scholarly journals Mycotoxigenic fungi contamination of grains and peanuts from open markets in Kelantan, Malaysia

Food Research ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-77
Author(s):  
B. Salisu ◽  
S.M. Anua ◽  
W.R. Wan Ishak ◽  
N. Mazlan
Keyword(s):  
Food Samples ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Neoscytalidium Dimidiatum ◽  
Stringent Control ◽  
Food Grains ◽  
Fungal Identification ◽  
Warm Weather ◽  
Mycotoxigenic Fungi ◽  
Open Markets

The warm weather and high relative humidity in Malaysia are ideal for the survival and proliferation of mycotoxigenic fungi leading to a high rate of stored product contamination. This study was conducted to enumerate and characterise the mycotoxigenic fungi associated with commonly consumed food grains in Kelantan, Malaysia. The fungal bioburden and fungal identification from forty-four composite food samples comprising 11 samples each of maize, wheat, rice, and peanuts from open markets in Kelantan, Malaysia, were determined using standard mycological techniques. A total of 115 mould fungal isolates belonging to 12 species were isolated, of which Aspergillus flavus (17.39%), A. versicolor (13.04%), A. felis (12.17%), Neoscytalidium dimidiatum (11.3%), Penicillium cheresanum (11.3%) and P. chrysogenum (8.7%), were predominant. Peanuts were the most contaminated (9.7×105 ± 1.5×105 CFU/g) followed by maize (7.5×105 ± 1.8×106 CFU/g), wheat (1.9×105 ± 2.6×105 CFU/g), and rice (9.9×104 ± 1.5×105 CFU/g). The levels of the mycotoxigenic fungi in peanut, maize, and wheat were above the permissible limit of 102 CFU/g set by the Malaysian Ministry of Health and 102 to 105 CFU/g set by the International Commission for Microbiological Specification for Foods, signifying that they are unsafe for use as food or feed ingredients. Hence, there is a need for more stringent control measures.

scholarly journals Real-time application of automated ribotyping and DNA macrorestriction analysis in the setting of a listeriosis outbreak

2003 ◽  
Vol 131 (1) ◽  
pp. 637-645 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. J. INGLIS ◽  
A. CLAIR ◽  
J. SAMPSON ◽  
L. O'REILLY ◽  
S. VANDENBERG ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Health ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Food Samples ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Specimen Collection ◽  
Environmental Specimen ◽  
Initial Control ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Automated Ribotyping ◽  
Real Time Application

A cluster of three cases of listeriosis cases occurred against a background of endemic listeriosis in Western Australia. Human and environmental isolates of Listeria monocytogenes obtained during the outbreak investigation were rapidly subtyped by automated ribotyping using an EcoRI protocol and a RiboPrinter®. DNA macrorestriction analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to confirm the relatedness of isolates. Serogroup 1/2 predominated among the food samples and the four clinical isolates from the outbreak cluster were also of this serogroup. All isolates from chicken material were serogroup 1/2 and indistinguishable by ribotype pattern. PFGE subdivided strains of this ribotype into four subtypes. The preliminary analysis had an immediate impact on hypothesis generation, environmental health investigations, environmental specimen collection and initial control measures. Sufficient typing data to guide environmental health and disease control initiatives was generated in less than one week by combining automated ribotyping with PCR-based detection of L. monocytogenes in suspect foodstuffs and an L. monocytogenes DNA probe. There were no further cases of bacteriologically confirmed listeriosis in Western Australia for six months after completion of the investigation.

scholarly journals Estimated transmissibility and impact of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 in England

Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 372 (6538) ◽  
pp. eabg3055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas G. Davies ◽  
Sam Abbott ◽  
Rosanna C. Barnard ◽  
Christopher I. Jarvis ◽  
Adam J. Kucharski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
The United States ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Transmission Model ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Stringent Control ◽  
Dynamic Transmission Model ◽  
Credible Intervals

A severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant, VOC 202012/01 (lineage B.1.1.7), emerged in southeast England in September 2020 and is rapidly spreading toward fixation. Using a variety of statistical and dynamic modeling approaches, we estimate that this variant has a 43 to 90% (range of 95% credible intervals, 38 to 130%) higher reproduction number than preexisting variants. A fitted two-strain dynamic transmission model shows that VOC 202012/01 will lead to large resurgences of COVID-19 cases. Without stringent control measures, including limited closure of educational institutions and a greatly accelerated vaccine rollout, COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths across England in the first 6 months of 2021 were projected to exceed those in 2020. VOC 202012/01 has spread globally and exhibits a similar transmission increase (59 to 74%) in Denmark, Switzerland, and the United States.

Presence of Bacillus cereus in Street Foods in Gaborone, Botswana

2005 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 342-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
GERVAS Y. MURINDAMOMBE ◽  
ERNEST K. COLLISON ◽  
SISAI F. MPUCHANE ◽  
BERHANU A. GASHE
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Cereus ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Food Samples ◽  
Latex Agglutination ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Contamination Rate ◽  
Point Of Sale ◽  
Individual Point ◽  
Biochemical Profiles

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microbiological safety and quality of street foods sold in Gaborone, Botswana. A total of 148 point-of-sale composite street food samples were bought and analyzed between June 2001 and May 2002. The analysis focused on the level of contamination of various street foods with Bacillus cereus. The B. cereus (vegetative and spores), total spore, and total viable counts were determined on all the samples. Also B. cereus isolates from 444 individual point-of-sale food samples were characterized with respect to their biochemical profiles and enterotoxigenic properties. The B. cereus contamination rate for point-of-sale foods was 65%. The B. cereus counts ranged from not detectable to levels as high as 9.1 log CFU/g. Despite the high rate of contamination of some samples, generally, most samples had B. cereus counts of less than 4 log CFU/g; hence, they were of acceptable microbiological quality. Bacillus diarrheal enterotoxin was detected from 52 isolates from individual portions of meals using the B. cereus enterotoxin reversed passive latex agglutination kit. Results of the assay revealed that 59.6% of the B. cereus isolates were enterotoxigenic. Most of the enterotoxigenic isolates were obtained from vegetable samples.

An Outbreak of Salmonella Chester Infection in Canada: Rare Serotype, Uncommon Exposure, and Unusual Population Demographic Facilitate Rapid Identification of Food Vehicle

2012 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 738-742 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHN TAYLOR ◽  
ELENI GALANIS ◽  
LYNN WILCOTT ◽  
LINDA HOANG ◽  
JASON STONE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Identification ◽  
Food Samples ◽  
Grocery Store ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Source Control ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Patient Interviews ◽  
Microbiological Testing ◽  
Canadian Provinces ◽  
Population Demographic

Salmonella Chester infection has rarely been reported in the literature. In 2010, 33 case patients were reported in 2 months in four Canadian provinces. We conducted an outbreak investigation in collaboration with public health agencies, food safety specialists, regulatory agencies, grocery store chains, and the product distributor. We used case patient interviews, customer loyalty cards, and microbiological testing of clinical and food samples to identify nationally distributed head cheese as the food vehicle responsible for the outbreak. The rare serotype, a limited affected demographic group, and an uncommon exposure led to the rapid identification of the source. Control measures were implemented within 9 days of notification of the outbreak.

Occurrence and Characterization of Aeromonas Species in Pasteurized Milk and White Cheese in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

1993 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANGELA CÔRREA FREITAS ◽  
MARLY PAIVA NUNES ◽  
ARLETE MOREIRA MILHOMEM ◽  
ILVAN DELGADO RICCIARDI
Keyword(s):  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Foodborne Pathogen ◽  
Food Samples ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Most Probable Number ◽  
Aeromonas Species ◽  
Probable Number ◽  
Pasteurized Milk ◽  
Milk Samples ◽  
White Cheese

A total of 35 samples (1000 ml each) of pasteurized milk and 25 samples (100 g each) of white cheese purchased at supermarkets in Rio de Janeiro were analyzed for the presence of Aeromonas. Strains of Aeromonas were isolated from 28.5% of pasteurized milk and 32% of white cheese samples. Standard Plate counts in the pasteurized milk samples ranged from 7.2 × 10* to 2.5 × 105 CFU/ml. Total and fecal coliform counts in white cheese samples ranged from 1.9 × 10* to 2.4 × 105 most probable number per g and 3.2 × 102 to 1.2 × 105 most probable number per g, respectively. It was possible to identify Aeromonas caviae (58.9%), Aeromonas hydrophila (12.8%), and Aeromonas schubertii (2.5%) among the cultures isolated from pasteurized milk samples. Twenty-five percent of the strains could only be classified as Aeromonas spp. In white cheese samples, unclassified strains were the most frequent isolates (61.5%) followed by A. hydrophila (26.9%), A. caviae (7.6%) and Aeromonas sobria (3.8%). Only strains of A. hydrophila and A. sobria showed high rate of positive results when tested for the production of hemolysin, cytotoxin, and staphylolytic activity. Heat-stable enterotoxin and autoagglutination test did not correlate as virulence factors. The presence of Aeromonas species in refrigerated food samples suggests that this microorganism could be a potential foodborne pathogen, and dairy products may represent an important vehicle of its transmission.

scholarly journals Emerging Fusarium Mycotoxins Fusaproliferin, Beauvericin, Enniatins, and Moniliformin in Serbian Maize

Toxins ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Jajić ◽  
Tatjana Dudaš ◽  
Saša Krstović ◽  
Rudolf Krska ◽  
Michael Sulyok ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weather Data ◽  
Fusarium Mycotoxins ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Warm Weather ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass ◽  
Mycotoxigenic Fungi ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
High Precipitation ◽  
Safe Food

Emerging mycotoxins such as moniliformin (MON), enniatins (ENs), beauvericin (BEA), and fusaproliferin (FUS) may contaminate maize and negatively influence the yield and quality of grain. The aim of this study was to determine the content of emerging Fusarium mycotoxins in Serbian maize from the 2016, 2017, and 2018 harvests. A total of 190 samples from commercial maize production operations in Serbia were analyzed for the presence of MON, ENs, BEA, and FUS using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The obtained results were interpreted together with weather data from each year. MON, BEA, and FUS were major contaminants, while other emerging mycotoxins were not detected or were found in fewer samples (<20%). Overall contamination was highest in 2016 when MON and BEA were found in 50–80% of samples. In 2017 and 2018, high levels of MON, FUS, and BEA were detected in regions with high precipitation and warm weather during the silking phase of maize (July and the beginning of August), when the plants are most susceptible to Fusarium infections. Since environmental conditions in Serbia are favorable for the occurrence of mycotoxigenic fungi, monitoring Fusarium toxins is essential for the production of safe food and feed.

Phase 2 Trial of Intracycle Sequential Ofatumumab and Lenalidomide for the Treatment of Relapsed and Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 3933-3933 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciano J Costa ◽  
Suzanne Fanning ◽  
Joseph Stephenson ◽  
Lawrence Afrin ◽  
Tricia Bentz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Stable Disease ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Single Agent ◽  
Objective Response ◽  
Hiv Treatment ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Hematological Toxicity

Abstract Abstract 3933 Background Ofatumumab is a novel fully humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody with antigenic target distinct from rituximab and enhanced antibody dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) with single agent activity in relapsed or refractory (R/R) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), including heavily pretreated patients. The immunomodulatory agent (IMID) lenalidomide has been shown to induce T cell and NK cell activation and in vitro enhances rituximab induced killing of B-CLL cells via NK cell-mediated and monocyte-mediated ADCC. We hypothesized that the sequential treatment of patients with ofatumumab and lenalidomide would provide optimal pharmacodynamic interaction and be active in R/R patients previously treated with rituximab containing regimens. Methods Eligibility criteria included confirmed diagnosis of R/R CLL meeting criteria for treatment, prior therapy containing rituximab, age≥ 18 years, ECOG performance status ≤ 2 adequate hepatic, renal and bone marrow function and willingness to comply with the required birth control measures. Patients were excluded if they had been previously exposed to any of the experimental agents, had active hepatitis B or carried HIV. Treatment consisted of ofatumumab 2000 mg (300 mg on the first cycle) intravenously on day 1 and lenalidomide 10 mg (5mg on the first cycle) on days 8–28. Treatment was administered for up to 6 cycles of 28 days duration. Patients received prophylaxis with acyclovir and trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole. Toxicity was assessed according to CTC v.4.0 and response was evaluated following the 2008 National Cancer Institute Working Group criteria. Results Seventeen patients have been enrolled and 14 have sufficient follow-up to be assessed for response. Median age of patients was 65 years (range 51–80). Median number of prior lines of therapy was 2 (range 1–4) and median baseline white blood cell count was 75,000/mm3. The proportions of cases with unmutated IgvH chain and positive ZAP-70 expression were 15/17 (88%) and 13/16 (81%), respectively. There were 4/16 (25%) cases with del17p and 4/16 (25%) with del11q detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Thirteen cases (76%) were refractory to, or had relapsed after treatment containing a purine analogue. The most frequent adverse event (AE) > Grade 1 was tumor flare reaction (TFR), seen in 8/14 (57%) patients and infusion reactions seen in 6/14 (43%) patients. Four patients with TFR were managed successfully with non-steroidal anti inflammatory agents while 4 required glucocorticoids allowing continuation of therapy in all patients. The most common Grade 3+4 AE was neutropenia (11/14, 79%) although it was associated with infection in only 1 episode. One subject had early discontinuation due to toxicity (elevation in AST and ALT precluding further administration of ofatumumab). The majority of patients (11/14, 79%) required dose reduction or could not have the planned dose increase of lenalidomide after cycle 1 due to hematological toxicity. Overall 6/14 (43%) had objective response and 3/14 (21%) had stable disease for an overall clinical benefit in 64% of patients. All patients with TFR> Grade 1 had at least stable disease. Conclusion Intracycle sequential ofatumumab plus lenalidomide is well tolerated in advanced, high-risk CLL except for high rate of TFR and neutropenia without infection. Sequential ofatumumab and lenalidomide may be associated with higher rate of TFR than concomitant therapy. Approximately half the patients treated with this combination will obtain disease control. Further investigation is warranted in earlier lines and/or for more prolonged therapy. Disclosures: Costa: GSK: Research Funding. Off Label Use: Lenalidomide for treatment of CLL.

scholarly journals Economic burden and prevalence of malaria in companies in Douala, Cameroon

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Mbohou Nchetnkou ◽  
Herve Nyabeyeuh Nyabeyeuh ◽  
Calvin Tonga ◽  
Lafortune Kangam ◽  
Loick Pradel Kojom Foko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Health Spending ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Related Absenteeism ◽  
External Management ◽  
The Cost

Abstract Background: Malaria is a public health concern in Africa. At the socio-economic level, it represents a brake on the national growth through an increase of health spending, drop of productivity and high rate of absenteeism at the workplace. Some companies have implemented malaria control measures to improve their performance, but the vast majority are slow to follow this approach. Using the cost-of-illness approach, the objective of this study was to estimate the economic impact of malaria in two companies with 24-hour daily activity based in Douala, Cameroon: an agro-food industry nicknamed "AGRO" and a security company nicknamed "SECU".Method: A retrospective analysis of medical and financial records of these companies was carried out to calculate the economic cost of absenteeism, prophylaxis, Internal Management of Malaria cases (IMM) and External Management of Malaria cases (EMM) to these companies. A malaria screening campaign was carried out also in each company in one day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The clinical, anthropometric and socio-demographic data of the employees were collected before the collection of a drop of blood which was subsequently analyzed under the Cyscope fluorescence microscope (Partec-Sysmex, Münster, RFA). Results: Analysis of retrospective data revealed that the prevalence of symptomatic malaria cases had decreased by 8.9% and 25.1% respectively at AGRO and SECU between 2010 and 2012. Regarding the prospective component, 372 employees of the two companies were included in the study. The prevalence of malaria was 26.83% and 26.44% respectively at AGRO in January 2013 and SECU in February 2013. Malaria-related absenteeism accounted for 5% and 17% of general absenteeism at AGRO and SECU respectively. The cost of an EMM accounted for 19.5% and 40.5% of the monthly income of AGRO and SECU workers respectively. Each year, malaria generates a shortfall of US$ 26,426 and US$ 136,824 respectively to AGRO and SECU. Conclusion: Malaria have a negative impact on companies. However, early detection of suspected cases, campaigns to distribute insecticide-treated mosquito nets, Information, Education and Communication within the company could reduce this impact.

scholarly journals Molecular Characterization of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Isolated from the Intensive Care Unit in a Tertiary Teaching Hospital in Malaysia

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1340
Author(s):  
Jia Jie Woon ◽  
Cindy Shuan Ju Teh ◽  
Chun Wie Chong ◽  
Kartini Abdul Jabar ◽  
Sasheela Ponnampalavanar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Acinetobacter Baumannii ◽  
Molecular Characterization ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Tertiary Teaching ◽  
Carbapenemase Gene

The emergence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) has now become a global sentinel event. CRAB infections often instigate severe clinical complications and are potentially fatal, especially for debilitated patients. The present study aimed to conduct molecular characterization on CRAB isolated from patients in the intensive care unit from 2015 to 2016 and determine the risk factors associated with patients’ mortality. One hundred CRAB isolates were retrospectively selected and included in this study. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that all isolates remained susceptible to colistin, even though 62% of them conferred resistance to all other classes of antibiotics tested. OXA carbapenemase gene was found to be the predominant carbapenemase gene, with 99% of the isolates coharbouring blaOXA-23-like and blaOXA-51-like carbapenemase genes. All isolates were carrying intact CarO genes, with the presence of various degree of nucleotide insertion, deletion and substitution. Overall, PFGE subtyped the isolates into 13 distinct pulsotypes, with the presence of 2 predominant pulsotypes. Univariate analysis implied that age, infection/colonization by CRAB, ethnicity, comorbidity and CRAB specimen source were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality. Multivariate analysis identified a higher risk of mortality for patients who are of Chinese ethnicity with diabetes as an underlying disease. As CRAB infection could lead to high rate of mortality, comprehensive infection control measures are needed to minimize the spread of this pathogen.

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