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PubMedDate not supplied

Ethnographic study on childhood diarrhoeal diseases in a rural Nigerian community.

Mothers in thirty households in a rural Nigerian community were subjected to ethnographic studies on food handling practices as they relate to diarrhoeal diseases in children. The study had a first phase of three open-ended unstructured interviews each lasting about 2 hours and a second phase of direct observations on food handling practices during preparation, administration and storage by mothers. Results indicated that as many as 20 (66.7%) of the mothers identified diarrhoea as a common cause of childhood diseases. Diarrhoea due to food contamination was recognized by as many as 18 (60.0%) respondents. Four important food handling practices relating to water treatment, handwashing before preparation and feeding, administration and storage were recognized in the first phase but the claimed practices in the first phase differed significantly from the observed practices in the second phase (p < 0.025). Many (32.1%) mothers had contaminating food handling behaviours. The low literacy level, poverty and lack of good personal hygiene among the studies population were the most likely causes of the behaviours observed.

Anthropology, Cultural↗
PubMed2003

Avian food selection with application to pesticide risk assessment: are dead and desiccated insects a desirable food source?

Past evaluations of pesticide exposure have been conducted with substantial uncertainty regarding avian consumption of contaminated food items. One question is whether birds consume invertebrates that are killed by a chemical application and that may present an increasing chemical concentration as they desiccate. We addressed the research question in two phases. First, a laboratory study was conducted in which wild-caught birds were individually offered three food choices, i.e., live, fresh-dead, and desiccated insect larvae. Second, these same food choices plus live, fresh-dead, and desiccated crickets were presented in study plots in two agricultural crops, i.e., a cornfield and an orchard. The experimental food items were monitored with videography equipment to determine their fate and to compare laboratory and field results. Laboratory results showed that birds have a strong preference for live and fresh-dead prey over desiccated prey, with live prey taken before fresh-dead prey in most trials. The field study revealed a similar preference for live prey over desiccated prey, with preference for fresh-dead prey intermediate to the two other types.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of T-2 mycotoxin on gastrointestinal tissues: a review of in vivo and in vitro models.

T-2 mycotoxin, a trichothecene, is the principal toxic component of Fusarium sp. Agricultural products and food are frequently contaminated with this toxin. Various animal models have been used to determine its metabolic fate, rate of excretion, and distribution. A modulation effect on cell-mediated immunity and alterations in gastrointestinal propulsion have been demonstrated. The toxin has been shown to produce some similar pathologic alterations in various animal species studied. The consistent alteration appears to mainly affect mitotic cells of the gastrointestinal tract and the lymphoid system. A host of bioassay systems are now being used as alternative methods to the use of animals for testing of the mycotoxin. These tests may accurately assess and define the role of the subject-toxin interactions following consumption of T-2 mycotoxin contaminated food sources. T-2 mycotoxin, as observed above with in vivo and in vitro models, promotes a chemically-induced change in structure and function of affected gastrointestinal cells from a transient and reversible aberration in a single enzymatic reaction to cell death. Regardless of the end point measured, the toxic response brought about in cells appears to involve the interactions of virtually all subcellular processes--membrane transport and permeability, chemical metabolism, DNA function, and energy production/expenditure--as cells attempt to maintain their functional integrity while disposing of the toxicant. The variation in the quality of the toxic response with dose suggests that more cellular processes are perturbed as the chemical dose is increased.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Lay beliefs about hepatitis among North American Chinese: implications for hepatitis prevention.

The objective was to learn about the hepatitis prevention behavior of relatively unacculturated North American Chinese adults, along with their knowledge, beliefs, and perceptions with regard to hepatitis, screening, and vaccination. Forty Chinese men and women, aged 18-64, were recruited from immigrant communities in Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Semi-structured interviews (Cantonese or Mandarin) were audiotaped, translated, transcribed verbatim, and coded. Open coding, axial coding, constant comparison methods, and QSR NUD*IST 5 software was used for analysis. Findings were validated using eight focus groups. Findings indicated that many interviewees lack accurate knowledge with regard to hepatitis, often confusing the different types. Perceived causes of hepatitis included potentially harmful food (e.g., fried foods or potentially contaminated foods), alcohol, contact with infected individuals, stress, and inadequate rest. Preventive strategies associated with Chinese health beliefs included the use of Chinese herbal medicine, maintaining a stress-free mind, strengthening the body's natural defenses, and getting enough sleep. Other preventive strategies were the practice of good hygiene, vaccination, and the avoidance of contact with infected persons. Vaccination was not seen as primary, as 65% of those who had heard of hepatitis vaccination did not cite it as a means for hepatitis prevention until asked. Also, participants lacked information about the types and purposes of hepatitis vaccination and were worried about side effects. In conclusion, any attempt to promote hepatitis testing and vaccination among the North American Chinese should take traditional beliefs and practices into consideration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Contamination of stored food and feed commodities from indoor use of HCH and DDT in malaria control programmes.

Samples of wheat grain, straw, flour and green fodder taken from houses sprayed with either HCH or DDT for mosquito control showed the presence of HCH residues at concentrations of up to 91.2, 208.8, 33.1 and 459.0 mg kg-1 and DDT residues up to 11.3, 86.1, 2.2 and 5.4 mg kg-1, respectively. The mean level of HCH residues in samples of wheat grain collected from randomly selected houses in areas sprayed with HCH for the control of malaria was approximately 8 times higher than that for corresponding samples from DDT sprayed areas. In contrast, DDT residues in wheat grain samples from the DDT sprayed area were 3 times higher than the samples from the HCH sprayed area. The results suggest that significant amounts of residues of HCH and DDT become transferred to commodities stored in houses sprayed with these insecticides for mosquito control.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2004

The evaluation of dioxin and dioxin-like contaminants in selected food samples obtained from the Belgian market: comparison of TEQ measurements obtained through the CALUX bioassay with congener specific chemical analyses.

A limited number of different foods were analysed for dioxin-like compounds by the CALUX bioassay which is an in vitro luciferase reporter gene assay measuring chemical activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Sixty-two milk samples were obtained from a surveillance campaign, 34 meat samples and 34 fishery products were purchased from the Belgian market. Bio-analytical and chemo-analytical dioxin toxicity equivalents (TEQ) values of the same milk samples were compared. Spearman's Rank correlation coefficients of 0.72, 0.67, 0.73 were obtained respectively between CALUX-TEQ and PCDD/F-TEQ, DL-PCB-TEQ and PCDD/F+DL-PCB-TEQ. The bioassay limit of detection was 0.1 pg TEQ from 1 g animal lipid, the limit of quantification was 0.4 pg TEQ. The repeatability of the CALUX bioassay (variability of butter fat samples analysed in the same run) showed a coefficient of variation (CV) of 10%, intra laboratory reproducibility based on independent runs of the same butter fat samples showed more variation (CV of 26% for samples above 2 pg TEQ/g lipid). All milk samples with a chemical TEQ value above the current limit value in Belgium showed an elevated CALUX-TEQ concentration, above 6 pg TEQ/g lipid. No false negative results were obtained. Based on the good correlation between CALUX-TEQ and chemically measured TEQ levels, the CALUX bioassay can be recommended as a screening tool for routine measurement of potentially toxic PHAHs in milk samples. Chemical analyses could then largely be restricted to positive samples, in order to identify the nature and to quantify the concentration of the chemicals that give the positive signal. Meat samples showed lower CALUX-TEQ values per gram lipid compared to fish samples. The fish samples showed a wider range of CALUX-TEQ values than the meat samples.

Belgium↗
PubMed2002

Oral infection of C57BL/6 mice with Toxoplasma gondii: a new model of inflammatory bowel disease?

Infection with Toxoplasma gondii is naturally acquired through the oral route by ingestion of undercooked or raw meat containing cysts of the parasite or through ingestion of contaminated water or food contaminated with cysts or oocysts. Following peroral infection with 100 cysts of the ME49 strain of T. gondii, C57BL/6 mice die within 13 days after infection, whereas BALB/c mice survive. At day 7 of infection, massive necrosis of the villi and mucosal cells in the ilea is observed in C57BL/6 but not BALB/c mice. CD4(+) T cells, interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and inducible nitric oxide synthase mediate the development of necrosis. These findings indicate a Th1-type immunopathology, with parasite replication appearing to be involved in the first 3 days of infection. Murine and human studies on the immunopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn's disease) also indicate a Th1-type immunopathology. The shared and distinct features of oral infection of mice with T. gondii and murine models of inflammatory bowel disease are discussed herein.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1991

Excretion of enterotoxin-producing Clostridium perfringens in feces by patients during and after diarrhea.

The excretion in the feces of Clostridium perfringens producing enterotoxin by 48 patients in 3 cases of food poisoning was studied during the illness and 1 and 3 months after the onset. Patients in the first outbreak excreted such strains mostly in the form of spores. In the second outbreak, spores and viable count cells were excreted in nearly equal numbers, and about 50% of the spores were enterotoxigenic. In the third outbreak, the strains were detected both as spores and as viable count cells during the illness. In all three groups, most fecal samples contained at least 10(3) spores per gram. About 1 month after the onset of the illness, (long after recovery from symptoms), 12 colonies producing enterotoxin were detected from five of the 22 samples of feces obtained from subjects in the three groups. There were few C. perfringens organisms, mostly spores, in the feces. Enterotoxin was not detected in the feces. About 3 months after onset, colonies producing enterotoxin could not be detected from feces of 11 of the subjects in the first group. We conclude that persons affected by C. perfringens food poisoning might contaminate food for at least 1 month after the onset.

Clostridium perfringens↗
PubMed1999

Mercury concentrations in scalp hair as an environmental contamination index from foods in Korea.

Relationships have been established between the mercury (Hg) levels in human scalp hair and environmental or dietary mercury exposures. The average value of total mercury (THg) in scalp hair of male residents in Seoul city was 1.66 +/- 1.10 ppm (+/- SD) and for methylmercury (MeHg) was 1.02 +/- 0.72 ppm (61% of total Hg). For females, THg was 1.06 +/- 0.46 ppm and MeHg was 0.51 +/- 0.27 ppm (48.8% of total Hg). The levels of Hg in scalp hair of male subjects were significantly different according to their occupations and age groups, but in females such variation was not detectable. The Hg levels in fishing village residents were significantly higher than those of Seoul residents. The concentrations of both THg and MeHg of residents in Korean fishing villages were similar to those of residents in fishing villages of other countries. Correlation between THg and MeHg contents in scalp hair was statistically highly significant.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Molecular typing of Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolated in China with pulsed field gel electrophresis].

OBJECTIVE: To type and group the Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains isolated recent years in China to understand the epidemiological features caused by the pathogen. METHODS: Pulsed field gel electrophoresis of large restriction fragments of bacterial chromosomal DNA was used. RESULTS: The 51 isolates of E. coli O157:H7 collected in recent years in China could be divided into 8 Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) types based on the size and number of restriction fragments and patterns, that were digested by XbaI. Strains isolated from Ningxia province showed only two types- PFGE1 and PFGE2. Strains isolated in Xuzhou of Jiangsu province had 6 PFGE types. Isolates identified between 1986 - 1988 belonged to PFGE7. Strains isolated from patients in 1999 - 2000 were PFGE5 and PFGE3. Strains isolated from stool samples of domestic animal, food and vegetable were PFGE3 - 6, of which the predominant type was PFGE5. All of the 5 strains isolated from patients with diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) belonged to PFGE type 5, which was the dominant type of the isolates from stool samples of domestic animal and samples of food and vegetable contaminated. CONCLUSION: Data suggested that the cluster patients with diarrhea and HUS might have been related to the pathogens from domestic animas and contaminated food or vegetables. The distribution of PFGE types also varied in different provinces of China.

Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field↗