Cultures suspected to contain Campylobacter jejuni should be incubated at which temperature in which atmosphere for optimal recovery?

• A. 37°C in ambient air
• B. 42°C in microaerophilic atmosphere
• C. 25°C in aerobic conditions
• D. 30°C in anaerobic conditions

Answer: (B)

Campylobacter jejuni is a thermophilic, microaerophilic organism that grows best when oxygen is limited and carbon dioxide is available. In the lab, providing a microaerophilic atmosphere (reduced O2 with increased CO2) and a higher incubation temperature around 42°C aligns with the organism’s natural habitat in poultry and its optimal growth conditions. This combination suppresses many other bacteria that don’t tolerate low oxygen, making recovery more reliable.

So, incubating at 42°C in a microaerophilic atmosphere gives the best chance to recover Campylobacter jejuni. In contrast, ambient air at 37°C exposes it to full oxygen; 25°C in aerobic conditions is too cool for optimum growth; 30°C in anaerobic conditions lacks the necessary, though reduced, oxygen that Campylobacter still requires.