Eosinophilic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis after ingestion of raw frogs.
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Angiostrongylus cantonensis is the most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis in humans after ingestion of raw or inadequately cooked intermediate hosts or food contaminated with infective third-stage larvae. Frogs are known to be a paratenic host of A. cantonensis, but have never been reported as the infectious source of human angiostrongyliasis in Taiwan. We report the first case of eosinophilic meningitis caused by A. cantonensis after ingestion of raw frogs (Rana plancyi). (+info)
High prevalence of unusual genotypes of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pork meat samples from Erechim, Southern Brazil.
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Toxoplasmosis is the most common cause of infectious uveitis in Brazil, with a higher frequency in the South of the country. We have collected samples from porcine tongue and diaphragm obtained in both large and small abattoirs and used molecular biological technique to determine the prevalence of infection and RFLP analysis to type the parasites. Seventeen out of 50 (34%) samples from the diaphragm and 33 out of 50 (66%) samples from the tongue demonstrated a positive PCR reaction for T. gondii and restriction analysis of four of the positive samples revealed that all had a type I genotype at SAG2. However, when other unlinked loci were analyzed, these strains had a type III genotype at markers BTUB, SAG3, and GRA6. One of the strains (8T) had a type II allele at SAG3, indicating it has a combination of alleles normally seen in the clonal lineages. Our sampling indicates a high prevalence of infection and suggests that unusual genotypes of T. gondii are found in Brazil even among domesticated pigs. (+info)
Preliminary FoodNet data on the incidence of infection with pathogens transmitted commonly through food--10 states, 2006.
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Foodborne illnesses are a substantial health burden in the United States. The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) of CDC's Emerging Infections Program collects data from 10 U.S. states regarding diseases caused by enteric pathogens transmitted commonly through food. FoodNet quantifies and monitors the incidence of these infections by conducting active, population-based surveillance for laboratory-confirmed illnesses. This report describes preliminary surveillance data for 2006 and compares them with baseline data from the period 1996-1998. Incidence of infections caused by Campylobacter, Listeria, Shigella, and Yersinia has declined since the baseline period. Incidence of infections caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 (STEC O157) and Salmonella, however, did not decrease significantly, and Vibrio infections have increased, indicating that further measures are needed to prevent foodborne illness and achieve national health objectives. (+info)
Evaluation of two DNA template preparation methods for post-immunomagnetic separation detection of Cryptosporidium parvum in foods and beverages by PCR.
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Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts were recovered by immunomagnetic separation from six artificially contaminated foods. Two DNA isolation methods were subsequently evaluated by PCR. The FTA Concentrator-PS filter provided rapid and reproducible detection, although variability increased at lower inoculum levels (88% and 15% detection in high- and low-inoculum-level samples, respectively). Total DNA extraction generated consistent results at all oocyst levels but resulted in longer analysis time (100% and 59% detection in high- and low-inoculum-level samples, respectively). Also reflected in this study was that the matrix played an important role in the ability to recover oocysts, as sample turbidity, pH, and PCR inhibitors all influenced detection. (+info)
An outbreak of cryptosporidiosis suspected to be related to contaminated food, October 2006, Sakai City, Japan.
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On October 17, 2006, the Sakai City Public Health Center received a report of acute gastroenteritis among 4 members from the same company who had eaten raw meat dish called "Yukke: Korean-style beef tartar" and raw liver at a rotisserie in Sakai City on October 7. Based on information from interviews, the median incubation period was 5.5 (range, 5-7 days), and the median length of illness was 7 days (range, 4-10 days). The illness was characterized by a prolonged incubation period, non-bloody watery diarrhea, reduced vomiting, and light fever, which led us to suspect an enteric protozoan infection. Stool specimens obtained from 3 of the 4 symptomatic patients were positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts. They, along with 2 food workers, were negative for food poisoning bacteria or Norovirus. Genotyping of the Cryptosporidium isolates by direct sequencing of PCR products revealed that all the isolates were the C. parvum genotype II (bovine) and the subgenotype of IIa with 100 % homology with respective 18S rRNA and Cpgp40/15 genes. Positive implementation of tests for enteric protozoa including Cryptosporidium is necessary in the differential diagnosis of suspected foodborne gastroenteritis, particularly when it is characterized by a prolonged incubation period and severe watery diarrhea. In fact, we were able to diagnose the illness as cryptosporidiosis without waiting for the results of bacteriological and virological examinations, and thus prevented the possible occurrence of a secondary infection through an ill patient who works as cooking personnel in the company. (+info)
Preliminary FoodNet data on the incidence of infection with pathogens transmitted commonly through food--10 states, 2007.
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The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) of CDC's Emerging Infections Program collects data from 10 U.S. states regarding diseases caused by pathogens commonly transmitted through food. FoodNet quantifies and monitors the incidence of these infections by conducting active, population-based surveillance for laboratory-confirmed infections. This report describes preliminary surveillance data for 2007 and compares them with data for previous years. In 2007, the estimated incidence of infections caused by Campylobacter, Listeria, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 (STEC O157), Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio, and Yersinia did not change significantly, and Cryptosporidium infections increased compared with 2004-2006. Progress toward the targets for Healthy People 2010 national health objectives and targets regarding the incidence of foodborne infections occurred before 2004; however, none of the targets were reached in 2007. Salmonella incidence was the furthest from its national health target, suggesting that reaching this target will require new approaches. (+info)
Opisthorchiasis in Thailand: review and current status.
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Opisthorchiasis caused by Opisthorchis viverrini (O. viverrini) remains a major public health problem in many parts of Southeast Asia including Thailand, Lao PDR, Vietnam and Cambodia. The infection is associated with a number of hepatobiliary diseases, including cholangitis, obstructive jaundice, hepatomegaly, cholecystitis, chole-lithiasis and cholangiocarcinoma. The liver fluke infection was induced by eating raw or uncooked fish products that is the tradition and popular in the northeastern and northern region, particularly in rural areas of Thailand. Health education programs to prevent and control opisthorchiasis are still required in high-risk areas. (+info)