RESUMO

Norovirus is a major cause of foodborne-associated acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreaks worldwide. Usually, food products are contaminated either during harvesting or preparation, and the most common products associated to norovirus outbreaks are raw or undercooked bivalve shellfish, fruits (frozen berries) and ready-to-eat produce. In the present study, we investigated an AGE outbreak caused by norovirus associated with the consumption of ice pops in southern Brazil. Clinical stool samples from patients and ice pops samples were collected and analyzed for viruses' detection. By using RT-qPCR and sequencing, we detected the uncommon genotype GII.12[P16] in clinical samples and GII.12 in samples of ice pop. Strains shared identity of 100% at nucleotide level strongly suggesting the consumption of ice pops as the source of the outbreak.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Food handlers and consumers are responsible for avoiding foodborne diseases (FBD). Considering the meals consumed away from home, can the consumer identify the FBD risk level of the food that he/she consumes in restaurants? This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, risk perception, and optimistic bias of food handlers and consumers of restaurants and the relationship of these variables with the FBD risk of these establishments. Sixty-four handlers and 265 consumers of 14 restaurants in the city of Limeira - São Paulo, Brazil participated in the study. A validated checklist was used to evaluate the food safety profile of restaurants with a score ranging from zero to 2565.95. A structured questionnaire was employed to assess knowledge of food safety and the risk perception of FBD. The food handlers indicated their own risk and their peers' risk of causing a FBD. Consumers evaluated their own risk and the risk of their peers of contracting a FBD after making their own meals, consuming meals at the studied restaurants and consuming meals in other food establishments. The answers were based on a structured scale with seven options. The difference between their risk perception levels (risk attributed to itself and to a peer) indicated the optimistic bias of FBD risk. The mean food safety risk score of the food service establishments was 105.51. The restaurants were classified into two groups, higher or lower FBD risk. The mean score of knowledge (percentage of correct answers) of food safety was 61.7% for handlers and 59% for consumers, showing a nonsignificant difference (p = .29). Both food handlers and consumers stated that they were less at risk for FBD than their peers (p < .001). A direct effect of consumers' optimistic bias on food service FBD risk was observed through multivariate analysis. Optimistic bias may lead consumers to choose restaurants with a higher FDB risk. A direct negative effect of food handlers' knowledge of food service FBD risk was observed. These results show that consumers may have incorporated a sense of affection and identity to a place, associating it with making their own meals at home. Therefore, the consumer may not differentiate restaurants with regard to food safety. This result reinforces the need for governments and health agencies to protect the health of the population.

Assuntos

RESUMO

A distribuição do botulismo é mundial, com casos esporádicos ou surtos familiares, em geral, relacionados à produção e à conservação de alimentos de maneira inadequada. As intoxicações alimentares constituem um dos significantes problemas de saúde pública. O botulismo é uma doença grave, causada pelo Clotrisdium botulinum e deve ser considerado emergência médica e de saúde pública. De ocorrência súbita, caracteriza-se por manifestações neurológicas seletivas, de evolução dramática e elevada mortalidade, entre 30 e 65%. Devido a importância do botulismo como um problema de saúde pública, é indispensável relatar que o maior perigo de contaminação está nos alimentos preparados de forma artesanal, principalmente em conservas caseiras.(AU)

The distribution of botulism is worldwide, with sporadic cases or outbreaks family usually related to production and conservation of food improperly. The food poisoning is one of the significant public health problems. Botulism is a serious illness caused by Clostridium botulinum should be considered a medical emergency and public health. The sudden occurrence characterized by neurological manifestations selective evolution of dramatic and high mortality between 30 and 65%. Due to the importance of botulism as a public health problem, it is essential to report that the greatest danger of contamination in food is prepared by hand, especially in home canning.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

A distribuição do botulismo é mundial, com casos esporádicos ou surtos familiares, em geral, relacionados à produção e à conservação de alimentos de maneira inadequada. As intoxicações alimentares constituem um dos significantes problemas de saúde pública. O botulismo é uma doença grave, causada pelo Clotrisdium botulinum e deve ser considerado emergência médica e de saúde pública. De ocorrência súbita, caracteriza-se por manifestações neurológicas seletivas, de evolução dramática e elevada mortalidade, entre 30 e 65%. Devido a importância do botulismo como um problema de saúde pública, é indispensável relatar que o maior perigo de contaminação está nos alimentos preparados de forma artesanal, principalmente em conservas caseiras.

The distribution of botulism is worldwide, with sporadic cases or outbreaks family usually related to production and conservation of food improperly. The food poisoning is one of the significant public health problems. Botulism is a serious illness caused by Clostridium botulinum should be considered a medical emergency and public health. The sudden occurrence characterized by neurological manifestations selective evolution of dramatic and high mortality between 30 and 65%. Due to the importance of botulism as a public health problem, it is essential to report that the greatest danger of contamination in food is prepared by hand, especially in home canning.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Data concerning the prevalence and populations of Salmonella in foods implicated in outbreaks may be important to the development of quantitative microbial risk assessments of individual food products. In this sense, the objective of the present study was to assess the amount of Salmonella sp. in different foods implicated in foodborne outbreaks in Rio Grande do Sul occurred in 2005 and to characterize the isolated strains using phenotypic and genotypic methods. Nineteen food samples involved in ten foodborne outbreaks occurred in 2005, and positive on Salmonella isolation at the Central Laboratory of the Health Department of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, were included in this study. Food samples were submitted to estimation of Salmonella using the Most Probable Number (MPN) technique. Moreover, one confirmed Salmonella colony of each food sample was serotyped, characterized by its XbaI-macrorestriction profile, and submitted to antimicrobial resistance testing. Foods containing eggs, mayonnaise or chicken were contaminated with Salmonella in eight outbreaks. Higher counts (>10(7) MPN.g-1) of Salmonella were detected mostly in foods containing mayonnaise. The isolation of Salmonella from multiple food items in five outbreaks probably resulted from the cross-contamination, and the high Salmonella counts detected in almost all analyzed samples probably resulted from storing in inadequate temperature. All strains were identified as S. Enteritidis, and presented a unique macrorestriction profile, demonstrating the predominance of one clonal group in foods involved in the salmonellosis outbreaks. A low frequency of antimicrobial resistant S. Enteritidis strains was observed and nalidixic acid was the only resistance marker detected.

Dados sobre a prevalência e a população de Salmonella em alimentos implicados em surtos podem contribuir na condução de análises de risco. Dessa forma, o objetivo desse estudo foi determinar a quantidade de Salmonella sp. presente em alimentos implicados em surtos ocorridos no Rio Grande do Sul em 2005 e caracterizar os isolados por meio de técnicas fenotípicas e genotípicas. Dezenove amostras de alimentos obtidas em dez surtos ocorridos em 2005 e identificadas como positivas para Salmonella no Laboratório Central da Secretaria da Saúde do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul foram incluídas no estudo. A quantificação de Salmonella foi feita pela técnica do Número Mais Provável (NMP). Ao lado disto, uma colônia de Salmonella obtida de cada amostra de alimento foi submetida à sorotipificação, macro-restição com XbaI e determinação de resistência a antimicrobianos. Salmonella esteve presente em alimentos a base de ovos, maionese e frango em oito surtos. As contagens mais elevadas (>10(7) NMP.g-1) foram detectadas principalmente em alimentos contendo maionese. O isolamento de Salmonella de vários alimentos em cinco surtos resultou, provavelmente, da contaminação cruzada, enquanto as elevadas contagens encontradas, em quase todos os alimentos, podem ser explicadas por armazenamento em temperatura inadequada. Todos os isolados foram identificados como S. Enteritidis, e apenas um perfil foi encontrado na macro-restrição, demonstrando a predominância de um grupo clonal desse sorovar nos surtos de salmonelose. Uma baixa freqüência de isolados de S. Enteritidis resistentes a antimicrobianos foi encontrada, sendo a resistência ao ácido nalidíxico o único perfil encontrado.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Data concerning the prevalence and populations of Salmonella in foods implicated in outbreaks may be important to the development of quantitative microbial risk assessments of individual food products. In this sense, the objective of the present study was to assess the amount of Salmonella sp. in different foods implicated in foodborne outbreaks in Rio Grande do Sul occurred in 2005 and to characterize the isolated strains using phenotypic and genotypic methods. Nineteen food samples involved in ten foodborne outbreaks occurred in 2005, and positive on Salmonella isolation at the Central Laboratory of the Health Department of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, were included in this study. Food samples were submitted to estimation of Salmonella using the Most Probable Number (MPN) technique. Moreover, one confirmed Salmonella colony of each food sample was serotyped, characterized by its XbaI-macrorestriction profile, and submitted to antimicrobial resistance testing. Foods containing eggs, mayonnaise or chicken were contaminated with Salmonella in eight outbreaks. Higher counts (>10(7) MPN.g(-1)) of Salmonella were detected mostly in foods containing mayonnaise. The isolation of Salmonella from multiple food items in five outbreaks probably resulted from the cross-contamination, and the high Salmonella counts detected in almost all analyzed samples probably resulted from storing in inadequate temperature. All strains were identified as S. Enteritidis, and presented a unique macrorestriction profile, demonstrating the predominance of one clonal group in foods involved in the salmonellosis outbreaks. A low frequency of antimicrobial resistant S. Enteritidis strains was observed and nalidixic acid was the only resistance marker detected.

RESUMO

Data concerning the prevalence and populations of Salmonella in foods implicated in outbreaks may be important to the development of quantitative microbial risk assessments of individual food products. In this sense, the objective of the present study was to assess the amount of Salmonella sp. in different foods implicated in foodborne outbreaks in Rio Grande do Sul occurred in 2005 and to characterize the isolated strains using phenotypic and genotypic methods. Nineteen food samples involved in ten foodborne outbreaks occurred in 2005, and positive on Salmonella isolation at the Central Laboratory of the Health Department of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, were included in this study. Food samples were submitted to estimation of Salmonella using the Most Probable Number (MPN) technique. Moreover, one confirmed Salmonella colony of each food sample was serotyped, characterized by its XbaI-macrorestriction profile, and submitted to antimicrobial resistance testing. Foods containing eggs, mayonnaise or chicken were contaminated with Salmonella in eight outbreaks. Higher counts (>10(7) MPN.g-1) of Salmonella were detected mostly in foods containing mayonnaise. The isolation of Salmonella from multiple food items in five outbreaks probably resulted from the cross-contamination, and the high Salmonella counts detected in almost all analyzed samples probably resulted from storing in inadequate temperature. All strains were identified as S. Enteritidis, and presented a unique macrorestriction profile, demonstrating the predominance of one clonal group in foods involved in the salmonellosis outbreaks. A low frequency of antimicrobial resistant S. Enteritidis strains was observed and nalidixic acid was the only resistance marker detected.

Dados sobre a prevalência e a população de Salmonella em alimentos implicados em surtos podem contribuir na condução de análises de risco. Dessa forma, o objetivo desse estudo foi determinar a quantidade de Salmonella sp. presente em alimentos implicados em surtos ocorridos no Rio Grande do Sul em 2005 e caracterizar os isolados por meio de técnicas fenotípicas e genotípicas. Dezenove amostras de alimentos obtidas em dez surtos ocorridos em 2005 e identificadas como positivas para Salmonella no Laboratório Central da Secretaria da Saúde do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul foram incluídas no estudo. A quantificação de Salmonella foi feita pela técnica do Número Mais Provável (NMP). Ao lado disto, uma colônia de Salmonella obtida de cada amostra de alimento foi submetida à sorotipificação, macro-restição com XbaI e determinação de resistência a antimicrobianos. Salmonella esteve presente em alimentos a base de ovos, maionese e frango em oito surtos. As contagens mais elevadas (>10(7) NMP.g-1) foram detectadas principalmente em alimentos contendo maionese. O isolamento de Salmonella de vários alimentos em cinco surtos resultou, provavelmente, da contaminação cruzada, enquanto as elevadas contagens encontradas, em quase todos os alimentos, podem ser explicadas por armazenamento em temperatura inadequada. Todos os isolados foram identificados como S. Enteritidis, e apenas um perfil foi encontrado na macro-restrição, demonstrando a predominância de um grupo clonal desse sorovar nos surtos de salmonelose. Uma baixa freqüência de isolados de S. Enteritidis resistentes a antimicrobianos foi encontrada, sendo a resistência ao ácido nalidíxico o único perfil encontrado.