Campylobacter [Gk, campylos, curved, bakterion, small staff] , a genus of bacteria found in the family Spirillaceae. The organisms consist of gram-negative, non–spore-forming, spirally curved motile rods that have a single polar flagellum at either or both ends of the cell. They move in a characteristic coillike motion. The organisms are microaerophiles, requiring little or no oxygen for growth. The type species is C. fetus, which consists of several subspecies that cause human infections, as well as abortion and infertility in cattle. Also called Vibrio fetus.
