluate the association between disease incidence and demographic, geographical, climatic, agricultural, and microbiological factors. A total of 2658 laboratory-confirmed Campylobacter infections were recorded. Overall mean incidence was 96/100,000, ranging from 61/100,000 in rural to 131/100,000 in urban areas; rates were highest in the age group 0–4 years. Overall mean and age- and sex-specific incidences were significantly higher in urban versus rural areas (p < 0.01). The number of infections peaked in early summer, and was correlated with higher average monthly temperature (r = 0.58) and lower humidity (r = − 0.27), but not with precipitation. Incidence was not associated with agricultural activities. A distinct campylobacteriosis pattern with consistently higher urban versus rural incidence was observed, which may help formulate further preventive measures.

KEYWORDS:

• Campylobacteriosis
• epidemiology
• urban–rural differences
• surveillance

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mrs. Ružica Popović, the Marine Meteorological Center, Split, and the Meteorological and Hydrological Service of Croatia for providing climate data, and Professor Irving Nachamkin, DrPH, MPH, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, for careful revision of the paper and support in data analysis.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received for this study.