Category Archives: Pathogen

USA – Hawaii – E.coli O157 Outbreak

Posted on March 29, 2013 by KSW | 1 comment

Lisa Kubota of Hawaii News Now reports that investigators with the Hawaii Department of Health are looking into at least nine people have now become ill from E. coli O157:H7. The confirmed cases consist of three adults and six children. All of them live on Oahu except for a Canadian visitor who spent time on Oahu, but was later diagnosed on the Big Island. Officials are having trouble pinpointing the source of the infections.

Oahu healthcare providers recently received a letter from health officials warning them to be on the lookout for E. coli O157:H7. Around the same time, Dr. James Ireland saw a 67-year-old patient with symptoms like severe diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Ireland said the man is now recovering after being hospitalized. There have been a total of 11 cases so far this year, including two unrelated to the current cluster. There were 20 last year, 9 the previous year, and 29 in 2010.

According to the state, three of the children in this latest group developed a life-threatening complication called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

Tagged health, science

European Research – Afaltoxins – Cereals and Cereal Derived Products

Posted on March 28, 2013 by KSW | Leave a comment

EFSA

An ad-hoc request was received from the European Commission to provide data on levels of aflatoxins

(sum of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2) in food samples of cereals and cereal-derived products from the

EFSA chemical occurrence database.

A total of 2183 food samples collected between 2007 and 2012, and with analytical data on the four

aflatoxins of interest, were available in the database. Among the samples, 1341 corresponded to

cereals and their milling products and 842 to processed cereal products. Rice (636 samples) and

breakfast cereals (346 samples) were the categories with the highest number of samples reported.

Some 1964 samples (90%) did not report quantified values for any of the four aflatoxins.

For cereals and their milling products, the maximum mean value at Lower Bound (LB) was found in

samples of unspecified grain milling products (2.21 μg/kg) while the maximum mean value at Upper

Bound (UB) was found in oat milling products (2.60 μg/kg). For processed cereal products the

maximum mean value at the LB was found in fine bakery wares (0.45 μg/kg), while the maximum

mean value at the UB was found in raw pasta (1.87 μg/kg).

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Posted in Aflatoxin, EFSA, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Microbiology, Moulds, Mycotoxin, Pathogen, Research

Tagged breakfast cereals, cereal products, food, grain milling, occurrence database

USA – Publix Recall Salad – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on March 27, 2013 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Journal

Publix Super Markets is issuing a voluntary recall for Publix Deli Tri Fruit and Grain Salad since it may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. Publix received notification of the potential contamination from their supplier, Allison’s Gourmet Kitchens. Publix Deli Tri Fruit and Grain Salad, UPC # 41415-39662, was distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. Product was sold in pre-packaged 12 ounce containers, and this recall involves all product sold with use by dates of 4/5/2013, 4/14/2013 and 4/17/2013.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

Research – Cranberry Antimicrobial – Multiple PCR for Pathogens

Posted on March 27, 2013 by KSW | Leave a comment

Science Direct

The antimicrobial properties of the American cranberry were studied against Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus to determine the effects on growth inhibition, membrane permeability, and injury. Cranberry powder was separated using a C-18 Sep-Pak cartridge into sugars plus organic acids (F1), monomeric phenolics (F2), and anthocyanins plus proanthocyanidins (F3). Fraction 3 was further separated into anthocyanins (F4) and proanthocyanidins (F5) using an LH-20 Sephadex column. Each fraction was diluted in the brain heart infusion (BHI) broth to determine the minimum inhibitory/bactericidal concentrations (MIC/MBC). L. monocytogenes was the most susceptible to cranberry fraction treatment with the lowest MIC/MBC for each treatment, followed by E. coli O157:H7 and L. rhamnosus. Membrane permeability and potential was studied using LIVE/DEAD viability assay and using Bis (1, 3-dibutylbarbituric acid) trimethine oxonol (DiBAC₄), respectively. L. rhamnosus demonstrated the highest permeability followed by E. coli O157:H7, and L. monocytogenes. L. rhamnosus demonstrated the highest recovery followed by E. coli O157:H7, and L. monocytogenes. Each cranberry fraction demonstrated membrane hyperpolarization at their native pH, while F2, F3, and F5 demonstrated membrane depolarization at neutral pH. With this knowledge cranberry compounds may be used to prevent maladies and potentially substitute for synthetic preservatives and antibiotics.

Science Direct

We developed a rapid and reliable technique for simultaneous detection of Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes that can be used in food products. Magnetic nano-beads (MNBs) based immunomagnetic separation (IMS) was used to separate the target bacterial cells while multiplex PCR (mPCR) was used to amplify the target genes. To detect only the viable bacteria, propidium monoazide (PMA) was applied to selectively suppress the DNA detection from dead cells. The results showed the detection limit of IMS-PMA-mPCR assay was about 10² CFU/ml (1.2 × 10² CFU/ml for S. Typhimurium, 4.0 × 10² CFU/ml for E. coli O157:H7 and 5.4 × 10² CFU/ml for L. monocytogenes) in pure culture and 10³ CFU/g (5.1 × 10³ CFU/g for S. Typhimurium, 7.5 × 10³ CFU/g for E. coli O157:H7 and 8.4 × 10³ CFU/g for L. monocytogenes) in spiking food products samples (lettuce, tomato and ground beef). This report has demonstrated for the first time, the effective use of rapid and reliable IMS combined with PMA treatment and mPCR assay for simultaneous detection of viable S. Typhimurium, E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes in spiked food samples. It is anticipated that the present approach will be applicable to simultaneous detection of the three target microorganisms for practical use.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella

Tagged food, science

USA Research – Microbiology of RTE Foods In University Canteens – Control of Pathogens on Fresh Cut Fruit

Posted on March 27, 2013 by KSW | Leave a comment

Science Direct –

During a 10-year inspection survey (2001–2010), a microbiological study of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods and ready-to-bake frozen pastries from 15 canteens of the university campus was undertaken to determine their microbiological quality. The cumulative study revealed that the aerobic colony counts for the RTE product groups were as follows: from 10⁶ to 10⁸ CFU/g for 50% of sandwiches; under the detection limit (<10 CFU/g) for 88.6% of oven baked pastries; <10⁵ CFU/g for 86.5% of desserts oven baked; from 10³ to 10⁹ CFU/g for desserts with dairy cream. The highest mean Enterobacteriaceae counts were recorded for desserts with dairy cream. The highest percentages of foodborne pathogens were: 20% Listeria monocytogenes and 12.5% Staphylococcus aureus in desserts with dairy cream; 17.5% Salmonella spp. and 8.5% presumptive Escherichia coli O157 in sandwiches; 14.6% Bacillus cereus in oven baked pastries. Aerobic colony counts were in the range 10⁷–10⁸ CFU/g for 48.8% of frozen pastries; whereas Enterobacteriaceae counts between 10³ and 10⁴ CFU/g were detected in 35.3%. Foodborne pathogens prevalences for frozen pastries were as follows: B. cereus, 31.8%; Salmonella spp., 28.6%; presumptive E. coli O157, 25%; S. aureus, 8.7%; L. monocytogenes, 8.7%. Improved sanitary conditions in the processing plants and precautionary measures are necessary for consumer protection.

Science Direct

The consumption of fresh-cut fruit has substantially risen over the last few years, leading to an increase in the number of outbreaks associated with fruit. Moreover, consumers are currently demanding wholesome, fresh-like, safe foods without added chemicals. As a response, the aim of this study was to determine if the naturally occurring microorganisms on fruit are “competitive with” or “antagonistic to” potentially encountered pathogens. Of the 97 and 107 isolates tested by co-inoculation with Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella and Listeria innocua on fresh-cut apple and peach, respectively, and stored at 20 °C, seven showed a strong antagonistic capacity (more than 1-log unit reduction). One of the isolates, CPA-7, achieved the best reduction values (from 2.8 to 5.9-log units) and was the only isolate able to inhibit E. coli O157:H7 at refrigeration temperatures on both fruits. Therefore, CPA-7 was selected for further assays. Dose-response assays showed that CPA-7 should be present in at least the same amount as the pathogen to adequately reduce the numbers of the pathogen. From the results obtained in in vitro assays, competition seemed to be CPA-7’s mode of action against E. coli O157:H7. The CPA-7 strain was identified as Pseudomonas graminis. Thus, the results support the potential use of CPA-7 as a bioprotective agent against foodborne pathogens in minimally processed fruit.

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Posted in Bacillus, Bacillus cereus, Bacteria, E.coli, Food Hygiene, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Microbiology, Pathogen, Pseudomonas, Research, Salmonella

Tagged bacillus cereus, food, science

India – 200 Ill at Temple Festival

Posted on March 27, 2013 by KSW | Leave a comment

The Hindu

About 2,000 people take meal during temple festivities in Pamarru mandal

Around two hundred people from five villages in Pamarru mandal were taken ill after they consumed contaminated food during a religious ceremony on Sunday afternoon. Most of the victims were children and had symptoms of diarrhoea vomiting sensation.

While there were no casualties, three major medical camps were organised on Monday around Pamarru to screen people from all the villages.

On being informed about the rising number of cases by midnight, the Medical and Health Department staff set up three camps late on Sunday. District Epidemic Rapid Response Team also began identifying new cases among others who had consumed the food. An estimated 2,000 people had taken the meal during Lord Venkateswara ‘kalyanam’ festivities at Parishepalli village temple in Pamarru mandal. The apparent cause for food poisoning was mixing of contaminated water in the curd .

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Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen

Tagged environment, science

USA – FDA Guidence – Ciguatera Food Posioning

Posted on March 27, 2013 by KSW | Leave a comment

FDA

FDA Announces Draft Guidance for Primary Seafood Processors Who Purchase Reef Fish and Identifies Lionfish as a Potential Risk for Ciguatera Fish Poisoning

March 26, 2013

FDA is announcing the availability of draft guidance recommending that primary seafood processors who purchase reef fish such as grouper, amberjack, snapper, lionfish, king mackerel, and barracuda take steps to minimize consumers’ risk of ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) from the fish they distribute. The draft guidance complements FDA’s existing advice on preventing CFP, which is contained in the Fourth Edition of the Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guidance (2011) (Guide), by identifying two species of lionfish (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) as additional reef fish associated with the risk of CFP.

CFP is caused by consuming fish that have eaten toxic marine algae or that have eaten other fish containing the toxins. The toxins accumulate in the flesh of reef dwelling fish, with higher CFP levels predominately found in predatory species, which are then harvested either commercially or by recreational fishermen. Consumers who eat fish that contain ciguatoxin are at risk for contracting CFP.

Primary seafood processors can minimize the risk of CFP by not purchasing fish that are likely to carry ciguatoxins. The Guide recommends that primary seafood processors who purchase fish directly from fishermen obtain information about harvest locations to determine the potential for ciguatoxic fish based on knowledge of the regions where ciguatera occurs. The draft guidance states that primary seafood processors should avoid purchasing fish species associated with causing CFP from established or emerging areas linked with CFP.

After the guidance is finalized, future updates of the Guide will include the two species of lionfish as reef fish for which measures to prevent CFP should be in place.

All interested parties are invited to comment on the draft guidance.

For Additional Information:

Draft Guidance for Industry: Purchasing Reef Fish Species Associated with the Hazard of Ciguatera Fish Poisoning

Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guidance, Fourth Edition (2011)

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Posted in Ciguatera Poisoning, FDA, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Poisoning

Research – Pathogen Tracking Data Base – Clostridium perfringens spores

Posted on March 27, 2013 by KSW | Leave a comment

Science Direct –

Investigation of foodborne diseases requires the capture and analysis of time-sensitive information on microbial pathogens that is derived from multiple analytical methods and sources. The web-based Pathogen-annotated Tracking Resource Network (PATRN) system (www.patrn.net) was developed to address the data aggregation, analysis, and communication needs important to the global food safety community for the investigation of foodborne disease. PATRN incorporates a standard vocabulary for describing isolate metadata and provides a representational schema for a prototypic data exchange standard using a novel data loading wizard for aggregation of assay and attribution information. PATRN currently houses expert-curated, high-quality “foundational datasets” consisting of published experimental results from conventional assays and next generation analysis platforms for isolates of Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio and Cronobacter species. A suite of computational tools for data mining, clustering, and graphical representation is available. Within PATRN, the public curated data repository is complemented by a secure private workspace for user-driven analyses, and for sharing data among collaborators. To demonstrate the data curation, loading wizard features, and analytical capabilities of PATRN, three use-case scenarios are presented. Use-case scenario one is a comparison of the distribution and prevalence of plasmid-encoded virulence factor genes among 249 Cronobacter strains with similar attributes to that of nine Cronobacter isolates from recent cases obtained between March and October, 2010–2011. To highlight PATRN’s data management and trend finding tools, analysis of datasets, stored in PATRN as part of an ongoing surveillance project to identify the predominant molecular serogroups among Cronobacter sakazakii isolates observed in the USA is shown. Use-case scenario two demonstrates the secure workspace available for private users to upload and analyze sensitive data, and for collating cross-platform datasets to identify and validate congruent datapoints. SNP datasets from WGS assemblies and pan-genome microarrays are analyzed in a combinatorial fashion to determine relatedness of 33 Salmonella enterica strains to six strains collected as part of an outbreak investigation. Use-case scenario three utilizes published surveillance results that describe the incidence and sources of O157:H7 E. coli isolates associated with a produce pre-harvest surveillance study that occurred during 2002–2006. In summary, PATRN is a web-based integrated platform containing tools for the management, analysis and visualization of data about foodborne pathogens.

Science Direct –

The contamination of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens spores on food contact surfaces posses a serious concern to food industry due to their high resistance to various preservation methods typically applied to control foodborne pathogens. In this study, we aimed to develop an strategy to inactivate C. perfringens spores on stainless steel (SS) surfaces by inducing spore germination and killing of germinated spores with commonly used disinfectants. The mixture of l-Asparagine and KCl (AK) induced maximum spore germination for all tested C. perfringens food poisoning (FP) and non-foodborne (NFB) isolates. Incubation temperature had a major impact on C. perfringens spore germination, with 40 °C induced higher germination than room temperature (RT) (20 ± 2 °C). In spore suspension, the implementation of AK-induced germination step prior to treatment with disinfectants significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced the inactivation of spores of FP strain SM101. However, under similar conditions, no significant spore inactivation was observed with NFB strain NB16. Interestingly, while the spores of FP isolates were able to germinate with AK upon their adhesion to SS chips, no significant germination was observed with spores of NFB isolates. Consequently, the incorporation of AK-induced germination step prior to decontamination of SS chips with disinfectants significantly (p < 0.05) inactivated the spores of FP isolates. Collectively, our current results showed that triggering spore germination considerably increased sporicidal activity of the commonly used disinfectants against C. perfringens FP spores attached to SS chips. These findings should help in developing an effective strategy to inactivate C. perfringens spores adhered to food contact surfaces.