Chapter 1About the Campylobacter spp
Belchiolina Beatriz Fonseca, Heriberto Fernandez, Daise Aparecida Rossi, Patrícia Giovana Hoepers, Roberta Torres de MeloMembers of the Campylobacter genus are gram-negative, microaerophilic, small bacillus with a polar flagellum. Their movement has a typical corkscrew characteristic. There are many species associated with different diseases. This chapter describes the taxonomy, genetic structure and general characteristics of the Campylobacter genus focusing on thermophilic species and/or those that colonize the intestinal tract of birds.

Chapter 2Isolation and identification of Campylobacter spp. in poultry
Omar A. Oyarzabal and Heriberto FernándezPoultry products, especially chicken meat, continue to be important sources of campylobacteriosis in humans. This chapter reviews the current methods used for the isolation and identification of Campylobacter spp. from chicken products. Emphasis is placed on the enrichment protocols, the plate media that are most costly efficient for isolation purposes and the current approaches to identification of isolates to the genus or species level. The current methodology used in some South American countries to detect Campylobacter spp. from poultry products is also summarized.

Chapter 3Colonization of Campylobacter jejuni in poultry Belchiolina Beatriz Fonseca, Álvaro Ferreira Junior, Gustavo Medina, Marcelo Emilio Beletti, Eliane Pereira MendonçaCampylobacter jejuni colonizes the poultry intestinal tract in high quantity and can establish a commensal behavior in the host. However, it has been suggested a pathogenic behavior of C. jejuni in chickens. Pathogen-associated virulence factors and host immune response can influence the chicken intestinal colonization and the pathological and clinical manifestations. This article describes the main structures involved during the colonization of C. jejuni in poultry and the possible consequences of the pathogen and host interactions for poultry.

Chapter 4Immune response after Campylobacter infection in poultryÁlvaro Ferreira Junior, Edson Campos Valadares Junior, Belchiolina Beatriz FonsecaThis chapter describes about the host immune responses against Campylobacter spp. We compare chicken and mammal host innate and acquired immune response against the bacterium. In addition, we describe the role of maternal antibody protection in offspring's early life. We present the intriguing phenomena of pathogen and host relationship and the apparent post-infection host immune tolerance. In this context, some questions should be highlighted: are the control procedures for Campylobacter jejuni-infection in chickens relevant to reduce C. jejuni-infection in human hosts? Are the currently used C. jejuni-vaccines protective against the chicken infection? Is an alternative procedure the administration of passive oral immunization using powdered antibodies to control chicken and human C. jejuni infection? We also discusses about the possible potential of antigenic targets to the vaccine production.

Chapter 5Campylobacter-host cell interactionsClaudio Silva, Marlus Alves Santos, Flávia Alves Martins
This chapter begins with a historical background of evolutionary origin of the cells since the emergence addressing the endosymbiosis theory by which prokaryotes gave rise to the first eukaryotic cells, describes the relationship between existing cell types that may have evolved with predation to mutualism or parasitism. Also, discuss some interactions between parasitic unicellular organisms and its cell host, taking into account the dynamic actin cytoskeleton and the immune response resulting from the invasion. Fi
About the Author: Dr. Belchiolina Beatriz Fonseca is professor of avian disease and poultry production from Faculty of Veterinary Medicine from Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Before her academic work he has worked in the field as a Veterinary Medical with chickens and broiler breeders. She has started research about Campylobacter in poultry since 2005 when studied in Chile with Dr. Heriberto Fernandéz. Thenceforward, her research about Campylobacter with Dr. Daise Rossi in poultry. The main focus of the author is epidemiology and the relationship of commensal or disease between and campylobacter in poultry. She is member of the Latin American Network of Researchers in Campylobacteraceae (Relacampy).
Dr. Heriberto Fernández is Full Professor of Clinical Microbiology and past-director of the Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Austral de Chile.

During the first years of his career he was involved in microbiological diagnosis of zoonotic bacterial agents. Since 1980 their research lines turned towards Campylobacter and related microorganisms and their epidemiological relationships among humans, animals, the environment and food production. Throughout the last 35 years he conducted many research projects in the field. As Professor he spent much of his time to teach about Campylobacter, not only to undergraduate and graduate students and professionals of his country, but also to others in many countries of Latin America, being also invited as speaker at many conferences and scientific meetings in almost all South American countries and some of Central America. He was trainer in different courses in Argentina and Mexico of the WHO SalmSurvNet (now renamed GFN).

Dr Fernández was invited to be member of the WHO Experts Committee on Campylobacter, the Chilean Agency for Food Safety and the WHO Advisory Group on Integrated Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (AGISAR), belonging to the latter until June 2014.

In 2014 obtained a grant from the Ecuadorian Secretariat for Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation to develop a Prometeo Project at the Technical University of Loja to build academic capacities on Campylobacter and develop research projects in this field. At this time he created the Latin American Network of Researchers in Campylobacteraceae.