Detection of Cyclospora, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia in Ready-to-Eat Packaged Leafy Greens in Ontario, Canada

2013 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRENT DIXON ◽  
LORNA PARRINGTON ◽  
ANGELA COOK ◽  
FRANK POLLARI ◽  
JEFFREY FARBER
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Giardia Duodenalis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Leafy Greens ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Cryptosporidium Oocysts ◽  
Foodborne Outbreaks ◽  
Parasite Viability ◽  
Assemblage B

Numerous foodborne outbreaks of diarrheal illness associated with the consumption of produce contaminated with protozoan parasites have been reported in North America in recent years. The present study reports on the presence of Cyclospora, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia in precut salads and leafy greens purchased at retail in Ontario, Canada. A total of 544 retail samples were collected between April 2009 and March 2010 and included a variety of salad blends and individual leafy greens. Most of these products were grown in the United States, with some from Canada and Mexico. Parasites were eluted and concentrated before detection by PCR and immunofluorescence microscopy. DNA sequences were aligned with reference sequences in GenBank. Cyclospora spp. were identified by PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism in nine (1.7%) samples and by DNA sequence analysis. Cryptosporidium spp. were identified in 32 (5.9%) samples; 29 were sequenced and aligned with the zoonotic species Cryptosporidium parvum. Giardia duodenalis was identified in 10 (1.8%) samples, and of the 9 samples successfully sequenced, 7 aligned with G. duodenalis assemblage B and 2 with assemblage A, both of which are also zoonotic. The presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts was confirmed in some of the PCR-positive samples using microscopy, while Cyclospora-like oocysts were observed in most of the Cyclospora PCR-positive samples. The relatively high prevalence of these parasites in packaged salads and leafy greens establishes a baseline for further studies and suggests a need for additional research with respect to the possible sources of contamination of these foods, the determination of parasite viability and virulence, and means to reduce foodborne transmission to humans.

scholarly journals High Prevalence of Giardia duodenalis Assemblage B Infection and Association with Underweight in Rwandan Children

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. e1677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralf Ignatius ◽  
Jean Bosco Gahutu ◽  
Christian Klotz ◽  
Christian Steininger ◽  
Cyprien Shyirambere ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Giardia Duodenalis ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Assemblage B

scholarly journals Determination of the Occurrence of Toxoplasma Gondii, Giardia Duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in leafy Greens in Marrakech using a Molecular Method

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
salma Berrouch ◽  
Sandie Escotte-Binet ◽  
Atika Madline ◽  
Dominique Aubert ◽  
Eva Nast ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Giardia Duodenalis ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Protozoan Parasites ◽  
Molecular Method ◽  
Leafy Greens ◽  
Contaminated Food ◽  
Food Matrices ◽  
Real Time Qpcr

Abstract Background: The association between the parasitic illnesses and the consumption of contaminated food is more and more described. However, there is still a lack of studies investigating the occurrence of parasitic contamination in food matrices. The aim of the present study was to assess the presence of T. gondii and Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts and G. duodenalis cysts, in three leafy greens (coriander, lettuce and parsley) commonly consumed raw.Methods: A total of 152 leafy green samples were collected in Marrakech from April 2018 to October 2019. Parasites were eluted and concentrated before detection of their DNA by real-time qPCR. Results: The analysis revealed an overall rate of contamination of 32.2% (49/152), with 29.6% (45/152) positive for T. gondii, 2.6% (4/152) for G. duodenalis, while Cryptosporidium spp was not detected. Conclusion: The results showed that leafy greens vegetables available in markets of Morocco are subjected to protozoan parasites contaminations. Thus, humans can be exposed to these parasites through vegetables consumption. Further investigations can be performed to acquire new epidemiological data on the health risk of these protozoan diseases in Morocco.

scholarly journals Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis and Toxoplasma gondii detection in fresh vegetables consumed in Marrakech, Morocco

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 1669-78
Author(s):  
Salma Berrouch ◽  
Sandie Escotte-Binet ◽  
Yassine Amraouza ◽  
Pierre Flori ◽  
Dominique Aubert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Giardia Duodenalis ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Contaminated Water ◽  
Protozoan Parasites ◽  
Leafy Greens ◽  
Cryptosporidium Spp ◽  
Vegetable Samples ◽  
Fresh Vegetables

Background: Protozoan parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii, Giardia duodenalis, and Cryptosporidium spp., can be transmitted to humans via accidental consumption of contaminated water, fresh produce and foodstuffs. There is a lack of epidemiological data about these pathogens in Morocco. Hence the aim of this study, which is the determination of their prevalence in some leafy greens and root vegetables sold in Marrakech. Methods: A total of 132 vegetable samples including carrot, coriander, lettuce, parsley and radish were purchased monthly from three different markets in Marrakech from March 2017 to January 2018, pre-treated and subjected to microscopic and molecular analyses. Results: Of the 132 samples of vegetables analyzed by qPCR, the overall rate of protozoan was 21.21% (28/132); 22 samples were found to be contaminated with T. gondii, 6 with G. duodenalis, and none was positive for C. parvum/hominis. Whereas, modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining allowed the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. in 3% (4/132) of examined samples. Conclusion: This survey on the presence of protozoan parasites in fresh vegetables revealed that vegetables sold in Marrakech are contaminated by these protozoan parasites, as it showed that leafy green vegetables were more susceptible for parasitic contamination than root ones. Keywords: Fresh vegetables; protozoan parasites; Marrakech; qPCR.

scholarly journals Occurrence of Cryptosporidium Oocysts and Giardia Cysts in Sewage in Norway

2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (8) ◽  
pp. 5297-5303 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Robertson ◽  
L. Hermansen ◽  
B. K. Gjerde
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Giardia Duodenalis ◽  
Infection Intensity ◽  
Treatment Processes ◽  
Cryptosporidium Oocysts ◽  
Water Courses ◽  
Minimal Treatment ◽  
Two Populations ◽  
Substantial Heterogeneity ◽  
Assemblage B

ABSTRACT Samples of sewage influent from 40 sewage treatment works (STW) throughout Norway were examined for Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia duodenalis cysts. Both parasites were detected frequently (80% of STW were Cryptosporidium positive; 93% of STW were Giardia positive) and at maximum concentrations of >20,000 parasites/liter. The data suggest giardiasis is more widespread, and/or occurs with greater infection intensity, than cryptosporidiosis in Norway. STW serving higher person equivalents were more likely to be positive and had higher parasite concentrations. Parasite concentrations were used to estimate the proportion of contributing populations that could be clinically infected. For Cryptosporidium, the highest estimates were up to 5 per 100,000 individuals for two populations in eastern Norway. For Giardia, the highest estimate was 40 infected per 100,000 persons (approximately five times the usual national annual average) contributing to an STW in western Norway. As this population experienced a large waterborne giardiasis outbreak 6 months after sampling, it can be speculated that regular challenge with Giardia may occur here. Most Giardia isolates in sewage influent were assemblage A, although some assemblage B isolates were detected. There was substantial heterogeneity, but most samples contained isolates similar to genotype A3. Removal efficiencies at two STW with secondary treatment processes were estimated to be approximately 50% for Cryptosporidium and >80% for Giardia. An STW with minimal treatment had negligible removal of both parasites. Many STW in Norway have minimal treatment and discharge effluent into rivers and lakes, thus, risk of contamination of water courses by Cryptosporidium and Giardia is considerable.

scholarly journals A System Model for Understanding the Role of Animal Feces as a Route of Contamination of Leafy Greens before Harvest

2016 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhinav Mishra ◽  
Hao Pang ◽  
Robert L. Buchanan ◽  
Donald W. Schaffner ◽  
Abani K. Pradhan
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
System Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Leafy Greens ◽  
Mathematical System ◽  
Soil Irrigation ◽  
Foodborne Outbreaks ◽  
Wild Pig

ABSTRACT The majority of foodborne outbreaks in the United States associated with the consumption of leafy greens contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 have been reported during the period of July to November. A dynamic system model consisting of subsystems and inputs to the system (soil, irrigation, cattle, wild pig, and rainfall) simulating a hypothetical farm was developed. The model assumed two crops of lettuce in a year and simulated planting, irrigation, harvesting, ground preparation for the new crop, contamination of soil and plants, and survival of E. coli O157:H7. As predicted by the baseline model for crops harvested in different months from conventional fields, an estimated 13 out of 257 (5.05%) first crops harvested in July would have at least one plant with at least 1 CFU of E. coli O157:H7. Predictions indicate that no first crops would be contaminated with at least 1 CFU of E. coli O157:H7 for other months (April to June). The maximum E. coli O157:H7 concentration in a plant was higher in the second crop (27.10 CFU) than in the first crop (9.82 CFU). For the second crop, the probabilities of having at least one plant with at least 1 CFU of E. coli O157:H7 in a crop were predicted as 15/228 (6.6%), 5/333 (1.5%), 14/324 (4.3%), and 6/115 (5.2%) in August, September, October, and November, respectively. For organic fields, the probabilities of having at least one plant with ≥1 CFU of E. coli O157:H7 in a crop (3.45%) were predicted to be higher than those for the conventional fields (2.15%). IMPORTANCE This study is the first attempt toward developing a mathematical system model to understand the pathway of E. coli O157:H7 in the production of leafy greens. Results of the presented system model indicate that the seasonality of outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7-associated contamination of leafy greens was in good agreement with the prevalence of this pathogen in cattle and wild pig feces in a major leafy greens-producing region in California. On the basis of comparisons among the results of different scenarios, it can be recommended that the concentration of E. coli O157:H7 in leafy greens can be reduced considerably if contamination of soil with wild pig and cattle feces is mitigated.

State-by-State Use of AMA Guides

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 3-7, 16
Keyword(s):  
Expert Testimony ◽  
Narrow Range ◽  
The United States ◽  
Workers Compensation ◽  
Federal Employees ◽  
Permanent Disability ◽  
Sixth Edition ◽  
History Of ◽  
Canadian Provinces

Abstract This article presents a history of the origins and development of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides), from the publication of an article titled “A Guide to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment of the Extremities and Back” (1958) until a compendium of thirteen guides was published in book form in 1971. The most recent, sixth edition, appeared in 2008. Over time, the AMA Guides has been widely used by US states for workers’ compensation and also by the Federal Employees Compensation Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, as well as by Canadian provinces and other jurisdictions around the world. In the United States, almost twenty states have developed some form of their own impairment rating system, but some have a narrow range and scope and advise evaluators to consult the AMA Guides for a final determination of permanent disability. An evaluator's impairment evaluation report should clearly document the rater's review of prior medical and treatment records, clinical evaluation, analysis of the findings, and a discussion of how the final impairment rating was calculated. The resulting report is the rating physician's expert testimony to help adjudicate the claim. A table shows the edition of the AMA Guides used in each state and the enabling statute/code, with comments.

Current perspectives in antithrombotic therapy

2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (03) ◽  
pp. 82-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Hoppensteadt ◽  
O. Iqbal ◽  
R. L. Bick ◽  
J. Fareed
Keyword(s):  
Blood Coagulation ◽  
Antithrombotic Therapy ◽  
Thrombotic Event ◽  
The United States ◽  
Vascular Thrombosis ◽  
Common Cause ◽  
Coagulation Protein ◽  
Coronary Events ◽  
Platelet Defects

SummaryThrombotic disorders are the most common cause of death in the United States. About two million individuals die each year from an arterial or venous thrombosis or related disorders. About 80% to 90% of all cases of thrombosis can now be defined with respect to cause. Of these, over 50% occur in patients who harbor a congenital or acquired blood coagulation protein or platelet defect which caused the thrombotic event. It is obviously of major importance to define those individuals harboring such a defect as this allows: 1) appropriate antithrombotic therapy to decrease risks of recurrence; 2) determination of the length of time the patient must remain on therapy for secondary prevention; and 3) allow for testing of family members of those harboring a blood coagulation protein or platelet defect which is hereditary (about 50% of all coagulation and platelet defects mentioned above). Aside from mortality, significant additional morbidity occurs from both arterial or venous thrombotic events, including, but not limited to paralysis (non-fatal thrombotic stroke), cardiac disability (repeated coronary events), loss of vision (retinal vascular thrombosis), fetal waste syndrome (placental vascular thrombosis), stasis ulcers and other manifestations of post-phlebitic syndrome, etc.

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