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TropicalMed
Special Issues
The Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Treatment of Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases
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The Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Treatment of Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases

A special issue of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (ISSN 2414-6366). This special issue belongs to the section "One Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 24 October 2025 | Viewed by 5842

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Anita Novak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
2. School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
Interests: Campylobacter spp.; Clostridioides difficile; Salmonella spp.; antimicrobial resistance (AMR); multi-drug-resistant (MDR) pathogens; emerging infectious diseases

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to provide a multidisciplinary perspective and state-of-the-art knowledge on foodborne and waterborne infectious diseases, hoping to add a new dimension to our understanding of these infections.

The growing trend of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in foodborne and waterborne pathogens represents a serious global threat to health and underscores the urgent need for collaborative action by scientists, physicians, public health professionals and policymakers. However, the problem of AMR is far beyond human medicine, and other specialists, such as veterinarians and agricultural specialists, should be included in the concept of One Health.

Original research and review articles related to the occurrence, transmission, pathogenesis, diagnosis, clinical presentation, prevention and treatment, as well as the development of antimicrobial resistance in foodborne and waterborne pathogens are welcome, especially studies aimed at introducing innovative diagnostics approaches (such as whole-genome sequencing) to combat AMR and explore the management of outbreaks caused by emerging foodborne and waterborne pathogens.

Dr. Anita Novak
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • foodborne and waterborne pathogens
  • diagnosis and treatment
  • whole-genome sequencing (WGS)
  • antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multi-drug resistance (MDR)
  • emerging pathogens
  • One Health

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review, Other

10 pages, 215 KiB  
Article
Comparison of AccuPower Diarrhea V1&V2 RT-PCR to a Chromatographic Immunoassay for Detecting Viral Pathogens from Human Diarrheal Stool Specimens
by Luka Katic, Boris Mihaljevic, Marijo Pirija, Ivana Goic-Barisic, Marija Tonkic and Anita Novak
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(2), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10020033 - 24 Jan 2025
Viewed by 900
Abstract
Viruses are a frequent cause of self-limited diarrhea, with more severe outcomes in immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to compare the performance of Real-Time RT-PCR to chromatographic immunoassays (CIAs) for detecting the major gastrointestinal viruses in human stool. This study was conducted at [...] Read more.
Viruses are a frequent cause of self-limited diarrhea, with more severe outcomes in immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to compare the performance of Real-Time RT-PCR to chromatographic immunoassays (CIAs) for detecting the major gastrointestinal viruses in human stool. This study was conducted at the University Hospital of Split, Croatia, from October 2023 to May 2024. Stool samples were simultaneously analyzed with CIA (Acro Biotech Rotavirus and Adenovirus Combo Rapid Test Cassette, USA and JusChek Norovirus Rapid Test Cassette, China) and Real-Time RT-PCR (AccuPower Diarrhea V1&V2 Real-Time RT-PCR, Bioneer, Republic of Korea), according to the manufacturers’ instructions. Positive percent agreement (PPA), negative percent agreement (NPA), and overall percent agreement (OPA) were calculated. For norovirus, CIA had a low PPA (25%), indicating that it missed 75% of norovirus-positive cases identified by RT-PCR. Adenovirus detection by CIA showed poor agreement with RT-PCR (PPA 0%; NPA 100%). Rotavirus detection presented a relatively better performance with CIA (PPA 90.9% and OPA 84.13%). However, the presence of false positives (15.8%) highlights the need for confirmatory RT-PCR testing. One specimen was sapovirus-RT-PCR-positive, marking the first documented case from human specimens in Croatia. Although CIA provided rapid results, limitations regarding reliability highlight the value of RT-PCR, particularly in the case of ambiguous clinical cases with negative antigenic test results and newly emerged viruses. A two-step diagnostic approach, with initial CIA screening followed by confirmatory RT-PCR, could balance cost-effectiveness with diagnostic accuracy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Treatment of Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases)

Review

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18 pages, 1183 KiB  
Review
The Global Challenge of Campylobacter: Antimicrobial Resistance and Emerging Intervention Strategies
by Zubeiru Bukari, Toyin Emmanuel, Jude Woodward, Richard Ferguson, Martha Ezughara, Nikhil Darga and Bruno Silvester Lopes
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10010025 - 16 Jan 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3970
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Campylobacter species, particularly C. jejuni and C. coli, poses a significant public health threat. These bacteria, which are commonly found in livestock, poultry, companion animals, and wildlife, are the leading causes of foodborne illnesses, often transmitted through contaminated [...] Read more.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Campylobacter species, particularly C. jejuni and C. coli, poses a significant public health threat. These bacteria, which are commonly found in livestock, poultry, companion animals, and wildlife, are the leading causes of foodborne illnesses, often transmitted through contaminated poultry. Extensive exposure to antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine creates selection pressure, driving resistance through mechanisms such as point mutations, horizontal gene transfer, and efflux pumps. Resistance to fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and tetracyclines complicates treatment and increases the risk of severe infections. Drug-resistant Campylobacter is transmitted to humans via contaminated food, water, and direct contact with animals, highlighting its zoonotic potential. Addressing this challenge requires effective interventions. Pre-harvest strategies like biosecurity and immune-based methods reduce bacterial loads on farms, while post-harvest measures, including carcass decontamination and freezing, limit contamination. Emerging approaches, such as bacteriocins and natural antimicrobials, offer chemical-free alternatives. Integrated, multidisciplinary interventions across the food chain are essential to mitigate AMR transmission and enhance food safety. Sustainable agricultural practices, antimicrobial stewardship, and innovative solutions are critical to curbing Campylobacter resistance and protecting global public health. Our review examines the dynamics of antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter and presents current strategies to mitigate Campylobacter-related AMR, offering valuable insights for antimicrobial control in the poultry industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Treatment of Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases)
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Other

Jump to: Research, Review

14 pages, 600 KiB  
Case Report
Emergence of Multidrug-Resistant Campylobacter jejuni in a Common Variable Immunodeficiency Patient: Evolution of Resistance Under the Selective Antibiotic Pressure
by Tajana Juzbašić, Nataša Andrijašević, Ivana Ferenčak, Dragan Jurić, Silvija Šoprek, Vlatka Poje Janeš, Ljiljana Žmak, Arjana Tambić Andrašević and Ana Gverić Grginić
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(6), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10060165 - 12 Jun 2025
Viewed by 416
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide which usually presents as mild, and self-limiting disease in immunocompetent individuals. However, in immunocompromised patients, such as those with common variable immunodeficiency, C. jejuni can cause severe recurrent infections requiring antibiotic treatment. Our [...] Read more.
Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide which usually presents as mild, and self-limiting disease in immunocompetent individuals. However, in immunocompromised patients, such as those with common variable immunodeficiency, C. jejuni can cause severe recurrent infections requiring antibiotic treatment. Our study reports a case of a 37-year-old male patient with CVID, who had multiple episodes of C. jejuni intestinal infections over a 3.5-year period. A total of 27 stool samples were collected and analyzed between December 2020 and July 2024 during acute febrile diarrheal episodes, with C. jejuni isolated in 15 samples. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) during the course of the disease revealed three different antimicrobial resistance profiles including multi-drug-resistant phenotype. Whole genome sequencing was performed on three representative isolates, all identified as MLST type 367, ST-257 complex, with minimal genetic divergence, indicating a clonal origin. Genes and point mutations conferring resistance to macrolides, fluoroquinolones, beta-lactams, and tetracycline were identified in different C. jejuni isolates, along with key virulence factors linked to adherence, invasion, motility, and immune evasion. The genetic analysis of macrolide phenotypic resistance revealed different resistance mechanisms. Genotypic and phenotypic analyses of the same C. jejuni clone from single patient, and identified multidrug resistance pattern, present the first documented case of in vivo resistance development of C. jejuni in Croatia. This case highlights the role of prolonged antibiotic pressure in driving resistance evolution and underscores the need for careful antimicrobial stewardship and genomic monitoring in immunocompromised patients. Further research is needed to correlate phenotypic resistance with genetic determinants in Campylobacter spp. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Treatment of Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases)
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