Search Results (70)

Objectives: Norovirus outbreaks occur in densely populated environments, such as long-term care facilities, hospitals, and schools. On 22 October 2022, an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis was reported at a kindergarten in Korea. An epidemiologic investigation was conducted to identify the source of the infection and prevent further spread. Methods: Rectal swab and environmental samples were collected for bacterial and viral testing. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 114 kindergarteners at the kindergarten. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess associations of contact with the primary case, as well as food and water consumption. Results: Of the kindergarteners, 28 out of 114 (24.6%) met the case definition. The primary case occurred on 19 October, and subsequent cases began on 21 October. Sharing the same four-year-old class as the primary case (RR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.35–4.87), being in the same regular class (RR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.27–4.41), being on the same floor during after-school class (RR, 3.49; 95% CI, 1.74–7.00), and attending the same English class (RR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.05–3.72) were statistically significant. Consumption of drinking water on the third floor and fourth floor on 20 October had significantly higher and lower RRs, respectively. Norovirus was detected in 9 out of 18 rectal swab samples (50.0%). Conclusions: This norovirus outbreak at the kindergarten was presumed to have been caused by person-to-person transmission from the primary case. Isolation and restriction of symptomatic children in kindergartens should be thoroughly implemented. Additionally, enhanced surveillance among family members of affected individuals is necessary to prevent further outbreaks. Full article

Rat hepatitis E virus (rat HEV) is an emerging zoonotic virus detected in rodents worldwide, with increasing evidence of presence in environmental sources such as surface water, wastewater and bivalves. This systematic review compiles and analyzes all the published research on rat HEV contamination in these matrices, as well as its implications for human health. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Mendeley, including studies published up until 27 May 2025. Studies were included if they evaluated rat HEV in water- or food-related matrices using molecular detection. The risk of bias was not assessed. The certainty of evidence was not formally evaluated. Limitations include reliance on PCR methods without infectivity confirmation. Following PRISMA inclusion and exclusion criteria, eight eligible studies were analyzed. The results show high detection rates of rat HEV RNA in influent wastewater samples from several high-income European countries, namely Sweden, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Lower detection rates were found in effluent wastewater and surface waters in Sweden. In bivalve mollusks sampled in Brazil, rat HEV RNA was detected in 2.2% of samples. These findings show the widespread environmental presence of rat HEV, particularly in urban wastewater systems. While human infections by rat HEV have been documented, the true extent of rat HEV zoonotic potential remains unclear. Given the risks associated with this environmental rat HEV contamination, enhanced surveillance, standardized detection methods, and targeted monitoring programs in food production and water management systems are essential to mitigate potential public health threats. Establishing such programs will be crucial for understanding the impact of rat HEV on human health. Full article

The growing human population has increased the need for food beyond what terrestrial sources can provide. This boosts aquaculture demand for molluscs, fish, and crustaceans. Molluscs are popular for their nutritional benefits, making them a profitable industry. Despite a 3% annual growth in mollusc populations, recent high mortality rates and population losses due to poor feeding practices and water pollution have made them more disease-prone. Limited treatment options exist for mollusc diseases in aquaculture systems. Hence, developing rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective diagnostic tools for field use is essential to identify and prevent infections promptly. Recently developed isothermal nucleic acid amplification technologies, like loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), offer rapid results within an hour. This review examines these isothermal diagnostic techniques for mollusc pathogens and their potential for field application. Full article

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an emerging infectious disease. HEV-1 and HEV-2 infect humans through contaminated water and foods, mainly in developing countries. HEV-3 and HEV-4 also infect humans through contaminated food and are thought to be zoonotic infections occurring in both developing and developed countries. A vaccine for hepatitis E is licensed in only limited countries. The inactivation of infectious HEV is very important to ensure the safety of drinking water and foods. HEV-3 and HEV-4 RNA have been detected in some pig liver products, and it is possible that these foods may represent an infectious source of HEV. In this article, previous publications on the heat inactivation and heat stability of HEV are collected, and we discuss the present assessment of the heat inactivation of HEV. The thermal stability of HEV infection in cell culture systems and pig bioassays has been demonstrated, while the efficacy of the method of thermal inactivation using plasma products has not yet been established. Here, we propose that the treatment of HEV-contaminated foods at 95 °C for 10 min is one of the safest options for the inactivation of HEV. Full article

In September 2024, the Egyptian Health Ministry declared an Escherichia coli (E. coli) outbreak in the southern province of Aswan. The spread of an ambiguous illness erupted in the village of Abu Al-Rish Bahri, 20 kilometers north of Aswan, with hundreds of citizens arriving at the governorate’s local hospitals suffering from severe gastrointestinal infections. The authorities, however, did not trace the outbreak’s most common source nor determine whether it was food- or water-borne. The official explanations for the frequent cases and the reported fatalities were inconclusive. There was an evident lack of comprehensive documentation on the extent of the infection, the exposed population, the prevalence pattern of the pathogen, or the retrieved E. coli isolates. In addition, the Egyptian government denied any possible association between the contamination of drinking water and the recent Aswan crisis. Challenging the official narrative, this article proposes a scientific report based on featuring the status of E. coli infection in Egypt, highlighting the gaps in the announced outbreak claims and adapting water pollution as an alarming hypothesis for the peculiar Aswan disease. Full article

Animals and humans are frequently infected by bacteria or exposed to bacterial derivatives in contaminated food, drinking water, or air, which significantly impacts their health. Among these bacterial sources, LPS (lipopolysaccharide) is the primary culprit. While it is widely known that LPS can cause liver inflammation and damage in animals, few studies have investigated this mechanism from the perspective of RNA editing. In this study, we administered LPS to mice via gavage to induce a liver injury model. We then used RNA editing omics approaches (RE-seq) to analyze RNA editing events potentially leading to liver inflammation following LPS administration, aiming to reveal the crucial role of RNA editing in LPS-induced processes. At the RNA editing level, we observed significant differences between the LPS group and the control (CON) group. Specifically, we identified 354 differentially edited genes, with 192 upregulated and 162 downregulated. These differentially edited genes were significantly enriched in pathways related to apoptosis, mTOR signaling, oxidative stress, and Nf-Kappa B signaling. By further integrating gene expression profiles and using a nine-quadrant analysis, we identified an important gene, Birc3, which showed significantly higher editing and expression levels in the LPS group. This gene is directly linked to liver inflammation and damage. The RNA editing of Birc3 represents a significant potential mechanism underlying LPS-induced liver damage, providing a novel approach for addressing animal and human health issues. Full article

Feeding is an elementary human need from which we obtain the energy and nutrients necessary for development and survival. Health heavily depends on food, which can be a means of different microbial hazards when contaminated at any stage of the food chain, compromising food safety and consumer health. Fish are considered widely produced foods (fishing or aquaculture) and are marketed worldwide; they are also a basic element of the human diet because they are a source of proteins and lipids. On the other hand, owing to their chemical properties (neutral pH and water activity), fish are highly susceptible to contamination by saprophytic and pathogenic microorganisms related to spoilage and risk to human health. Among the contaminating microorganisms in fish are bacteria of the genus Klebsiella, which are considered important in human and animal health worldwide due to their opportunistic pathogenicity, resistance to various antimicrobials, and association with numerous infections at the community and hospital levels, where foods such as fish and other products can serve as important sources of transmission. Therefore, this document presents a bibliographic review focused on describing, in a general way, the genus Klebsiella and its relationship with human health, aquatic animal health, and the safety of fish and products, as well as laboratory analysis procedures and identification of control and prevention measures of this biological hazard in fish and products to safeguard public health. Full article

Background: Fresh produce such as leafy green salads have recently become recognized as a potential source of food-borne infection by enteric pathogens This study investigated whether compounds released from damaged salad leaves were recognized by Listeria monocytogenes strain EGD and if they impacted its growth and virulence. Methods: The effects of extracts of salad leaves or salad bag fluids were tested on the growth, biofilm formation, and colonization of salad leaves and host cell virulence. Results: The presence of salad extract at a concentration of less than 0.5% v/v and salad bag fluids at a concentration of 10% v/v enhanced the growth in water and serum-based medium by more than 10,000 times over un-supplemented control cultures. Light and scanning electron microscopy, as well as eukaryotic Caco-2 and Galleria mellonella models of infection, showed that leafy green extracts from rocket, lettuce, spinach, and their salad bag fluids significantly increased the ability of Listeria to establish biofilms and infect host cells. Conclusions: This investigation showed that salad leaf extracts can markedly enhance bacterial virulence, which has implications for bagged salad leaf consumer safety if the leaves become contaminated with pathogenic bacteria such as Listeria. Full article

Campylobacteriosis is a leading cause of infectious diarrhea and foodborne illness worldwide. Campylobacter infection is primarily transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food, especially uncooked meat, or untreated water; contact with infected animals or contaminated environments; poultry is the primary reservoir and source of human transmission. The clinical spectrum of Campylobacter jejuni/coli infection can be classified into two distinct categories: gastrointestinal and extraintestinal manifestations. Late complications are reactive arthritis, Guillain–Barré syndrome, and Miller Fisher syndrome. In the pediatric population, the 0–4 age group has the highest incidence of campylobacteriosis. Regarding the use of specific antimicrobial therapy, international guidelines agree in recommending it for severe intestinal infections. Host factors, including malnutrition, immunodeficiency, and malignancy, can also influence the decision to treat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter as a ‘significant public health threat’ due to increasing resistance to FQs or macrolides. Although numerous vaccines have been proposed in recent years to reduce the intestinal colonization of poultry, none have shown sufficient efficacy to provide a definitive solution. Full article

Poor sanitation, improper food handling, limited access to safe drinking water sources, and limited access to healthcare services contribute to a high prevalence of infections caused by soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) among the BaAka Pygmies, an indigenous community living in Central Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the rates of STH infections in the BaAka people inhabiting the rain forests of the south-western parts of the Central African Republic (CAR) as well as to examine the validity of biannual deworming with a single dose of albendazole 400 mg in high-risk communities exposed to extreme environmental conditions. The study was conducted in August 2021 and involved a sample of 49 BaAka Pygmies inhabiting the rain forest of the Sangha-Mbaéré Prefecture, CAR. The study consisted of collecting single stool samples from each participant and examining the samples for intestinal parasites by light microscopy methods. The collected samples were fixed in SAF fixative and next transported from Africa to Europe, where they were analyzed by light microscopy using three different diagnostic methods (direct smear in Lugol’s solution, the Fülleborn’s flotation, the Kato–Katz thick smear) at the Department of Epidemiology and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia, Poland. Microscopic examination found that 61.2% of the study group were infected with at least one helminthic species. The parasitological screening found invasions with four different species of nematodes, of which hookworm invasions were the most prevalent. The study results demonstrated that although the WHO-recommended mass deworming, which is provided to the BaAka Pygmies in healthcare centers set up on the premises of catholic missions, can effectively reduce the number of infections with soil-transmitted helminths, the prevalence of STH infections remains high in the region. The study findings suggest that in order to contain the spread of STHs in the local community, it will be necessary to implement additional preventive measures, apart from only conducting mass deworming programs. Full article

Vegetables are an essential component of a balanced diet. The consumption of ready-to-eat foods may lead to the risk of infections and illnesses due to microbial contamination. To mitigate the potential of microbial contamination risks, it is critical to promote safe handling practices among consumers. In this study, our research evaluated the efficacy of different vegetable washing methods, specifically with lettuce, tomato, and cucumber, to establish optimal practices for reducing microbial contamination. This study consisted of two phases. Initially, a survey was distributed to 150 volunteers using snowball sampling to assess everyday vegetable handling and washing methods. The survey’s results identified four predominant methods: washing with a 5% vinegar solution for 3 min followed by tap water rinse (37.3% of participants), rinsing with tap water for 1 min (29.3%), washing with a 5% salt solution (vegetable soap) for 3 min followed by a tap water rinse (16.6%), and a 3 min tap water rinse (14%). A minor segment (3.33%) reported not washing their vegetables at all. The survey’s findings guided the second phase, which tested the aforementioned washing protocols’ effectiveness in reducing Escherichia coli (E. coli) levels on spiked contaminated salad vegetables. The tested vegetables were sterilized using UV light, inoculated with 0.5 McFarland E. coli, and then washed using the four identified methods. After that, E. coli enumeration after washing was performed using 3M™ Petrifilm and the comparison was analyzed via one-way ANOVA. During this study, it was revealed that the cucumbers had the highest E. coli contamination levels in comparison to the lettuce and tomato after washing. Interestingly, by comparing the three washing methods, it was found that washing the vegetables with vinegar proved to be the most effective solution for reducing microbial presence on both lettuce and cucumbers. Notably, the natural smoothness of tomato skin led to no significant differences in contamination levels across washing methods. In summary, vinegar washing effectively reduces microbial contamination from salad vegetables, highlighting the need for informed consumer practices to prevent foodborne outbreaks. This study emphasizes the importance of monitoring contamination sources and using safe washing techniques. Full article

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) has become increasingly important in recent years in terms of risk for public health, as the main causative agent of acute viral hepatitis. It is a foodborne disease transmitted to humans through the consumption of contaminated water or contaminated food. Human-to-human transmission is sporadic and is linked to transfusions or transplants. The main reservoirs of the hepatitis E virus are domestic pigs and wild boars, although, compared to pigs, wild boars represent a lesser source of risk since their population is smaller and the consumption of derived products is more limited. These peculiarities often make the role of the wild boar reservoir in the spread of the disease underestimated. As a public health problem that involves several animal species and humans, the management of the disease requires an interdisciplinary approach, and the concept of “One Health” must be addressed. In this direction, the present review intends to analyze viral hepatitis E, with a particular focus on wild boar. For this purpose, literature data have been collected from different scientific search engines: PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google scholar, and several keywords such as “HEV epidemiology”, “Extrahepatic manifestations of Hepatitis E”, and “HEV infection control measures”, among others, have been used. In the first part, the manuscript provides general information on the disease, such as epidemiology, transmission methods, clinical manifestations and implications on public health. In the second part, it addresses in more detail the role of wild boar as a reservoir and the implications related to the virus epidemiology. The document will be useful to all those who intend to analyze this infectious disease from a “One-Health” perspective. Full article

The leading cause of hospital-acquired infections worldwide includes Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp. (ESKAPE) infections. These bacteria are commonly isolated from clinical settings and linked to a number of potentially fatal diseases associated with hospitals. The objective of this study was to review the prevalence of ESKAPE pathogens in Africa. We gathered and systematically reviewed the literature concerning the prevalence of ESKAPE pathogens, published in the English language from January 2014 to February 2024, from three databases (PubMed, Web of Science and ScienceDirect). Our overall results revealed that S. aureus was the most prevalent species (79.5%), followed by A. baumannii (27.6%), K. pneumoniae (24.2%), Enterobacter spp. (20%), P. aeruginosa (9.0%), and E. faecium (5.1%). Moreover, stool samples had the highest Pooled Prevalence Estimates (PPEs) of 44.0%, followed by urine, nasal, and blood samples with 37.3%, 26.9%, and 22.9%, respectively. For the diagnostic method used to identify these ESKAPE pathogens, VITEK-MS had the highest PPE of 55.2%, followed by whole genome sequencing and PCR with 37.1% and 33.2%, respectively. The highest PPE of ESKAPE pathogens was recorded in West Africa with 77.3%, followed by Central/Middle Africa and East Africa with 43.5% and 25.1%, respectively. The overall PPE of ESKAPE pathogens from humans, animals, the environment (water, soil, and surfaces) and food sources was 35.8%, 37.3%, 47.7%, and 34.2%, respectively. Despite their prevalence in nosocomial settings, studies have shown that the ESKAPE pathogens may be isolated from a range of environmental reservoirs, including soil, dumping sites, beach sand, wastewater, food, and fish farms, among others. This wide source of ESKAPE pathogens substrates indicates the need for a multidisciplinary collaborative partnership for epidemiological studies and intervention efforts by the human, veterinary, and environmental health sectors in Africa. Full article

There is scant information on Salmonella in indigenous poultry in Nigeria. We investigated the occurrence and characterized Salmonella serovars in indigenous poultry and their drinking water sources to enhance the monitoring of the infection in poultry and to promote public health. We collected 1208 samples, poultry droppings (n = 1108), and water (n = 100) across 15 markets in North Central Nigeria. Salmonella spp. were isolated following World Organisation for Animal Health guidelines. Salmonella spp., confirmed through invA gene detection by a polymerase chain reaction assay, were 6.8% (75/1108) droppings and 3% (3/100) water. Susceptibility testing against 13 antimicrobials showed 60.3% (47/78) susceptibility to all the antimicrobials tested while 14.1% (11/78) were multidrug resistant. Serotyping and whole-genome sequencing were carried out on 44 of the isolates, and 23 different serovars were identified. Genomes of serovars Luedinghausen, Laredo, Widemarsh, and Lansing are being documented in Africa for the first time. Twenty (20) antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene markers encoding for resistance to aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, sulphonamides, quinolones, trimethoprim, penicillins and phenicols were found. Phylogenetic cluster analysis showed close relatedness among isolates from different sources. This study shows both low Salmonella prevalence and AMR, but since uncommon serovars are circulating, continuous monitoring is recommended so as to ensure food safety and poultry health. Full article

The Arcobacteraceae bacterial family includes species isolated from animals and related food products. Moreover, these species have been found in other ecological niches, including water. Some species, particularly Arcobacter butzleri and Arcobacter cryaerophilus, have been isolated from human clinical cases and linked to gastrointestinal symptoms. The presence of antibiotic-resistant strains is a concern for public health, considering the possible zoonoses and foodborne infections caused by contaminated food containing bacteria resistant to antibiotic treatments. This review aims to highlight the importance of antibiotic resistance in Arcobacter spp. isolates from several sources, including information about antibiotic classes to which this bacterium has shown resistance. Arcobacter spp. demonstrated a wide spectrum of antibiotic resistance, including several antibiotic resistance genes. Antibiotic resistance genomic traits include efflux pumps and mutations in antibiotic target proteins. The literature shows a high proportion of Arcobacter spp. that are multidrug-resistant. However, studies in the literature have primarily focused on the evaluation of antibiotic resistance in A. butzleri and A. cryaerophilus, as these species are frequently isolated from various sources. These aspects underline the necessity of studies focused on several Arcobacter species that could potentially be isolated from several sources. Full article