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PubMed1991

Multistage carcinogenesis of liver-fluke-associated cholangiocarcinoma in Thailand.

In northeast Thailand, the traditional habit of eating ground, raw freshwater and salt-fermented fish on a daily basis results in a local population repeatedly exposed to both liver fluke (Opisthorchis viverrini) infection and consuming nitrosamine-contaminated food from early in life. Epidemiological studies have revealed a coincident high prevalence of cholangiocarcinoma in this region and we have demonstrated in animal models that dietary contamination with nitrosamines and Opisthorchiasis are strong predisposing factors for cholangiocarcinogenesis. Thus all Syrian golden hamsters receiving a combination of subcarcinogenic doses of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) and infection with flukes developed cholangiocarcinomas, while chemical administration or fluke infection alone did not cause cancer. Synergistic induction by chemical carcinogens and liver fluke infection was found to be related to levels of exposure to both. In this two-stage carcinogenesis model, nitrosamines are considered to act as genotoxicants exerting carcinogenic effects, while the liver flukes are assumed to play epigenetic roles. In our studies of biliary pathology related to worm burden in humans we found that while most of the subjects had worms, only a minority (25%) demonstrated a pathology of adenomatous hyperplasia, which is believed to predispose bile ducts to subsequent development of carcinomas, indicating the possible role of flukes as promoters. Biliary changes in nontumorous areas of hepatectomy specimens, including fibrosis (with or without adenomatous hyperplasia) which is found in most cases, and dysplasia in the fibrotic ducts indicate a conversion event in carcinogenesis: other factors may be required to aggravate the simple proliferation lesion so that they subsequently change to carcinomas. Furthermore, commonality in tumor phenotypes and expressions of ras p21 in both fluke related and non-fluke-related cholangiocarcinomas suggest that some similar mechanisms might be operating, at least in the relatively late stages of this multistage carcinogenesis involving the bile ducts.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗
PubMed1998

[Wound botulism in heroin addiction].

Botulism is a rare disease which usually is caused by preformed botulinum toxin in food. However, this article describes a case of wound botulism in a 29-year-old male heroin addict who developed progressive diplopia, dysphagia and proximal weakness of skeletal limb muscles. He needed mechanical ventilation for two weeks. The clinical diagnosis of botulism was supported by neurophysiological tests. Assays for detection of botulinum toxin and Clostridium botulinum were negative. The patient had not eaten any contaminated food the last two weeks before symptoms appeared, but he had multiple contaminated skin wounds. After treatment with botulinum antitoxins and antibiotics he gradually recovered, and six weeks later he was discharged from hospital in good condition. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case of wound botulism reported in Norway.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Contamination of retail foods, particularly turkey, from community markets (Minnesota, 1999-2000) with antimicrobial-resistant and extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli.

To assess the food supply as a possible vehicle for antimicrobial-resistant and extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC), we defined the prevalence, density, clonal diversity, virulence characteristics, and antimicrobial resistance profiles of E. coli among diverse retail food items. A microbiological survey was undertaken of 346 food items (vegetables, produce, beef, pork, chicken, and turkey) purchased as a convenience sample from 16 retail markets within the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in 1999-2000, with selective cultures for E. coli and extensive molecular and phenotypic characterization of E. coli isolates. Meats, particularly turkey products, were often extensively contaminated with antimicrobial-resistant E. coli and ExPEC, to a much greater extent than were produce items, even those from farmer's markets. Moreover, meat-source E. coli differed substantially from produce-source E. coli with respect to phylogenetic background (more commonly from virulence-associated phylogenetic groups B2 or D), virulence genotype (more extensive), and antimicrobial resistance profile (more extensive). Molecular typing methods matched four turkey-source isolates to selected human clinical and fecal isolates representing the O7:K1:H-, O83:K1, and O73/O77:K52:H18 ("clonal group A") clonal groups of ExPEC. Meats purchased in grocery stores, particularly turkey products, are frequently contaminated with antimicrobial-resistant E. coli and ExPEC. Further study is needed regarding the origins and health consequences of these foodborne organisms, both to clarify the need for and to guide the possible development of appropriate regulatory and monitoring systems and preventive interventions.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Listeriosis: an emerging food-borne disease.

Listeriosis is a serious disease acquired by ingestion of foods contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Special populations at risk are individuals who are immunocompromised to some extent. The most common clinical findings include meningitis, septicemia, encephalitis, and intrauterine/cervical infections. Food related listeriosis is an unusual occurrence but it is now being thought of as a new, and emergent illness. Numerous types of food products have been implicated in listeriosis infections, but of particular concern are ready to eat products such as lunchmeats, hotdogs, ham/chicken salad, sausages, and roast beef. However, to ensure food safety, there are several methods employed to detect L. monocytogenes in food products and the severity of listeriosis warrants stringent guidelines in food processing facilities. Nevertheless, proper food preparation and handling must be emphasized and individuals who are at an increased risk for the disease must be apprised on how to prevent the occurrence of infection.

Food Microbiology↗
PubMed2007

Contamination of packaged food by substances migrating from a direct-contact plastic layer: Assessment using a generic quantitative household scale methodology.

The contamination risk in 12 packaged foods by substances released from the plastic contact layer has been evaluated using a novel modeling technique, which predicts the migration that accounts for (i) possible variations in the time of contact between foodstuffs and packaging and (ii) uncertainty in physico-chemical parameters used to predict migration. Contamination data, which are subject to variability and uncertainty, are derived through a stochastic resolution of transport equations, which control the migration into food. Distributions of contact times between packaging materials and foodstuffs were reconstructed from the volumes and frequencies of purchases of a given panel of 6422 households, making assumptions about household storage behaviour. The risk of contamination of the packaged foods was estimated for styrene (a monomer found in polystyrene yogurt pots) and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene (a representative of the widely used phenolic antioxidants). The results are analysed and discussed regarding sensitivity of the model to the set parameters and chosen assumptions.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1995

Contamination of weaning foods and transmission of E. coli in causation of infantile diarrhea in low income group in Chandigarh.

Samples of weaning foods and other sources of contamination, such as water, mother's nails, utensils and swab samples of feeding bottle nipple, mother's teats and child's hands were collected from a total of 100 houses of Low Income Group (LIG) in Chandigarh. A high incidence of E. coli isolation (72.3%) was noticed amongst the collected samples. Seventy nine per cent of storage containers of water exhibited the presence of E. coli. Eighty per cent of the children had diarrhea even when exclusively breastfed. Sixty six per cent children were weaned within 3-6 months; the ratio increasing with increase in the educational qualification of the mother. Eighty out of the total 100 households which had a history of infantile diarrhea exhibited 80.9% E. coli isolation.

Diarrhea, Infantile↗
PubMed1997

A rapid, sensitive and automated method for detection of Salmonella species in foods using AG-9600 AmpliSensor Analyzer.

The AG-9600 AmpliSensor Analyzer is an automated fluorescence-based system for detection of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products. The principle of the AmpliSensor PCR assay involves amplification-mediated disruption of a fluorogenic DNA signal duplex (AmpliSensor) that is homologous to a target sequence within a 284-bp amplified fragment of the Salmonella invA gene. Since the assay is homogenous, the data can be obtained by direct measurement of fluorescence of the amplification mixture. The accumulation of the amplified product, reflected by the fluorescence index, is monitored cycle by cycle by the AG-9600 Analyzer. The detection limit of the assay was less than 2 colony-forming units (cfu) per PCR reaction using a pure culture of Salmonella typhimurium. In post-spiking experiments in which Salmonella was added to the overnight pre-enriched samples (chicken carcass rinses, ground beef, ground pork and raw milk), the detection limit of the assay was 2-6 cfu per PCR reaction. In pre-spiking experiments in which Salmonella was added to the samples prior to overnight pre-enrichment, the detection limit was less than 3 cfu per 25 g or 25 ml of food. The assay was up to 2 orders of magnitude more sensitive than detection by ethidium bromide-stained agarose gel electrophoresis. To further evaluate assay performance, 54 naturally contaminated chicken carcass rinses, 65 raw milk and six ground pork samples were tested in the study. Thirty-eight Salmonella-positive samples confirmed by the Modified Semi-solid Rappaport-Vassiliadis (MSRV) culture assay were found positive using the AmpliSensor assay. Two chicken carcass rinses found positive using the assay were MSRV-negative. In addition, relative quantification using the AmpliSensor assay was linear up to 3 logs of initial target concentration in artificially contaminated food samples.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Scrapie infectivity is quickly cleared in tissues of orally-infected farmed fish.

BACKGROUND: Scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) belongs to the group of animal transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). BSE epidemic in the UK and elsewhere in Europe has been linked to the use of bovine meat and bone meals (MBM) in the feeding of cattle. There is concern that pigs, poultry and fish bred for human consumption and fed with infected MBM would eventually develop BSE or carry residual infectivity without disease. Although there has been no evidence of infection in these species, experimental data on the susceptibility to the BSE agent of farm animals other than sheep and cow are limited only to pigs and domestic chicken. In the framework of a EU-granted project we have challenged two species of fish largely used in human food consumption, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and turbot (Scophthalmus maximus), with a mouse-adapted TSE strain (scrapie 139A), to assess the risk related to oral consumption of TSE contaminated food. In trout, we also checked the "in vitro" ability of the pathological isoform of the mouse prion protein (PrPSc) to cross the intestinal epithelium when added to the mucosal side of everted intestine. RESULTS: Fish challenged with a large amount of scrapie mouse brain homogenate by either oral or parenteral routes, showed the ability to clear the majority of infectivity load. None of the fish tissues taken at different time points after oral or parenteral inoculation was able to provoke scrapie disease after intracerebral inoculation in recipient mice. However, a few recipient mice were positive for PrPSc and spongiform lesions in the brain. We also showed a specific binding of PrPSc to the mucosal side of fish intestine in the absence of an active uptake of the prion protein through the intestinal wall. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that scrapie 139A, and possibly BSE, is quickly removed from fish tissues despite evidence of a prion like protein in fish and of a specific binding of PrPSc to the mucosal side of fish intestine.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Characterization of the minimal lethal dose of gamma irradiation for Penicillium citrinum].

UNLABELLED: The use of nuclear power through radiation for the destruction of microorganisms which cause food decay, and toxicosis, is specifically for peaceful purposes. Penicillium citrinum is a fungus which produce mycotoxins responsible for intoxication in humans and animals as a result of eating contaminated food. There is little informations on the resistance of P. citrinum to radiation. The objective of this research is to determine the lethal dose of gama radiation for these microorganisms. Seventy six suspensions containing approximately 100,000 spores/ml received a dose of radiation between 0.2 and 2.2 KGy (KiloGray), being one sample still alive re-irradiated with doses up to 3.0 KGy. The fungus were totally destroyed with a 2.2 KGy. Seventy six suspensions containing approximately 100,000 spores/ml received a dose of radiation between 0.2 and 2.2 KGy, being one sample still alive re-irradiated with doses up to 3.0 KGy. The fungus were totally destroyed with a 2.2 KGy dose. An increase in the resistance to lower dose levels of radiation was observed, in relation to the fungus which had not received irradiation. CONCLUSION: the Minimum Lethal Dose (MLD) of gamma irradiation, for P. citrinum is 2.2 KGy; the re-irradiation of the surviving fungus demonstrate that occur appearance of radio-resistant mutants.

Food Irradiation↗
PubMed1998

[Implications of bacterial protein toxins in infectious and food-borne diseases].

Among the 315 protein toxins elicited by gram positive and gram negative bacteria so far characterized, about 50 toxins are currently considered as totally or partially, responsible of the pathological manifestations and/or lethality resulting from host infection or intoxication (contaminated food) by relevant toxinogenic bacteria. A certain number of criteria are required for the assessment of indisputable involvement of a toxin or an array of toxins (from the same bacteria) in infectious diseases: 1) The bacterial microorganism clearly identified as the pathogenic agent of the disease produces component(s) considered as toxin(s); 2) The administration to appropriate animal(s) of the toxin(s) separated from the relevant bacteria or produced by genetic engineering from a heterologous tox+ recombinant bacterial strain produces symptoms and pathophysiological disorders that mimic those observed in the natural disease or at least those elicited in experimental animals by the cognate toxin-producing bacteria; 3) The in vitro incubation of the isolated toxin(s) with appropriate animal organs, tissues or cells elicits certain pathophysiological, biochemical or metabolic manifestions observed in the host infected with the relevant toxinogenic bacteria; 4) Toxin concentration in the organism of the host infected by the toxinogenic bacteria should be compatible with the characteristics of the relevant disease. The toxins of pathogenic interest exhibit a variety of effects in bacterial diseases. Bacteria that colonize a wound or mucosal surface but do not invade target cells can produce toxins that act locally or enter the bloodstream and attack internal organs (e.g. Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Vibrio cholerae, ...). Bacteria growing in a wound can produce toxins that destroy host tissue and kill phagocytes in the immediate vicinity of the bacteria, thus facilitating bacterial growth and spread. On the basis of the above mentioned criteria, the following bacterial diseases among many others are toxin-associated (toxinoses): diphtheria, tetanus, botulism, whooping cough, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, hemolytic uremic syndrome, cholera, scarlet fever, toxic shock syndrome, gas gangrene, B. fragilis diarrhea, anthrax, pseudomembranous colitis.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Novel bioassay based on acetylcholinesterase and lactate dehydrogenase activities to evaluate the toxicity of chemicals to soil isopods.

This study developed a bioassay with the isopod Porcellio dilatatus based on the activity of the enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The in vivo effects of the insecticides parathion-ethyl and endosulfan-sulfate on AChE and LDH activities of P. dilatatus under laboratory conditions were investigated. The route of uptake of the pesticides was through the food (alder leaves). Isopods were exposed to a wide range of concentrations of parathion or endosulfan (0.1, 1, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, and 500 microg/g of food) for 21 days. After this period, the activity of AChE and LDH was determined. Parathion induced significant depression of both AChE and LDH activities. Animals fed with endosulfan-contaminated food exhibited lower LDH activities than control animals, while AChE activity was similar in all treatments. The results of the present investigation suggest that the isopod. P. dilatatus is a suitable species for use in toxicity tests and indicate that the enzymes AChE and LDH could be used as effect criteria both in laboratory and in field studies with this species.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed2000

Relative contributions of aqueous and dietary uptake of hydrophobic chemicals to the body burden in juvenile rainbow trout.

This study assessed the relative contributions of aqueous versus dietary uptake of three hydrophobic chemicals, 1,2, 4-trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB), 1,2,3,4,5-pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), and 2,2',4,4',6,6'-hexachlorobiphenyl (HCBP). Juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were exposed separately to chemically spiked water and food for 4 days and 12 days, respectively. Chemical concentrations were measured in the food, water, and tissues, and this allowed calculation of uptake rate constants (k(1) from water exposure, k(d) from food exposure). The k(1) values for the three test chemicals were approximately five orders of magnitude greater than the k(d) values. Using these measured uptake rate constants, a simulation model was used to predict the relative aqueous versus dietary uptake when fish were exposed simultaneously to water and food contaminated with these hydrophobic chemicals. The model predicted for all three test chemicals that the two uptake routes would contribute equally to the chemical body burden in fish whenever the food:water chemical concentration ratio was near 10(5). However, using food:water chemical concentration ratios that might be expected in nature, the model predicted that gill uptake could account for over 98% of fish body burden for both 1,2,4-TCB and PeCB uptake (log K(ow) values of 3.98 and 5.03, respectively). For HCBP (log K(ow) of 7.55), the model predicted that the dietary uptake could contribute over 85% of the body burden. Thus, depending on the actual food:water chemical concentration ratio, aqueous uptake via the gills can predominate even when the chemicals have a log K(ow) value greater than 5.0. In addition, we confirmed that dietary uptake of hydrophobic xenobiotics increases with increasing log K(ow).

Algorithms↗
PubMed2006

Molecularly imprinted polymers with a streamlined mimic for zearalenone analysis.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with selective recognition properties for zearalenone (ZON), an estrogenic mycotoxin, and structurally related compounds have been prepared using the non-covalent imprinting approach. A rationally designed ZON analogue, cyclododecyl 2,4-dihydroxybenzoate (CDHB), that exhibits resemblance to ZON in terms of size, shape and functionality has been synthesized and used as template for MIP preparation instead of the natural toxin. Several functional monomers have been evaluated to maximize the interactions with the template molecule during the polymerization process. The polymer material prepared with 1-allylpiperazine (1-ALPP) as functional monomer, trimethyl trimethacrylate (TRIM) as cross-linker and acetonitrile as porogen (in a 1:4:20 molar ratio) displayed superior binding capacities than any other of the MIPs tested. Selectivity of this material for ZON and structurally related and non-related compounds has been evaluated using it as stationary phase in liquid chromatography. Our results demonstrate that the imprinted polymer shows significant affinity in the porogenic solvent for the template mimic (CDHB) as well as for the ZON and other related target metabolites in food samples, dramatically improving the performance of previously reported MIPs for ZON recognition. Therefore, MIPs can be an excellent alternative for clean-up and preconcentration of the mycotoxin in contaminated food samples.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1998

Evaluation of the VIDAS methodology for detection of Escherichia coli O157 in food samples.

An automated enzyme-linked fluorescence immunoassay (ELFA), the VIDAS E. coli O157 method, was compared with immunomagnetic separation (IMS) followed by culture on cefixime tellurite sorbitol MacConkey agar (CT-SMAC) for detecting Escherichia coli O157 in artificially and naturally contaminated food samples including raw milk cheeses, poultry, raw sausages, and ground beef retail samples. Confirmation of the samples positive according to the ELFA was performed by use of an automated immunoconcentration system, VIDAS ICE, which allows selective capture and release of target organisms. A total of 496 retail food samples were examined. Seventeen food samples gave positive values with the ELFA method, and among them 9 food samples were confirmed by the ICE method. Eight were shown to contain sorbitol-positive, O157-positive, H7-negative, motile, non-verotoxin-producing E. coli. The ninth positive sample contained an O157-positive, H7-negative, sorbitol-negative, non-verotoxin-producing E. coli. The IMS technique only allowed confirmation of this sorbitol-negative, non-verotoxin-producing E. coli O157.

Escherichia coli O157↗
PubMed1986

Environmental illness. A clinical review of 50 cases.

A review of 50 patients with a clinical ecology diagnosis of environmentally induced illness is reported. Histories were extremely heterogeneous. Eight patients had no symptoms or disease, 11 had symptoms caused by preexisting nonenvironmental disease, and 31 had multiple subjective symptoms. No consistent physical findings or laboratory abnormalities were found. Serum levels of immunoglobulins and complement, and circulating lymphocyte, B-cell, T-cell, and T-cell subset counts were not significantly abnormal. The diagnostic provocation-neutralization procedure, environmental restrictions, and dietary advice of clinical ecology produced further symptoms and fear of environmental and food contaminants. The patients with chronic multisystem complaints had characteristic symptoms of psychosomatic illness, but this study does not support the clinical ecology theory that psychosomatic illness may be an expression of food and chemical sensitivities induced by the toxic effect of environmental chemicals on the immune system.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Cholera in Gaza in 1981: epidemiological characteristics of an outbreak.

An outbreak of cholera involving 161 culture-positive cases of biotype El-Tor Serotype Ogawa occurred in the Gaza Strip in the summer and autumn of 1981. The signs and symptoms of the disease were mild to moderate in two thirds of the cases. In many of them the disease was so mild that the patients did not realize they had cholera. Another outstanding feature of the disease was the high percentage of family clustering. From constant monitoring of water, sewage, and vegetables we were unable to show that they played any part in the transmission. A case control study which specifically investigated these items showed no differences between cases and controls. Epidemiological investigation indicated that the disease was probably introduced into the area by a visitor from Jordan, where an epidemic was in progress. The first spread followed a wedding party and seems to have been caused by ingestion of contaminated soft drinks. Subsequent spread was probably caused mainly by carriers who were either asymptomatic or very mild cases. The actual transmission seems to have occurred from person to person, by food contamination, or by both. The authors believe, therefore, that the transmission of El-Tor cholera has many features in common with other bacterial diseases that are transmitted by the faecal-oral route.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Interaction of vitamin C and iron.

Food iron is absorbed by the intestinal mucosa from two separate pools of heme and nonheme iron. Heme iron, derived from hemoglobin and myoglobin, is well absorbed and relatively little affected by other foods eaten in the same meal. On the other hand, the absorption of nonheme iron, the major dietary pool, is greatly influenced by meal composition. Ascorbic acid is a powerful enhancer of nonheme iron absorption and can reverse the inhibiting effect of such substances as tea and calcium/phosphate. Its influence may be less pronounced in meals of high iron availability--those containing meat, fish, or poultry. The enhancement of iron absorption from vegetable meals is directly proportional to the quantity of ascorbic acid present. The absorption of soluble inorganic iron added to a meal increases in parallel with the absorption of nonheme iron, but ascorbic acid has a much smaller effect on insoluble iron compounds, such as ferric oxide or ferric hydroxide, which are common food contaminants. Ascorbic acid facilitates iron absorption by forming a chelate with ferric iron at acid pH that remains soluble at the alkaline pH of the duodenum. High cost and instability during food storage are the major obstacles to using ascorbic acid in programs designed to combat nutritional iron deficiency anemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

PCR and gene probe identification of botulinum neurotoxin A-, B-, E-, F-, and G-producing Clostridium spp. and evaluation in food samples.

A degenerate primer pair was selected to amplify specifically a 260-bp DNA fragment from Clostridium botulinum types A, B, E, F, and G, and five individual probes allowed identification of each toxinotype by hybridization of the PCR products. The 72 strains of different Clostridium species tested and 11 other bacterial species commonly found in food samples gave an amplification product. This assay was able to detect 1 C. botulinum type A or B and 10 C. botulinum type E strains per reaction. With 184 artificially contaminated food samples, after an 18-h enrichment step, the sensitivity was 10 bacteria per g of sample and the correlation with the mouse bioassay reached 95.6%.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗