Authorities announced that norovirus is the culprit behind the hospitalization of hundreds of people in the western province of Bilecik in recent weeks. An investigation found out that the virus, whose symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and stomachache, originated from city’s drinking water. Health Ministry crews discovered that unfiltered water from a spring had contaminated drinking water supplies to the city of more than 228,000 people.
Posted in Contaminated water, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Virus, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Norovirus, outbreak, Virus, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety
The National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) is still a relatively young organisation but we are proud of what we have achieved since our formation in late 2017. We were funded through UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) by BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council), Innovate UK and the Hartree Centre as an Innovation Knowledge Centre (IKC) to support and connect the biofilm community in industry and academia.
Biofilms are communities of microorganisms (often multiple species) within an extracellular matrix associated with a surface; this allows them to communicate and collectively behave very differently to individual organisms. Biofilms have a role to play across multiple industrial sectors in terms of both the problems they present and opportunities they offer. In respect to human health and food they can, for example, potentiate the emergence of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, antiseptics and disinfectants. From farm to fork they have a role to play in the health of soils, plants and animals; in addition they impact on food processing and then subsequently on supply chain safety (particularly for ready to eat or chilled produce).
For example, Listeria monocytogenes, a pathogenic bacterium found in moist environments, soil, water, decaying vegetation and animals, can survive and even grow under refrigeration and other food preservation measures. It can cause food poisoning if ingested and due to the severity of infection and high case fatality rate, listeriosis is an important public health concern. A high level of vigilance is maintained in food manufacturing environments for the occurrence of this organism. There were 142 cases of food borne listeriosis in the UK in 2019 resulting in 23 deaths plus eight miscarriages or stillbirths.
Listeria monocytogenes typifies the problems that biofilm modality imparts to organisms in that when it grows within a biofilm, it is very difficult to detect, remove and destroy. When measures relating to its control go wrong, this can lead to significant human health issues, adverse impacts on the food sector’s reputation and significant economic costs. As recently as July 2021, Tyson Foods in the USA recalled nationally almost 4100 tonnes of ready-to-eat chicken products after finding they may have been contaminated with Listeria. The US Department of Agriculture announced the recall a month after two consumers reported falling ill with listeriosis. Further investigation revealed one death.
Posted in Biofilm, Contaminated water, Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Research, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety
In July 2021, the Legionella Control Association (LCA), in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Public Health England (PHE) and local authorities, held a webinar aimed at raising awareness of increasing Legionella positivity rates post lockdown. The data demonstrated that the average positive rate in the UK had increased by around 2% following the lockdowns in response to COVID-19.
To investigate if there were particular species that could have led to this increase, LCA approached the three commercial laboratories in the UK that use MALDI-ToF to confirm down to species level, and asked if they would share their data. This information has now been returned by some laboratories, with findings from over 70,000 positive result samples in a two-year period revealing:
The first line clinical diagnostic tool used to confirm Legionnaire’s disease in the UK is commonly a urinary antigen test (UAT), and this method looks predominantly for L. pneumophilia SeroGroup 1. Given the data LCA has provided so far, this could potentially mean missing over 70% of Legionella infections in patients. It should be highlighted that this data is in its infancy, and LCA state that further research needs to take place before any significant changes are considered or undertaken.
Source: LCA, January 2022
Posted in Contaminated water, Cooling Towers, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, L. pneumophilia, Legionella, Legionella anisa, Legionella rubilucens, Legionnaires’ disease, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Research, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety
Legionella pneumophila is the causative agent of Legionnaires’ disease, a severe pneumonia. Cooling towers are a major source of large outbreaks of the disease. The growth of L. pneumophila in these habitats is influenced by the resident microbiota. Consequently, the aim of this study was to isolate and characterize bacterial species from cooling towers capable of inhibiting several strains of L. pneumophila and one strain of L. quinlivanii. Two cooling towers were sampled to isolate inhibiting bacterial species. Seven inhibitory isolates were isolated, through serial dilution plating and streaking on agar plates, belonging to seven distinct species. The genomes of these isolates were sequenced to identify potential genetic elements that could explain the inhibitory effect. The results showed that the bacterial isolates were taxonomically diverse and that one of the isolates may be a novel species. Genome analysis showed a high diversity of antimicrobial gene products identified in the genomes of the bacterial isolates. Finally, testing different strains of Legionella demonstrated varying degrees of susceptibility to the antimicrobial activity of the antagonistic species. This may be due to genetic variability between the Legionella strains. The results demonstrate that though cooling towers are breeding grounds for L. pneumophila, the bacteria must contend with various antagonistic species. Potentially, these species could be used to create an inhospitable environment for L. pneumophila, and thus decrease the probability of outbreaks occurring. View Full-Text
Posted in Contaminated water, Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Legionella, Legionnaires’ disease, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Research, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety
Our experts identified a lack of guidance on how to conduct risk assessments for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) and other opportunistic waterborne pathogens other than Legionella. To fill that gap, BS 8580-2 is a new British Standard recommending a PA risk assessment process and supplying information and support on how to understand microbial hazards, prioritize actions and minimize risks.
BS 8580-2 on risk assessments for pseudomonas aeruginosa applies in all types of healthcare provision, including hospitals, and care, nursing and residential homes, together with other settings where water systems and associated equipment can pose a risk. This can include in the educational, travel, industrial, leisure and beauty sectors, including health spas, nail bars and tattoo parlours.
Users of BS 8580-2 will be building and design engineers and architects; providers of fittings, outlets and components for water systems; installers and commissioners; risk assessors; regulatory bodies; building services engineers; water treatment consultants; travel, leisure and other relevant buildings owners and operators; and those responsible for the safe management of water systems, especially within leisure centres, schools, swimming pools, passenger vessels, spa pools, hot tubs etc.
BS 8580-2 will also interest clinicians, microbiologists, augmented care specialists and infection controllers in healthcare.
BS 8580-2 gives recommendations and guidance on how to carry out risk assessments for pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) and other waterborne pathogens whose natural habitat is within constructed water systems and the aqueous environment (autochthonous), rather than those present as a result of a contamination event. It includes those pathogens that can colonize and grow within water systems and the associated environment.
BS 8580-2 also covers risk assessments of distributed water systems and associated equipment, system components and fittings as well as above ground drainage systems. It covers PA risk assessment reviews and reassessments where a previous assessment has been undertaken and risk factors identified. It takes account of all relevant environmental and clinical factors and aspects of human behaviour leading to contamination events. It considers risk factors within the associated environment leading to conditions which can encourage the colonization and growth of waterborne pathogens and transfer of antibiotic resistance.
NOTE: BS 8580-2 does not cover risk assessments for Legionella spp.; these are covered in BS 8580-1, or risk assessments for enteric microorganisms derived from human or animal faecal contamination or sewage ingress.
You should use BS 8580-2 on risk assessments for pseudomonas aeruginosa because:
BS 8580-2 contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 on good health and well-being and Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.
Posted in Contaminated water, Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Pseudomonas, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety
Hundreds of books and textbook chapters, and thousands of journal review articles, have been published on Legionnaires’ disease and Legionella spp. bacteria over the past 45 years, making it important to decide whether this new and quite expensive compilation of reviews is worth acquiring (Figure). The field has become so specialized that even those who know one aspect of it may need a good review of other aspects to easily catch up on recent trends. The book contains chapters on the freshwater ecology of the bacterium; molecular and pathogenic aspects of virulence-associated bacterial secretion systems; very selected aspects of epidemiology; clinical aspects and treatment; laboratory diagnosis; and strain typing methods from serologic to whole-genome sequencing. Some chapters are more current than others. The most recent references for several chapters were published in 2016, and only 1 chapter cites references published in 2020. The book is lightly edited; some of the chapters contain overlapping material, but overall it has few typographical or spelling errors. Not all of the figures are properly labeled; for example, the figure legends in chapter 6 are reversed, and not all of the figure legends in chapter 3 fully explain the meanings of different colors and abbreviations.
I found that several of the chapters contained quite useful information that would be hard to find elsewhere, including a thorough review of L. pneumophila virulence secretory systems, as well as a review of the freshwater ecology of the bacterium, the clinical microbiology and clinical significance of Legionella spp. other than L. pneumophila, and regulatory and risk management strategies for control of the disease. Other readers, depending on their fields of interest and expertise, will find other chapters of particular interest. The chapter on non–whole-genome sequencing methods for strain typing for epidemiologic investigation is well done and could be of interest for those trying to dissect the older literature. Missing from the book, presumably by design, are a chapter reviewing in detail the ecology of the bacterium in the built environment, practical guidance on outbreak investigation, advanced techniques in epidemiologic source investigation, molecular and cellular pathogenesis other than secretion systems, and the molecular evolution of the bacterium, all of which can be found in other sources.
Is this book good value for money? Perhaps not for those who have a narrow interest in a specific field, because there are more up-to-date reviews on many of the topics in journal articles and some textbooks. For those who want to gain an overview of the topics covered in the book, some of which are more comprehensive than those found in textbooks or recent reviews, this may be a useful addition to their libraries.
Posted in Contaminated water, Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Legionella, Legionnaires’ disease, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Research, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety
The risk of foodborne parasite infection linked to the consumption of contaminated fresh produce has long been known. However, despite epidemiological links between the outbreaks and contaminated berries, few studies have assessed the magnitude of parasite contamination on fresh produce sold in Europe. The present study was aimed to address the knowledge gap on parasite contamination of berries sold in Norway. Samples of blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries were analysed by multiplex qPCR for detection of Echinococcus multilocularis, Toxoplasma gondii, and Cyclospora cayetanensis. In addition, a simplex qPCR method was employed for detecting contamination of the berries with Cryptosporidium spp. A total of 820 samples of berries, each of around 30 g (274 samples of blueberries, 276 samples of raspberries, and 270 samples of strawberries), were analysed. We found an overall occurrence of 2.9%, 6.6%, and 8.3% for T. gondii, C. cayetanensis, and Cryptosporidium spp., respectively, whereas E. multilocularis was not detected from any of the samples investigated. Strawberries and raspberries were most often contaminated with Cryptosporidium spp., whereas blueberries were contaminated mostly with C. cayetanensis. Detection of parasite contaminants on fresh berries indicates the need for a system to ensure the parasitological safety of fresh berries.
Posted in Contaminated water, Cryptosporidiosis, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Cyclosporiasis, Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Parasite, Protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii, Toxoplasmosis, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety
Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is the etiologic agent of listeriosis which significantly affects immunocompromised individuals. The potential risk of infection attributed to L. monocytogenes in irrigation water and agricultural soil, which are key transmission pathways of microbial hazards to the human population, was evaluated using the quantitative microbial risk assessment modelling. A Monte Carlo simulation with 10,000 iterations was used to characterize the risks. High counts of L. monocytogenes in irrigation water (mean: 11.96 × 102 CFU/100 mL; range: 0.00 to 56.67 × 102 CFU/100 mL) and agricultural soil samples (mean: 19.64 × 102 CFU/g; range: 1.33 × 102 to 62.33 × 102 CFU/g) were documented. Consequently, a high annual infection risk of 5.50 × 10−2 (0.00 to 48.30 × 10−2), 54.50 × 10−2 (9.10 × 10−3 to 1.00) and 70.50 × 10−2 (3.60 × 10−2 to 1.00) was observed for adults exposed to contaminated irrigation water, adults exposed to contaminated agricultural soil and children exposed to agricultural soil, respectively. This study, therefore, documents a huge public health threat attributed to the high probability of infection in humans exposed to L. monocytogenes in irrigation water and agricultural soil in Amathole and Chris Hani District Municipalities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. View Full-Text
A wide variety of pathogens can cause disease in humans through the consumption of contaminated food [1–3]. Contamination of food can occur at any point from farm to table, as a result of improper hygiene, handling, storage or preparation, and the broad range of food products that can be contaminated adds to the complexity. An estimated 652,000 cases of infectious diseases because of contaminated food occurred in 2018 in the Netherlands, leading to around EUR 171 million in costs [4]. This figure and corresponding costs have remained at the same level since 2009 [4,5]. The exact number of cases remains unknown; only a minority of food-borne cases is captured by surveillance systems since most infections are relatively mild and no diagnostic testing is performed. Furthermore, not all food-borne infections are systematically monitored.
Although recognised food-borne outbreaks only account for a small part of the food-borne disease burden, they can provide insight into the pathogens causing outbreaks, food products implied as vehicles, points of contamination, and settings in which transmission occurs [6,7]. Determination of the contaminated food product is difficult, especially in sporadic cases, because of varying incubation periods in which many exposures occurred, as well as recall bias. Outbreaks offer the opportunity to gather consumption data from more than one case and to perform a comparison with controls, which increases the chance of finding the contaminated food item. Analysis of data over a longer period also offers the opportunity to describe trends in food-borne outbreaks, to identify new and emerging food-borne pathogens and specific pathogen-food combinations, and to examine the public health importance of pathogens, which can be used to improve food safety [6,8].
The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of food-borne outbreaks registered between 2006 and 2019 in the Netherlands in order to provide a better understanding of food-borne outbreaks and to guide efforts to control, reduce and prevent future food-borne illness.
Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, outbreak, Pathogen, pathogenic, Water Safety
The parasite Cyclospora Cayetanensis is producing illness in people consuming infected produce. Because this pathogen is in very low concentrations on actual produce, which makes it close to impossible to detect, and for prevention reasons, it is more effective to check for its presence in irrigation water, from where it is typically transferred on produce. However, even in water, this parasite is very difficult to detect. It only can be detected by lengthy molecular laboratory procedures such as PCR. One major problem for scientists to develop better and faster detection methods is the fact that there is no antibody or other recognition molecule that would be able to bind to the surface of this intact parasite.
We propose to design and synthesize, for the first time, aptamers, molecules that will be able to bind to intact Cyclospora Cayetanensis oocysts, and use them to design simple paper based colorimetric tests that can detect it in the field without the need of sample preparation or specialized laboratories. The paper based test will turn from pink to purple to indicate the water sample being tested is positive for this parasite, making this a very simple and easy to use detection method for Cyclospora Cayetanensis.
The reputation of growers and the health of consumers suffer when people contract foodborne illness from fresh produce contaminated with Cyclospora cayetanensis. Because filtration has been established as effective in concentrating parasites for environmental surveillance, we propose to establish how effectively filters remove such parasites from irrigation water. To achieve this, we will first conduct a series of filtration experiments using abundant parasites (of chickens) that pose no risk to the study team. We’ll then assess how well these filters reduce water contamination with Cyclospora. We will also determine whether any parasites surviving filtration are harmed in the process. We hope these findings will directly benefit growers seeking tools to mitigate risk, and hasten future research progress by validating a needed surrogate system for studying other interventions against this dangerous and enigmatic human parasite.
Posted in Contaminated water, Cyclospora, Cyclosporiasis, Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Parasite, Protozoan, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety
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