Trends in the incidence of salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis in the Czech Republic

Salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis are the most frequently reported acute enteric diseases of infectious origin in the Czech Republic. Epidemiological data on salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis have been reportable in this country since 1951 and 1984, respectively. In 2003, 53,486 cases of acute enteric infections were reported: 26,899 (52%) diagnosed as salmonellosis and 20,063 (almost 40%) diagnosed as campylobacteriosis. In 1989, the annual incidence of salmonellosis was three times as high as in the previous year, the upward trend continued until 1995 (528/100,000) and since 1998 the salmonellosis incidence rates have been declining. The incidence of campylobacteriosis showed a progressive increase since 1984 to peak in 2002 with a following slight decline in 2003. Morbidity from salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis is highest in the age group 0-4-year-olds. The most frequent causative agents are Salmonella Enteritidis (96%) and Campylobacter jejuni, respectively. Both infections are foodborne. Ready-to-eat meals, poultry, confectionery and eggs seem to be most frequently implicated in outbreaks of salmonellosis in public catering and families. Sporadic cases of campylobacteriosis are mostly associated with ingestion of poultry and chopped meat. The incidence rates of these two infections are positively correlated with the average daily temperatures.