Use of a Candle Jar for Incubating Campylobacter jejuni

Abstract

The candle jar is one of the systems used to provide an atmosphere of approximately 17–19% oxygen and 2–4% CO₂ ² suitable for the isolation of Campylobacters. Previous studies have compared the candle jar with other systems for the isolation of Campylobacters ^1,3,4, The purpose of this study was to use the candle jar for optimising the growth of C.jejuni by changing the number of plates in the candle jar and by the use of selective media, with or without FBP supplement, at different incubation temperatures (37 and 42°C). A standard inoculum from normal faeces was added to the plated to mimic natural feacal flora and in order to reduce the oxygen tension in the candle jar.