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Page No. : 32-42

ABSTRACT

Food-borne infections continue to rise worldwide, and Campylobacter species have emerged as one of the primary causes of bacterial gastroenteritis, accounting for an estimated 400-500 million diarrhea cases each year. Poultry meat is considered the principal mode of transmission, representing 60-80 percent of Campylobacteriosis infections globally. This review covers the epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and virulence factors of Campylobacter spp. It emphasizes the significant public health and economic burden posed by these diseases, particularly given the growing resistance to important antimicrobials, including fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and tetracyclines. Epidemiological findings indicate the rise of multidrug-resistant strains and varying resistance profiles influenced by factors such as antibiotic use in animal husbandry. Furthermore, the review explores the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance (e.g., target gene mutations, efflux pump overexpression, plasmid-mediated gene transfer) and details key virulence factors (motility, adhesion, invasion, and toxin production) that enhance the pathogen s ability to cause disease.

Keywords: AMR, Campylobacter, Chicken meat, virulence factors