24 research outputs found
Emerg Infect Dis
No full textWe examined whole-genome-sequenced Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli from 2012-2015 isolated from birds and human stool samples in North East Scotland for the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes. We found that sequence type (ST) 5136 (clonal complex 464) was the most prevalent multidrug-resistant strain of C. jejuni exclusively associated with poultry host reservoirs and recovered from human cases of campylobacteriosis. Tetracycline resistance in ST5136 isolates was due to a tet(O/32/O) mosaic gene, ampicillin resistance was conferred by G\u200a\u2192\u200aT transversion in the -10 promoter region of bla|, fluoroquinolone resistance was due to C257T change in gyrA, and aminoglycoside resistance was conferred by aac. Whole-genome analysis showed that the strain ST5136 evolved from ST464. The nationwide emergence of ST5136 was probably due to stepwise acquisition of antimicrobial resistance genes selected by high use of \u3b2-lactam, tetracycline, fluoroquinolone, and aminoglycoside classes of drugs in the poultry industry
To what extent does hydrological connectivity control dynamics of faecal indicator organisms in streams? Initial hypothesis testing using a tracer-aided model
No full textAcknowledgments Funding from the Scottish Government Hydro Nation Scholars Programme is gratefully acknowledged. Many thanks to Mark Speed and Audrey Innes for collecting and analysing the samples from 2008/9, as part of work funded by the Levrhulme Trust. Thanks also to Christian Birkel for discussions in relation to the tracer-aided hydrological component of the model. Please contact the authors for access to the data used in this paper.Peer reviewe
Modelling the vector pathway and infection of humans in an environmental outbreak ofEscherichia coliO157
No full textHuman health, legislative and socioeconomic issues caused by the fish-borne zoonotic parasite Anisakis: challenges in risk assessment
No full text41 pages, 1 figure.Background
Nematodes of the genus Anisakis parasitize many commercial fish species and are responsible for a fish-borne zoonosis (anisakiasis) and allergic reactions. Anisakis can also cause consumer distrust in fishery products and economic losses to the fish industry.
Scope and approach
We review current socioeconomic, legislative, risk management and human health problems caused by the occurrence of Anisakis in fishery products and discuss possible strategies to mitigate them.
Key findings and conclusions
Visual inspection (and candling) of fishery products as required by EU legislation is not efficient for parasite detection. Consequently, visible (and non-visible) Anisakis reach the market and may be detected (and eaten) by consumers. Marine fish appears to be the only industrial food product that is at high risk of containing parasites when placed on the market.
Anisakiasis and allergy to Anisakis are hidden, underestimated emerging zoonoses worldwide. There is a need to better understand the impact of these zoonoses on individual health and particularly exposed human populations, and to assess the risk posed by Anisakis allergens in fishery products. Quantitative risk assessment (QRA) is identified as an appropriate methodology as it estimates the risk from fishing ground to human disease.
Improvements in parasite control legislation and procedures (e.g. establishment of research-based and standardized parasite detection methodologies, appropriate sampling strategies, development of non-destructive methods for detection and removal of nematodes from fish products), suitable for use by seafood businesses, are recommended to improve protection of consumers and to protect the industry by minimizing Anisakis-associated economic losses. QRA may help to provide the scientific basis for improved food safety legislation and strategies to reduce the risk of anisakiasis/allergy in humans.Peer reviewe
Modelling the vector pathway and infection of humans in an environmental outbreak of Escherichia coli 0157
No full textQuantifying the transfer of Escherichia coli O157 from the environment to humans is essential for understanding outbreaks, establishing the infectious dose of the organism and proposing safeguards. We modelled the pathogen loading shed onto a field by sheep immediately prior to a scout camp where 18 scouts and two adults were infected with E. coli O157. We estimated the dose ingested (4-24 organisms) which is in agreement with the low infective dose reported previously for this organism in food outbreaks. These data closely fit a surrogate Shigella dose-response model which can be used as a basis for risk assessment.</p
A systematic review of source attribution of human campylobacteriosis using multi-locus sequence typing
No full textThis work was supported by the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency [grant number FS101013]; the Wellcome Trust [grant numbers 087622 to M.C.J.M., 072782MA to N.D.M.]; and National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Gastrointestinal Infections at the University of Oxford in partnership with Public Health England (PHE). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the FSA, NHS, the NIHR, the Department of Health or Public Health England.Peer reviewe
An agent-based model that simulates the spatio-temporal dynamics of sources and transfer mechanisms contributing faecal indicator organisms to streams. Part 2: Application to a small agricultural catchment
No full textSoftware and data availability The source code for MAFIO as used in this work is available via the University of Aberdeen PURE repository: https://doi.org/10.20392/66f74663-ece3-4a52-8bed-f0cf52d0831a. The source code for EcH2O-iso is available at: https://bitbucket.org/sylka/ech2o_iso/src/master_2.0/. The Tulloch Burn datasets used in this study are available from the lead author on request. Acknowledgments Funding for this work from the Scottish Government’s Hydro Nation Scholars Programme is gratefully acknowledged. Many thanks to Audrey Innes, Jonathan Dick, Claire Tunaley and Bernhard Scheliga for their assistance in analysing the isotope samples. In addition, thanks to Allan Sim, Duncan White and, in particular, Claire Abel and Adam Wyness for instruction and training on microbiological sampling and analysis techniques. Simulations with EcH2O-iso and MAFIO were undertaken on the Maxwell high performance computing cluster funded by the University of Aberdeen. Sylvain Kuppel and Aaron Smith are thanked for their assistance in troubleshooting occasional issues with EcH2O-iso.Peer reviewe
Operationalising factors that explain the emergence of infectious diseases : A case study of the human campylobacteriosis epidemic
No full textPeer reviewe
Nationwide Stepwise Emergence and Evolution of Multidrug-Resistant Campylobacter jejuni Sequence Type 5136, United Kingdom
No full textWe thank Food Standards Scotland (Contracts S14054, FSS00017) and the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RG13588-10) for funding this work. Part of this work was presented at the Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Related Organisms (CHRO) 2017 Congress, Nantes, France.Peer reviewe
