Foodborne Intoxication Research Articles

Determination of histamine and histamine-forming bacteria in dried milkfish ( Chanos chanos) implicated in a food-borne poisoning

An incident of food-borne poisoning, causing illness in three victims due to ingestion of dried milkfish, occurred in February, 2006, in Tainan Prefecture, southern Taiwan. The leftovers of the victims’ dried milkfish and three other dried milkfish samples, from the same retail store as the leftover fish, were collected and tested to determine the occurrence of histamine and histamine-forming bacteria. The levels of pH, aerobic plate count (APC) and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) in the leftover dried milkfish sample were significantly higher than those of the other three milkfish samples. None of the tested milkfish samples contained total coliform and Escherichia coli. Although the histamine contents in the three other milkfish samples were less than 5 mg/100 g, the suspected milkfish sample contained 61.6 mg/100 g of histamine, which is greater than the hazard action level of 50 mg/100 g. Given the allergy-like symptoms of the victims and the high histamine content in the suspected milkfish sample, this food-borne poisoning was strongly suspected to be due to histamine intoxication. Four histamine-producing bacterial strains, capable of producing 11.9–1243 ppm of histamine in trypticase soy broth supplemented with 1.0% l-histidine (TSBH), were identified as Staphylococcus sciuri subsp. sciuri, Serratia grimesii, Bacillus cereus and Raoultella ornithinolytica, by 16S rDNA sequencing with PCR amplification. R. ornithinolytica was a potent histamine-former capable of producing more than 800 ppm of histamine in TSBH in the presence of 1.5% or 3.5% NaCl. Therefore, R. ornithinolytica could be the causative bacterium responsible for the production of high content of histamine that eventually led to this dried milkfish poisoning incident.

Ex vivo formation of gastric metabolites of clenbuterol: Preliminary characterisation of their chemical structure

The epidemiology of clenbuterol food-borne intoxication outbreaks indicates a possible discrepancy between the severity and long duration of clinical symptoms, and the presumed dose ingested as parent compound residue. In this work, we explore the possibility that clenbuterol could undergo to a biological transformation, in presence of salivary nitrites, at gastric pH (<3). Human salivary specimens were drawn before and after meal, accounting for the different physiological nitrite content (40 and 400μmolL−1, respectively, as average). Clenbuterol (10μmolL−1) was then incubated within the pH range 2–6 and possible products monitored by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS), drawing at regular intervals serial aliquots of the incubation mixture. With respect to controls, two differential peaks were noted along with a quantitative bio-transformation of the parent compound, at pH values ≤3. Under pre-meal conditions, a 4 mono-nitro compound was identified as main metabolite, whereas under post-meal condition a second metabolite, showing a complete de-chlorination, along with the probable presence of three nitro groups on the aromatic ring, was revealed. The reaction was highly reproducible and the kinetics suggested the involvement of nitrogen-related free radicals. The results are discussed in the light of the possible formation of pharmacological active tissue-bound residues as cause of symptoms severity.

Salmonella carrier-state in hens: study of host resistance by a gene expression approach

Salmonellosis is one of the main causes of food-borne poisoning due to the consumption of contaminated poultry products. In the flocks, Salmonella is able to persist in the digestive tract of birds for weeks without triggering any symptom. In order to identify molecules and genes involved in the mechanism of host resistance to intestinal carrier-state, two different inbred lines of laying hens were orally inoculated with Salmonella Enteritidis. Bacterial colonization and host gene expression were measured in the caecum and its sentinel lymphoid tissue, respectively. Significantly increased expression of chemokine, anti-infectious cytokine, bacterial receptor, antimicrobial mediator and particularly, defensin genes was observed in the line carrying a lower level of bacteria in the caecum. These innate immunity molecules were either constitutively or inductively highly expressed in resistant adult birds and thus present candidate genes to play an important role in the host defence against Salmonella colonization.

Prevalence Of Micro-Organisms In Flies And Meat Cuts In Uyo Abattoir, Akwa Ibom State

A total of 100 samples, 50 each of fresh meat cuts and flies were aseptically collected from Iba-Oku Abattoir in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State periodically and processed for quantitative and qualitative microbiological analysis using cultural procedures. Results of quantitative analysis revealed microbiological load of flies ranging from 1.8 (+ 0.02) X 10 6 to 1.83 ( + 0.33) X 10 6 cfu/g -1 while that of meat cuts ranged from 1.2 (+ 0.02) X10 5 to 1.25 (+ 0.33) X 10 6 cfu/g -1 . The viable plate count (VPC) of Micro-organisms on flies was significantly (P Staphylococus aureus as the most predominant organism, 48% and 50% respectively while Proteus was the least with 12% and 14% incidence in meat cuts and flies respectively. Apart from known mycotoxin producing Aspergillus and Penicillium species encountered in this work, the occurrence of Stapylococcus aureus, E. coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Micrococcus roseus, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas , and Salmonella species is indicative of gross contamination and constitute potential health hazard to consumers. Continuous microbiological surveillance of abattoirs is recommended to avert imminent danger of food borne intoxications. The public health significance of these findings are discussed in the paper. KEY WORDS: Microbial, Contamination, Meat cuts, Flies, Abattoir. Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol.3(1&2) 2004:79-81

Foodborne Infections and Intoxications: Need of a Multidisciplinary Approach for Control

Molecular Nutrition & Food ResearchVolume 48, Issue 7 p. 473-473 Editorial Foodborne Infections and Intoxications: Need of a Multidisciplinary Approach for Control Helge Karch, Helge KarchSearch for more papers by this author Helge Karch, Helge KarchSearch for more papers by this author First published: 19 November 2004 https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.200490014AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume48, Issue7December 2004Pages 473-473 RelatedInformation

Enterotoxin Production by Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Mastitic Cows

Staphylococcus aureus is an important cause of mastitis in cows. The ability of S. aureus strains to produce one or more enterotoxins in milk and dairy products is linked to staphylococcal food poisoning. To determine whether staphylococci causing bovine mastitis could cause human foodborne intoxication, the production of staphylococcal enterotoxins A through D (SEA, SEB, SEC, and SED) by 160 S. aureus isolates was evaluated with the use of a reverse passive latex agglutination enterotoxin kit. All S. aureus strains were isolated over a 9-month period from 2,343 routine submissions of a composite quarter collection of individual mastitic cows at 18 dairy farms in the San Joaquin Valley in California. Prior to enterotoxin detection, isolates were grown by a method that enhances the in vitro synthesis of enterotoxin. Twenty-two of 160 S. aureus isolates produced enterotoxin. Seven produced SEC, 12 produced SED, and 3 produced both SEC and SED. None of the isolates produced SEA or SEB.

WHO Surveillance Programme for Control of Foodborne Infections and Intoxications: Preliminary Results and Trends Across Greater Europe

Edited transcript of an oral presentation The WHO Food Surveillance Programme for the Control of Foodborne Diseases in Europe was launched 20 years ago as a consequence of the international awareness of the socio-economic impact of the increase of foodborne diseases. The programme is co-ordinated by the BgVVFAO/WHO Collaborating Centre in Berlin. The WHO Food Safety Regional Advisor, Dr Jermini, at the WHO Centre for the Environment and Health in Rome is responsible for the overall management of the programme. Since its establishment in 1980, interest in the programme has grown continuously. The programme started with the participation of only eight countries and currently has 49 participating countries from the 51 members of the WHO European Region, plus Cyprus. It comprises 850 million people in diverse climatic, structural and socio-economic conditions. Some of these countries have newly established economies, and some have been recently declared by the United Nations as being below the poverty level. Ten new countries have joined the programme this year, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Ukraine, Uzbekistan and the whole Balkans region. The programme is particularly interested in inviting all countries in the WHO European region to provide them with support in their efforts to reinforce their surveillance systems. In fact, the main objective of the programme is to provide support for the development of appropriate measures for the prevention and control of foodborne diseases in the region. The programme aims to identify the

WHO Surveillance Programme for Control of Foodborne Infections and Intoxications: Preliminary Results and Trends Across Greater Europe

WHO Surveillance Programme for Control of Foodborne Infections and Intoxications: Preliminary Results and Trends Across Greater Europe

Metabolism of (R)- and (S)-3-(phenylamino)propane-1,2-diol in C57BL/6- and A/J-strain mice. Identification of new metabolites with potential toxicological significance to the toxic oil syndrome.

The Toxic Oil Syndrome was a massive food-borne intoxication that occurred in Spain in 1981. Epidemiological studies point to 3-(phenylamino)propane-1,2-diol (PAP) derivatives as the putative toxic agents. We report further identification of metabolites cleared in urine of A/J and C57BL/6 mice in which (R)- and (S)-3-(phenylamino)propane-1,2-diol were administered intraperitoneally. This investigation is an extension of previous studies carried out with the racemic compound [Ladona, M. G., Bujons, J., Messeguer, A., Ampurdanés, C., Morató, A., and Corbella, J. (1999) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 12, 1127-1137]. Both PAP enantiomers were extensively metabolized, and several metabolites were eliminated in urine. The HPLC profiles of the urine samples of both mouse strains treated with each enantiomer were qualitatively similar, but differences were found in a relatively higher proportion of several detected metabolites in mice treated with (R)-PAP compared with those treated with (S)-PAP. The main urine metabolite continues to be 2-hydroxy-3-(phenylamino)propanoic acid (1), which confirms our previous results obtained with rac-PAP. In addition to the detection of other metabolites already reported in our previous paper, interesting evidence is provided on the presence of 4-aminophenol and paracetamol conjugates in the urine samples from both mouse strains. The detection of these metabolites suggests the in vivo formation of quinoneimine PAP derivatives. Indeed, some quinoneimine species (11 and 12), as well as other PAP metabolites (13) that bear modifications in the alkyl chain, have been tentatively identified in mouse urine. These metabolic findings might imply a potential toxicological significance for the Toxic Oil Syndrome.

Analysis of Salmonella enteritidis strains isolated from food-poisoning cases in Taiwan by pulsed field gel electrophoresis, plasmid profile and phage typing.

To establish the molecular typing data for Salmonella enteritidis due to its increasing role in Salmonella infections in Taiwan. Sixty-three Salm. enteritidis strains isolated from related and unrelated patients suffering from food-borne poisoning during 1991-97 were collected and subjected to pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), plasmid analysis and phage typing. For PFGE, XbaI, SpeI and NotI restriction enzymes were used for chromosomal DNA digestion. The results showed that, for these 63 Salmonella strains, 10 PFGE pattern combinations were found. Of these, pattern X3 S3 N3 was the major subtype, since 46 strains isolated from different locations at different times during 1991-97 showed this PFGE pattern. Plasmid analysis showed only three plasmid profiles and phage typing showed that most of the Salmonella strains were of the phage type PT4. Most of the Salm. enteritidis strains circulating in Taiwan are of very similar genetic types or are highly related and that strains of PFGE pattern X3 S3 N3 are the prevalent and recirculating strains of Salm. enteritidis which caused food-poisoning cases in Taiwan in 1991-97. This study provides information that in Salmonella infection, certain subtypes of Salm. enteritidis should be scrutinized.

The health significance of pesticide variability in individual commodity items

The observed phenomenon of variability of residues in individual fruit and vegetables has a number of implications for risk assessment. The main implication is that the possibility of acute toxic effects in humans has to be considered, where items are commonly consumed unprocessed, are commonly consumed at a single sitting and the pesticide involved has substantial acute toxicity. The main groups of pesticides of concern are the anticholinesterase organophosphates and carbamates. The problem partly arises from the fact that, with some older pesticides, studies of the type most appropriate for setting acute reference doses (ARfDs) have not been carried out. As a result ARfDs are based on studies of length that is greater than ideal. While there is little evidence from the scientific or medical literature that food-borne pesticide poisoning is occurring on any major scale, the symptomatology of such poisoning would be non-specific and the pattern in the population, sporadic. Hence it is likely that pesticide-related illness, through food, would be missed. It is concluded that risk assessments should be improved, using refined safety factors, more appropriate studies and better intake data. The reasons for the variability could be sought and remedied or the application conditions of the pesticide modified.

DNA probe analysis for the carriage of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens in feces of a Mexican subpopulation

Clostridium perfringens has been implicated as a causative agent of foodborne poisoning, infectious diarrhea (not associated with foods), gas gangrene, and several veterinary diseases. Fecal carriage of enterotoxigenic strains of this bacterium appears to be important in the development of infectious diarrhea and as a source of C. perfringens contamination of foods. In this work, carriage of this bacterium in feces of a Mexican population was analyzed. C. perfringens was found in 126 of the 200 fecal samples obtained from healthy individuals from northern Mexico. The samples had an average of 7.4 × 10 3 spores per gram, with the elderly population showing the highest levels. Dot blot analyses using a dig-labeled probe specific for the enterotoxin gene showed that 7% of the samples had isolates with toxigenic potential.

Food-borne poisoning

Food-borne poisoning

The effect of lipids on bongkrekic (Bongkrek) acid toxin production by Burkholderia cocovenenans in coconut media

Tempe bongkrek is an Indonesian food made by fermentation of coconut presscake or coconut milk residue Rhizopus oligosporus. Consumption of tempe bongkrek is associated with a food-borne human intoxication and significant numbers of deaths annually. The bacterium Burkholderia cocovenenans, which is the causative organism, produces two toxins, toxoflavin and bongkrekic acid (also commonly referred to as bongkrek acid). The reasons why these poisonings occur only in a very limited number of foods and only in isolated regions of the world are unclear. Our preliminary experiments in defined media and coconut investigated several compositional and environmental factors and suggested that lipid type and/or concentration were important. The effect of lipid concentration and fatty acid type on the production of bongkrekic acid by B. cocovenenans was examined by adding different amounts of coconut fat or individual free fatty acids to defatted and sterilized Rich Coconut Media (dRCM). The dRCM with added lipid was inoculated with B. cocovenenans, incubated at 30°C for 5 days and the amount of bongkrekic acid formed quantified by HPLC. Coconut fat concentrations of 10% (dry basis) or less did not result in detectable amounts of bongkrekic acid even though the B. cocovenenans grew to high levels. Forty and 50% coconut fat resulted in as much as 1.4mg/g bonkrekic acid (dry weight) at the same level of growth. Of eight saturated fatty acids tested, only lauric (12:0), myristic (14:0), and palmitic (16:0)acids stimulated the production of detectable amounts of toxin. When four 18-carbon free fatty acids with different degrees of saturation were compared, significant amounts of bongkrekic acid (2.62mg/g dry weight) were produced only with oleic acid (18:1). These data indicate that the concentration and type of lipid in the substrate is critical for bongkrekic acid formation. This may explain why bongkrekic acid intoxication is limited to certain foods. Outbreaks associated with foods containing less than 20% fat may be a result of toxoflavin formation and not bongkrekic acid formation.

Intoxication by Non-Protein Nitrogen Compounds In Rat Feed

ABSTRACTLast year our white rats (Wistar origin) showed acute behavioral and physiological changes followed by death in 70% of the animals. We detected that the malfunctions could be attributed to the new batch of laboratory rat pellets provided two weeks before. High levels of urea (260 mg/kg) and ammonia (540 mg/kg) were found in the feed while usual values in other similar feed were 48 mg/kg and 82 mg/kg respectively. Suspecting an ammonia intoxication, concentrations of ammonia and urea were determined in blood, brain and liver. Brain neurotransmitters and blood tryptophan and serotonine (5-HT) were also determined. Blood ammonia in rats fed the contaminated feed was about 100% higher than those fed the normal feed while liver and brain ammonia were three and four fold high respectively. Liver and brain urea were four to five fold and about 100% higher in the exposed group than in the group fed the control diet respectively. Blood 5-HT increased 62.33% in females and 99% in males whereas brain 5-HT increased 83.13% in females and 70.47% in males. But, we detected a 59.8% decrease in brain dopamine levels in females and a 38.65% decrease in males. Liver histology showed small droplets of fat stores mainly in centrolobular hepatocyte. No differences in blood or liver cholesterol concentrations were observed whereas liver triacylglycerides were significantly higher in intoxicated females. This study illustrates a problem of food borne intoxication that justifies the need for exhaustive analyses of even not usual compounds in every feed batch; moreover, it is demonstrated that rat behavior appears to be the earliest biomarker of ammonia exposure.

Isolation of Salmonella resistant to hypochlorous acid from a poultry abattoir.

Salmonella is a Gram-negative bacterium that has been implicated in several food-borne poisoning outbreaks. Poultry products are considered to be the major vehicles of food-borne poisoning caused by Salmonella. The resistance of Salmonella, isolated from different stages in a local poultry abattoir, to hypochlorous acid (HOCl) was studied. Isolates cultured in quarter strength Tryptone Soya Broth were treated with 72 ppm HOCl, incubated at 30 degrees C with shaking, and absorbance was measured at 660 nm every 20 min. A number of resistant isolates, which carried on growing following HOCl addition, were obtained. All the isolates from the bleeding stage were sensitive to HOCl, whereas those from the scalding stage were resistant to HOCl. Other stages had a population of resistant and sensitive isolates. It is evident that some Salmonella will grow in the presence of concentrations of HOCl deemed to be inhibitory. Hence, an effective concentration of HOCl must be applied in poultry abattoirs to ensure that all the Salmonella are eradicated.

Strain differentiation of Clostridium perfringens by bacteriocin typing, plasmid profiling and ribotyping.

Bacteriocin typing, plasmid profiling and ribotyping were used to type 34 food and patient Clostridium perfringens isolates from 10 food poisoning cases, respectively, outbreaks. In nine cases/outbreaks bacteriocin patterns showed identical main groups. Subgroups differed within all cases/outbreaks. Plasmid profiles were identical for all isolates within each of three outbreaks. In eight food poisoning cases and outbreaks, all the ribotypes of each food and stool isolate were found to be identical. All three typing methods give valuable results for the characterization of C. perfringens beyond the species level. Bacteriocin typing represents a suitable addition to plasmid typing, particularly since the results do not show any correlation between losses of plasmids and changes in bacteriocin sensitivity patterns. Ribotyping was found to be a suitable tool to determine the genetic relationship of C. perfringens isolates in the context of food-borne poisoning.

Chronic sequelae of foodborne disease.

In the past decade the complexity of foodborne pathogens, as well as their adaptability and ability to cause acute illness, and in some cases chronic (secondary) complications, have been newly appreciated. This overview examines long-term consequences of foodborne infections and intoxications to emphasize the need for more research and education.

Ribotyping for strain characterization of Clostridium perfringens isolates from food poisoning cases and outbreaks.

Ribotyping was used to characterize 34 Clostridium perfringens strains isolated from 10 food poisoning cases and outbreaks over a 7-year period. Twelve different ribopatterns were generated by EcoRI digestion. In eight food poisoning cases and outbreaks, all of the ribotypes of each food and stool isolate were found to be identical. Two C. perfringens isolates showed unique patterns. Ribotyping was found to be a useful tool for determining the genetic relationship of C. perfringens isolates in the context of foodborne poisoning cases.

Rapid Identification ofClostridium perfringensin Animal Feedstuffs

Clostridium perfringensis a common contaminant of grains and meals used for animal feeding and its presence in feedstuffs has been implicated in outbreaks of foodborne poisoning in farm animals. In order to evaluate a new rapid procedure forC. perfringensisolation and identification, we examined qualitatively 120 duplicate samples of feedstuffs used for farm animal and poultry feeding, using the Lactose-Sulfite broth (LS) proposed for rapidC. perfringensdetection and the conventional Cooked Meat Medium (CMM). The results suggest that LS medium is fairly successful in the detection ofC. perfringensvegetative cells and spores, despite the presence of the bacterial and fungal flora normally found in animal feedstuffs.