Campylobacter jejuni in coccoid form does not reverse into spiral form in chicken guts.

The incubation of Campylobacter jejuni suspension in aerobic conditions results in the conversion of spiral cells into coccoid form. The present paper shows that such forms introduced into the alimentary tract of two-day-old chicks are not able to convert back into cultivable, infectious spiral forms, as has been suggested by some authors. Technical problems connected with this type of experiment are also discussed.