Research Publications (Food Safety)

Human norovirus causes sporadic and epidemic acute gastroenteritis worldwide, and the predominant strains are genotype GII.4 variants. Recently, a novel GII.17[P17] and a recombinant GII.2[P16] strain have been reported as the causes of gastroenteritis outbreaks. Outbreaks of norovirus are frequently associated with foodborne illness.

Human noroviruses are among the main causes of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. Frozen raspberries have been linked to several norovirus food-related outbreaks. However, the extraction of norovirus RNA from frozen raspberries remains challenging. Recovery yields are low and PCR inhibitors limit the sensitivity of the detection methodologies.

by Donatien Serge Mbaga, Sebastien Kenmoe, Cyprien Kengne-Ndé, Jean Thierry Ebogo-Belobo, Gadji Mahamat, Joseph Rodrigue Foe-Essomba, Marie Amougou-Atsama, Serges Tchatchouang, Inès Nyebe, Alfloditte Flore Feudjio, Ginette Irma Kame-Ngasse, Jeannette Nina Magoudjou-Pekam, Lorraine K. M.

by Davit Baliashvili, Francisco Averhoff, Ana Kasradze, Stephanie J. Salyer, Giorgi Kuchukhidze, Amiran Gamkrelidze, Paata Imnadze, Maia Alkhazashvili, Gvantsa Chanturia, Nazibrola Chitadze, Roena Sukhiashvili, Curtis Blanton, Jan Drobeniuc, Juliette Morgan, Liesl M. Hagan In preparation for the National Hepatitis C Elimination Program in the country of Georgia, a nationwide household-based hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroprevalence survey was conducted in 2015.

Naturally fermented filed water-dropwort (Oenanthe javanica) extracts by steeping with oligosaccharides (FDE) show a hepatoprotective activity against the liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and ethanol. However, the role of FDE in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has not yet been reported. In the present study, we investigated the effect of FDE on NASH using a mouse model with a methionine/choline-deficient diet (MCD).

Background A wide variety of pathogens can cause disease in humans via consumption of contaminated food.

Foodborne diseases (FBDs) represent a worldwide public health issue, given their spreadability and the difficulty of tracing the sources of contamination. This report summarises the incidence of foodborne pathogens and toxins found in food, environmental and clinical samples collected in relation to diagnosed or suspected FBD cases and submitted between 2018 and 2020 to the Food Microbiology Unit of the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana (IZSLT).

Foodborne diseases affect an estimated 600 million people worldwide annually, with the majority of these illnesses caused by Norovirus, Vibrio, Listeria, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli. To elicit infections in humans, bacterial pathogens express a combination of virulence factors and toxins.

Introduction Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a disorder characterised by pathological accumulation of non-visible free fatty acids and visible triglyceride in hepatocytes, is on the rise globally in both adult and paediatric populations.1 Evidence suggests that 20%–50% of the European Union and US populations exhibit features of NAFLD,2 driven by higher rates of obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.3 Additionally, recognition of a growi

by Fartima Yeemard, Peeradone Srichan, Tawatchai Apidechkul, Naphat Luerueang, Ratipark Tamornpark, Suphaphorn Utsaha Background Suboptimal glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a significant public health problem, particularly among people living with poor education and economic statuses, including those with a unique dietary culture.

A novel Norovirus (NoV) was identified by viral metagenomic analysis in fox fecal samples from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. The virus exhibited typical genomic characteristics of NoVs. It was closely related to the canine NoV GVII strains with 86.0–86.2% and 91.9% amino acid identities in the capsid protein VP1 and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), respectively.

Bivalve mollusks have been widely recognized as an important source of foodborne virus. The aim of this work was to determine the presence of norovirus (NoV) and rotavirus (RVA) in Pacific cupped oyster (Crassostrea gigas) from Buenos Aires, Argentina. A total of 88 oyster were processed. 7% of pooled samples resulted positive for NoV GII by RT-qPCR. The nucleotide analysis showed that it was closely related to GII.4/Sydney.

The present pandemic situation has increased demand for functional foods that enhance all aged groups' people immunity against COVID-19. This factor has led to innovation in snack market because healthy and good quality snack products are lacking. In this study, attempt has been made to develop functional snack bar that is beneficial for malnourished population from various combinations of amaranth grain, oat, and banana peel powder.

While the interaction of cells such as macrophages and hepatic stellate cells is known to be involved in the generation of fibrosis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the mechanism remains unclear.

This study aimed to evaluate the virucidal effect and potential use as a disinfectant of undiluted and diluted slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) on human noroviruses (HuNoVs) using the in vitro suspension test and in food test. The oxidization reduction potential of SAEW gradually decreased with the increase in distilled water volume.

On 11 March 2020, the WHO declared the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak a pandemic, initially reported in Wuhan, China. Its death rate and global expansion have made it one of the deadliest pandemics in history, with more than 4.8 million confirmed deaths.

Like most economic sectors, agriculture has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was designed to understand the impact of the initial stages of the pandemic on the agricultural sector in Romania. A web-based research study of farmers was conducted using an online questionnaire. Participants (n = 148) were self–selected, by answering the questionnaire online.

Acute hepatitis A is a self-limited liver inflammation caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection. The infection is transmitted by direct contact from person to person via fecal–oral routes, or through consuming contaminated food and water. This study aims to estimate the frequency of HAV infection from medical records of Tobruk Medical Center, eastern Libya and its distribution during 6 years.

To observe the prevalence of contamination by hepatitis A virus (HAV) and norovirus (NoV) in different food types, 9242 samples were analyzed over a 6-year period (January 2014–December 2019). Samples were from routine official activities by Competent Authorities (CAs) and Food Business Operators, according to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points plans. Analyses were performed in accordance with European and Italian regulations.

The outbreak of coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has rapidly spread throughout the world. Several studies have shown that detecting SARS-CoV-2 in untreated wastewater can be a useful tool to identify new outbreaks, establish outbreak trends, and assess the prevalence of infections.

Human noroviruses impose a considerable health burden globally. Here, a flow cytometry approach designed for their detection in biological waste and food samples was developed using antibody-coated magnetic beads. Antipeptide antibodies against murine norovirus and various human norovirus genotypes were generated for capture and coated onto magnetic beads.

Fresh vegetables and shellfish are prone to microbial contamination through irrigation or breeding with sewage-polluted waters, as well as by infected food handlers. In this work, we studied the presence of human and bovine polyomaviruses and human norovirus in fresh lettuces, strawberries and oysters produced in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. In oysters, we also investigated F-specific RNA bacteriophages, indicator Escherichia coli (E.

Enteric viruses have been described as important contaminants in fresh and ready-to-eat foods such as sandwiches, deli meat and dairy products. This is a cross-sectional randomized survey to estimate the prevalence of norovirus and human adenovirus (HAdV) from 100 Brazilian artisanal raw milk cheese samples (Minas and Coalho) obtained from different agroindustries in four producing regions in the states of Minas Gerais and one in Piauí, respectively.

Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) has the potential to become a cheaper and faster option for monitoring COVID-19 infections through wastewater-based epidemiology. However, its application in COVID-19 surveillance has been limited to clinical testing only.

On 13 May 2020, a COVID-19 cluster was detected in a French processing plant. Infected workers were described. The associations between the SARS-CoV-2 infection and the socio-demographic and occupational characteristics were assessed in order to implement risk management measures targeting workers at increased risk of contamination. Workers were tested by RT-PCR from samples taken during screening campaigns. Workers who tested positive were isolated and their contacts were quarantined.